The Phan Lair
Some of you may recall the strange affair of The Phantom Of The Opera...
Production F.A.Q
On this page you will find answers to frequently asked questions about the show. Please note that if the question as O.P marked next to it, it is in reference to The Original Production (i.e. The production playing in
If you have any other questions please email them, with the title F.A.Q, to thephanlair@yahoo.co.uk
THIS PAGE CONTAINS SPOILERS ON THE SHOW, IF YOU DO NOT WISH TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS OR HOW IT IS DONE DO NOT SCROLL DOWN!
Can we have some details about the chandelier?
[O.P]
- The original chandelier took 6 months to create.
- The
- The
- It is operated 54 motors.
How does the chandelier disappear in
[L.V]
Because the chandelier falls after Point Of No Return in Las Vegas, and not at the climax of Act 1 as in The Original Productions, there is no chance for it to be raised slowly like it is in The Original production’s interval, also technology has advanced a lot since The Original Production opened in 1986. Once the
How many people are involved with a performance of The Original Production?
[O.P]
This changes with tours, years etc, but here are some rough details:
- 60 crew members.
- 32 musicians in the orchestra.
- 36 performers. This means there are 128 people directly involved with the performance, not counting the staff at the theatres.
How does the Phantom suddenly appear in Christine's mirror, which still shows her reflection?
[O.P & L.V]
It works much like the mirrors you see in police movies, when you can see through one side and not the other. The Big Brother House also uses the same kind of mirrors so its cameras can see the house without people seeing in. When lit from the front, the mirror seems as if it is normal and the audience can see Christine's reflection. However when the lights are dimmed slightly on stage and small lights around back of the frame of the mirror, pointing at The Phantom, are turned up his figure is visible while the mirror still retains its reflection of Christine
Are there any doubles used during the performance?
[O.P & L.V]
Yup! The Phantom is actually only on stage for around 26mins! Every other time his presence is felt is a double or is only his voice on pre-recorded tracks! The main doubles are as follows;
- During the “Masquerade/Why So Silent?” scene. The Red Death who appears at the top of the stairs is a double, the real Phantom disappears through a trap door after the line “Your chains are still mine, you belong to me!”
- The shadows of The Phantom over the Il Muto ballet are a double- the real Phantom is already in the angel at this point for The Rooftop Scene.
- During the title song, The Phantom and Christine who walk across the stage and run down the trapdoor are doubles, as are the pair who walk across the bridge up-stage. The real Phantom and Christine come out midway down the lowering bride, and then walk onto the boat.
How do all of the candles appear during the song "The Phantom Of The Opera"/Journey Scenes?
[O.P & L.V]
They are stored under the stage and when it comes to The Journey scene a small circular cap slips away. This allows the candles, which are currently folded up like telescopes, to fold out. They collapse again following the scene’s conclusion and the circular lid sections slide across again and the stage can be walked on safely. The large candelabras either slide on from the wings or work much in the same way as the smaller versions ,with a rectangular section sliding away rather than a circle, and the candelabras being raised through the gap.
How does the mannequin lean forward?
[O.P & L.V]
Actually it isn’t a mannequin! It's an actress with a plastic mask to make her face look fake. She is then replaced by a mannequin for the next scene during the blackout. I don't really understand why they do this, I'm sure they could have made a mannequin and saved a costume etc. but there you go!
How does the Phantom disappear at the end of Masquerade?
[O.P & L.V]
He falls through a trap door. There are two small raised points on the stage which he can feel through his shoes and make sure he's standing in the right place without looking down. The Phantom's lines to Christine are the cue for the trap to quickly open and the flash box to explode sending red sparks and smoke up hiding his fall from view. On tours with no trap doors, he runs off stage instead. The Phantom who appears at the top of the stairs immediately after is, as previously stated, a double who hides behind some of the mannequins until the time when he is needed.
Where does the Phantom appear from in the Graveyard Scene?
[O.P]
The cross is hollow and The Phantom is standing inside it for the whole of Christine's performance of Wishing You Were Somehow Here Again. You do not see him because the inside is painted black, he stands with his back to the audience, and pulls his cloak up to hide any white of the mask/shirt. This mixed with the poor lighting in that area render him invisible to the audience until he turns around and steps into the light.
How does the throne work?
[O.P & L.V]
It has a false back. When the Phantom throws his cloak over himself, he attaches the top to wire which pulls out, keeping the shape of a head. The back is released and he can move into the false back of the chair. If Meg sat on the chair at the end, she would be almost sitting on the Phantom's lap.
Got something that you really want to know about the show? Noticed something that's not quite right with this page? Know something which could be added to the page? Email me on thephanlair@yahoo.co.uk with the title F.A.Q and I'll add it to the page along with a thanks to you/answer your question as soon as I can 