A must see West End Production. The first time I saw it was a xmas present and I wasn't too excited about it to be honest, I listened to the movie soundtrack that was also a xmas present and quite frankly thought that I was going to find the show quite hard going! Judy Harrison. Maybe I will get a chance now the tour has announced Katie Hall as Christine and John Owen Jones to share the role of Phantom with Earl Carpenter. Now you're talking! They should have switched roles. I did find parts a little too loud though - more volume does not mean more emotion and means some of the music sounds less dynamic than it should. We were both absolutely blown away by the beginning when the music starts and the chandelier begins its ascent. It swivels when not in use and is flat on the stage. Phantom and Christine were unconvincing and overworked, while Raoul fell into the usual trap of being a charisma vacuum. My view was very good. More Cuban dance music here: https://youtu.be/awTKVyyHbeUI hope you enjoy my other playlists. It feels like you are peering through a letterbox, and should be avoided. If you're in the stalls you won't see the chandelier fall or like below the knee on everyone. This classical theatre should be running for many years to come. read more, His Majesty's is a lovely old Theatre. I was so close I could easily see the microphones of the performers. She was fabulously camp and over the top, as any good diva should be. (Central Stalls an' all!) I do see the Monkeys point about overblown emotion: too overblown and you cease to care quite as much as you should about the characters This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. . Seat reviews: Saying that I thought the set and costumes were well produced. We sat in the Grand Circle, Row B16 and B17. The music was fantastic, and the singing was mind blowing. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. I felt sorry for Earl that he had to work with such a bad performer who was overacting all the time. This meant that most of the auction scene at the beginning was ruined and that is quite important in setting the scene and building atmosphere. 1st floor is mostly seating and is the upper level. _________________________________________, 9th July 2015. They just dragged the whole thing out. These seats are very good. Another joined at 9am by 10 am there were probably 12 people in the queue. As for the show itself, it is hard to describe how wonderful it is, the music, the storyline etc. Our seats were Royal Circle B34-35 right on the outside of the row, clearly without full view of the stage as stated in some correspondence. In spite of its size, the Olivier has a concentrated intimacy. The Phantom was sung just as well or even better than Michael Crawford, and Celia played Christine very well - she sang with a voice that was as it is supposed to be, clear and clean. Que sera sera! I had booked row E seat 1 of the royal circle for that night's performance as I had been wanting to see Katie Hall as Christine for AGES - and I was also pleased at the thought of seeing John Owen Jones as the Phantom, as I had previously seen the two actors in the 'Les Mis' tour last year. When I got to the box office, they offered 2 seats in row Q, to the side. The only understudy was Christine Daae which was played by Tabitha Webb. Friendly staff, comfortable seating and our party of four Even though I have not seen Mr. Crawford's original display, I knew Earl's haunting voice was key to play the Phantom. Rachel Barrell was also excellent as Christine. The only way I would go and see Phantom again is if I sat in the Stalls, but I'm not prepared to pay 50 for a show I didn't rate that highly. The seats in the theatre are all fairly good. Tickets left at the box office for collection may be picked up on the day, during the hour before the performance starts. more, West End and South Bank Theatre Walking Tour in London. This seat provided a great view of the stage action. Both the current London Christine's are also amazing; the passion with which they sing is brilliant. My cousin and I were in London for a special few days break and chose this show to see out of all those currently on as we loved the music (I have a copy of the original cast recording LP!). I feel sorry for anyone who has the misfortune to experience this particular Phantom. Being so close has some advantages. The main character's "Phantom" and "Christine" were excellent and put so much into their performances. As has been said, this is a fab seat if you have seen the show before as it does give you a new experience on things. Particularly the graveside scene at the start of Act 2, not to mention the spectacle of the chandelier and the phantom observing the scene on the rooftop. Her Majesty's Theatre London: restricted view seating - See 1,200 traveler reviews, 450 candid photos, and great deals for London, UK, at Tripadvisor. When the Phantom was on top looking down he seemed to be looking directly at us. When the chandelier lifted up to the ceiling over our heads and the music started I unashamedly cried. ____________________________, 9th July 2011. the theatre, the sets, the costumes, the effects, it was absolutely amazing from beginning to end. _______________. An Archive of Our Own, a project of the Organization for Transformative Works I have long-awaited for a discounted ticket to this show. for a total of only 50! The last time we had the front row centre and the chandelier was terrifying! I left the theatre feeling like I'd just witnessed a show that was easy to see quite why it's been so successful, and I surprisingly had a new appreciation for much of the music - that, until Friday, wasn't particularly appealing to me. With time, its importance was diluted, and, by the middle of the fifteenth century, it was almost forgotten although still there according to the law. They were outdone by every other department working on the show. Christine's interaction with the Phantom when she gives him a ring and kisses him being especially moving. Legroom is poor but manageable (Im 61 and it was a small problem, but easy to forget about when watching the production). Her character was a bit cold for my liking and sometimes quite aggressive, but still fab. The material has been carefully compared Traditionally, these were concentrated in the stalls, as close to the stage as possible. That first row or two in the centre of the dress circle are hard to beat, although the middle of the stalls is pretty fine too. The Regent is a wide space, too, so the sightline is fine even on the side ends. ______________________________, Here I go with my review of my seating for 'Phantom of the Opera' on Thursday 12th July 2012. 'Wishing you were somehow here again' in the grave is a richly powerful song, and the lead roles had voices which were shattering. I cannot honestly fault anything at all and we are going again for certain - it's the best show we have ever seen. I would like to make a comment on the front of house staff at Her Majesty's Theatre: they were all so pleasant, courteous and friendly and also very on the ball about monitoring bad behaviour and use of phones. I sat in the Upper Circle's B36, which is priced at 21 due to its very restricted view. The show is fresh again and it's definitely worth the ticket price. I'm 5.4 and I had no problem with the leg room and the stage wasn't very high so you could see everything even at the back of the stage. Very angry and very disappointed. Yes view is restricted. It was a pleasure to see her perform, other than being beautiful she acts astoundingly well and really feels the music. The only gripe is I had to move from side to side to see the centre of the stage, due to a tall gentleman sitting directly in front of me, but this must have applied to those sitting behind me due to my height. ___________________. Go and see it, if you're around and be sure you book good tickets to enhance the experience. MENANDER. Theatremonkey can only update those in the dress circle and balcony, as only these have retained the original aisles. Although sold as restricted view because of a pillar, it is to the left and isn't really an issue . There is no doubt that the building is beautiful and full of character. I went with my friend, who is also 13, and I loved it; sadly, she didn't. I don't usually complain but having paid 85 or thereabouts for the seat I felt a little upset. One morning at breakfast, on opening the letter-bag, Mrs. Dale announced to her husband that her nephew, Captain Travers, of the *** Lancers, had just returned from India, and proposed paying them a visit at Christmas. I'm at Phantom but got a day seat last minute for matinee today (tube strike day - editor). Ramin Karimloo played the Phantom. and Christine wasn't a shade of the beautiful, haunted talent she once was. Simon Bailey is a fiery Raoul and the tension between him and Ramin in the final lair is amazing. I enjoyed this performance much more than two weeks ago (above) when I was seated almost right at the front in row C seat 11. I came back about 30minutes later, when all the queue had gone, and I asked what time would it be worth coming back later. Sound mix was often dreadful however. Go see this man in this role before he leaves. I deliberately didn't buy the cheapest tickets available as I wanted a good quality viewing experience, but I fail to see how we had anything other than the worst seats in the house. Her Majesty's Theatre Stalls. I had to tilt my head a few times (Phantom on the proscenium arch; the chandelier crash), and the dry ice gondola ride probably looks more impressive from a few rows back, but being so close to the performers, being able to see every nuance, is just marvellous. First time we were in Premium Stalls 3 rows from the front. _____________________, After waiting over 20 years to see 'Phantom' I finally made it over to the West End last week (10th September 2008). ___________________________. So for a show which is all about the relationships between the characters it failed. Loved it. The show started on time and approximately 5 minutes later, approximately 25 latecomers arrived separately in small groups and were seated in with ushers along the Grand Circle. It would seem this row has been made smaller due to the premium seats in front of it, but having the asile seat meant I could stretch my legs out fully was the only saving grace. If you have an unrestricted view of something, you can see it fully and clearly, because there is nothing in the way. If you continue to use this site we will assume that you are happy with it. Grand Circle section Left B row 28 seat AmitTheatre Her Majesty's Theatre The Phantom Of The Opera I "didn't get" that the old guy bidding for the music box was actually Raoul and I think if ever I watched this again it would have more impact as I did enjoy the unusual opening to the show. Earl Carpenter's singing and acting is superb throughout, as he brings true emotion to the role. So if it's slightly less Operatic than the rest- this is forgivable. Legroom was just tolerable, but otherwise comfortable. I sat in G2 and realised that the seat looked new and had obviously been refurbished. Being on the front row, we were able to look down in the pit and thank the musicians in person at the end - WOW were they good and deserve appreciation! The other seats are also restricted view, but this is worse. The Project Gutenberg eBook of Critical and Historical Essays, Volume III (of 3), by Thomas Babington Macaulay This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with almost no restrictions whatsoever. Normally 67! The Seat Although the disruption was palpable the show itself lacked heart and we hadn't developed any compassion for the characters but it all looked very nice. I wish this cast all the best for the rest of their contract, and I hope to see it again soon. The stage was at eye level so smoke floor appeared as a thin layer (whereas from upper levels you could see the entire floor of smoke covering the distance). Oliver Thornton as Raoul was also weak but I found his character unbelievable anyway and the love affair didn't engage my emotions at all. We uncover the best of the city and put it all in an email for you. It is, in a word, spectacular, by which I mean that it is all spectacle. She played Christine with great intricacy and sensitivity. The most annoying part of this was that some people were late and so we all had to stand up to let them in to their seats during the show, so we missed a part of it, as did the people behind us! To add insult to injury, the couple sitting in front of me decided to lean forward and put their heads close together so by that point I'd had enough and I asked them to sit back as otherwise I would have missed the chandelier rising up. Well, he was very good looking - that's where the positives end. I was worried that the stage would be high and we'd get a crook neck from looking up, but the stage is low and the view was amazing, we couldn't see the chandelier going up once it had passed the Grand Circle, due to the overhang, but that's a small price to pay for such a clear and close view of the cast. It was as fabulous as ever!!! If you are a 'larger size lady' like me you get wedged into the seat and literally cannot move until the interval (an American lady in front of me had exactly the same problem) and then feel so stiff afterwards. We both had to agree though that Earl Carpenter, as the Phantom, was superb, he gave so much to his performance in the final scenes that we were both quite moved and I have never before been able to feel for this character. And after the first 10 minutes, I wondered if Theatremonkey had seen the right show. Brilliant view, although little leg room - but that is because the theatre is old, so has to be expected. N6 Now that it has, somehow, run for so long, it's going to run, and run, and run, isn't it? Unfortunately - 50 is rather a stiff price to pay to see such a good performer. I noticed you also attacked the disco inspired title track. Seats were great, we had G15 (aisle) and G16 in the Stalls. The cast I have to say are one of the strongest I have seen for a long time. Phantomwell this is one of my favourites. Our biggest mistake with this show was not to note the seat numbers to avoid. The only seats that are really bad in the Sumner are any in the first row, and the second arent much better. Angie Christie (Mrs) This review is the subjective opinion of a Tripadvisor member and not of Tripadvisor LLC. During the fog scene I could see the Phantom and Christine in the boat (squinting, admittedly, but you could see them). There is an aisle that runs mid-way through the auditorium, and the best seats are on either side of this aisle as these are the centre seats. We had seats F23 and F24 in the Stalls. McCanns masterpiece provides the perfect Phantom spellbound Feb 13, 2023. I thought the voices of Christine and the Phantom were absolutely superb. No seat is far from an actors point of command; and the span of the seats matches their effective span of vision. That first row or two in the centre of the dress circle are hard to beat, although the middle of the stalls is pretty fine too. If you are a resident of another country or region, please select the appropriate version of Tripadvisor for your country or region in the drop-down menu. Enter the email address you signed up with and we'll email you a reset link. Would have been happy to pay full price for better seats but no cooperation from Theatre Tickets Direct. You get a great view of actors nasal hair, but no sense of the production as a whole. Both Ben Forster as the Phantom and Celinde Schoenmaker as Christine were superb in their roles with powerful singing voices and there was definitely a strong rapport between them. Shes currentlyhome to the biggest show Melbourne has seen in decades and judging bypast performances of Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, that buzz electrifies every member of the audience no matter where theyre seated. The upper circle and balcony areas are tired and need refreshed. Special mention to Sofia Escobar who plays Christine Daae. ____________________. I've come away from some musicals raving about the likes of Kerry Ellis and Laura Michelle Kelly, but I'm none the wiser about the three leads in Phantom, and to be honest have no interest in looking up their bio's. Get your tickets soon (although I think as it's been on so long, it won't be ending anytime soon and I can see why). In fact, I would say about a maximum of 10 minutes through the whole show is spent watching people lean. If you really want to see a particular show I would go for slightly better seats. For a musical most action in the middle of the stage , a ballet I would get better seats. HISTORY of the CHRISTIAN CHURCH 1 1 Schaff, Philip, History of the Christian Church, (Oak Harbor, WA: Logos Research Systems, Inc.) 1997. One thing we both noticed was that both seats were set quite high off the ground. My partner really enjoyed the show and we both agreed that the staging is excellent. Alf It made Fame look infamous and Cats look run over! The Phantom magic has returned for me ! I'm sure you all wanted to know about that. My first moan goes to Raoul (who is currently played by Oliver Thornton). I was sitting front row centre (B13 and 14) and found these seats to be very good, experiencing no problems at all. After nearly 8,200 performances in the same theatre, you would think the sound would be good. There are some poles in the way and as has been said below the view can be blocked by the balcony above. Initiative. Political Philosophy Pierre Joseph Proudhon: One cannot give and keep at the same time Chapter 2: Start Gee Colin. Unfortunately, my camera had no battery and was charging at home so I'm definitely going back to get photos, which they very kindly pose for. ____________________. 8 Grand Circle K8 reviews at the Her Majesty's Theatre (His Majesty's Theatre) General 3.5/5 View 3/5 Comfort 1/5 Legroom 4.5/5 Slightly restricted view 50% Avoid if you're short 50% based on 2 reviews Average seat price * min max 58.75 48.8 43.75 *based on 16 bookings made through various agents' websites. His voice was beautiful in my opinion he was the best phantom I have seen. Sitting anywhere else in this row, I would have had to change seats, as I physically wouldn't have been able to last the duration of the performance (34inch legs) Thankfully, the overwhelming performance and amazing view made me quickly forget about the leg room, but feel this should be mentioned when you buy the tickets. But towards the end of Act 1, in the 'All I Ask Of You' reprise he seemed to lose his way. One thing I will point out, we treated ourselves to the 'RoyalBox Sharing Canaps' - what a waste of money! _____________________________. If you ring for tickets and talk to the theatre direct and see the seating plan you could be ok over a year ago Reviewed this attraction Auckland, New Zealand 0 Votes I was very shocked to read Paul Johnsons review of Phantom, notably his opinion/attack on Mr McCann. The seats do seem close together and space seemed a bit tight on elbow room, but nothing to really worry about. I was very pleasantly surprised. Despite what theatremonkey says, to see the theatre sold out on a Monday night in July proves how good the show is. You have been warned!!! The kids loved it and want to see it again for their next birthday, but personally Phantom had lost some of it's magic. Ticket prices. Nothing was blocked and we could see the entire stage right to the back. Port Talbot A restricted view means that you may be unable to see the entire stage from the specified seats. Also, for the record, Brian McCann is a 'swing'* in the programme - yes, but he is also listed as 'first cover'** for the Phantom, Scott Davies is the standby Phantom, i.e., the 'alternate. Paid 25 for top price tickets from See Tickets so a good deal. "Phantom" is a model of stagecraft which has sadly been lost to technology. Christian Ball, A really great job. 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