Far beneath the majesty and splendor of the

“Far beneath the majesty and splendor of the Paris Opera House, hides the Phantom in a shadowy existence. Shamed by his physical appearance and feared by all, the love he holds for his beautiful protégée Christine Daaé is so strong that even her heart cannot resist. ”

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA • The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber • Based on the novel by French novelist Gaston Leroux. • The music was composed by Webber, with lyrics by Charles Hart and additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe.

ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER • He achieved great success in writing musicals • Phantom of the Opera (1986) • Cats (1981) • 7 Tony Awards • 3 Grammy Awards • Academy Award • Golden Globe Award

• The Phantom of the Opera is a perfect way to introduce young people to the pleasures and mysteries of a live theatre experience. In these days of film and video, The Phantom of the Opera’s unforgettable score and breathtaking spectacle can show students that theatre is an exciting and vital place. • The Phantom of the Opera is really a musical about theatre and all its secrets, grandeur, glamour and hard work. The Phantom’s story takes us backstage, behind the scenes, behind the “mask” of theatre. • The story of The Phantom of the Opera allows us a glimpse of how the illusion of theatre is created.

PHANTOM OF THE OPERA • 1909 book • 1925 silent film version • 1962 film version • 1976 musical • 1986 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical • 2004 film adaption

WHERE? • The Paris Opera House's name Garnier created by Charles Garnier was the inspiration for Gaston Leroux to write The Phantom of the Opera • Paris Opera House Garnier is important to people of Paris, it represent beauty and still standing all these years through Napoleon Wars, World War 1, World War 2 • It is used to this day for Ballet

PARIS OPERA HOUSE

PARIS OPERA HOUSE • In 1858, the Emperor Napoleon III of France gave an order that a new building dedicated to the art of Opera would be built in Paris. • Charles Garnier, a relatively unknown young man, was chosen among 700 architects competing to create the new theatre. • The opera house has huge basements, generally used for raising and lowering the different sets (some which would be 50 ft tall and weight as much as 11, 000 tons) • The Opera House has 17 floors, 80 dressing rooms and a total of 2, 500 doors. Along with the lake, water from which was often used to power the hydraulic engines needed to move the scenery, there was a permanent stable with enough room to accommodate six coaches and fifty horses!

AWFUL INCIDENTS TOOK PLACE AT THE OPÉRA GARNIER • Rumors of ghosts • the fall of the big Chandelier on May 20 th 1896, which killed a woman during the middle of a performance • Some people say that she occupied the number 13 seat • A pupil of the Opéra Garnier ballet class fell on the thirteenth step of the great staircase • the Opera House's underground was the scene of the most dreadful crimes during the Commune and people still think it is haunted because a skeleton was discovered there • Paris Commune had communistic ideas, they were trying to over throw Paris, some were prisoners of Opera House Garnier's basement

• Gaston Leroux was a reporter and theatre critic for L'Echo de Paris and international reporter and correspondent for Le Matin Newspaper • He was involved in the investigation in depth coverage of the former Paris Opera House which was for Ballet Company • In 1907 he left the newspaper, started writing mystery novels to turn into films

ERIK • The Phantom and Opera Ghost • Played by Gerard Butler • Lives in Opera House • Has a deformed face • Loves Christine “Why, you ask, was I bound and chained in this cold and dismal place? Not for any mortal sin, but the wickedness of my abhorrent face!” - The Phantom

CHRISTINE DAAE • Played by Emmy Rossum • A young Swedish soprano • Lives in opera house “Pitiful creature of darkness, what kind of life have you known? God, give me courage to show you, you are not alone! “

RAOUL • Played by Patrick Wilson • Christine’s childhood friend • Falls in love with Christine

ARMAND MONCHARMIN AND FIRMIN RICHARD • The managers of the opera house

MADAME GIRY • Played by Miranda Richardson • The suspicious caretaker for Box Five • Meg Giry’s mother

MEG GIRY • Played by Jennifer Ellison • Madame Giry’s only daughter • A ballet girl • Later becomes Mme. la Baronne de Castelot-Barbezac

LA CARLOTTA • Played by Minnie Driver • A spoiled prima donna • The lead soprano of the Paris opera house

INTRODUCTION • According to Gaston Lerous, Erik is a real person. • Christine’s mother died when she was 6. Her father was a famous musician, and would often times tell Christine about an “Angel of Music” (the personification of musical inspiration) • Christine eventually comes to live at the opera house. • At he stay at the opera house, she frequently gets visited by a voice that she assumes to be the “Angel of Music”. She asks if it truly is him, he agrees and offers to give her music lessons.

INTRODUCTION • The voice however belongs to Erik, a young man with a deformed face that also lives deep within the opera house and has been extorting money from the opera house for years. • When given the opportunity to perform, Christine does an outstanding job. • Ironically, her childhood friend, Raoul, attends this performance and remembers his love for her.

MYSTERY BEHIND THE FACE • According to Gaston Leroux’s novel, the phantom was born with a deformed face • According to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical production, the phantom was tortured as a child that resulted in his deformed face

THE MYTHIC POWER OF THE BEAUTY AND THE BEAST • Beauty and the Beast • Hunchback of Notre Dame • Why do we continue to be attracted to this story? How high a priority do we place on physical beauty and perfection? Why?