The Phantom of the Opera (‘POTO’)

When?

Saturday 27th April

It’s running in Singapore until 8th June 2019.

Where?

Sands Theatre, Marina Bay, Singapore

How much?

We got stall tickets, row H, which was only 5 rows from the front. I got a 15% discount as a Passion card holder in the pre-sale (I bought the tickets in September 2018).

The were S$165.75 (£94.22) each after discount (plus booking fees).

What are the facilities?

The Sands theatre is a modern theatre so very pleasant but the entrance is from the shopping mall and they don’t let you through ticketing and bag search until about 30 mins before the show. It means crowds gather outside and to reach the ticket office is a scrum. As usual, there are never enough ladies toilets and long queues ensued. (Must have been designed by a bloke).

Buy your merchandise before the show. The queue after the show was massive – and I mean massive. It snaked through the foyer back to the entrance. You have to be a super keen fan to want to wait in that queue – and I didn’t!

Refreshments and interval drinks are the usual unhealthy crisps/ sweets/ hot dog affairs but with champagne available (S$20 for a small glass).

The Show

For those readers who have never seen POTO (what have you been doing with your life? It’s been running since 1986) it’s a story about a love triangle between the genius musician, architect, magician, murdering Phantom, Raoul the privileged and entitled suitor and Christine Daae the Soprano prodigy. It takes place in Paris Opera House and is based on the novel by Gaston Leroux.

It is a musical with music by Andrew Lloyd Webber and lyrics by Charles Hart. Richard Stilgoe and Lloyd Webber wrote the musical’s book together. Stilgoe also provided additional lyrics. It is the second longest-running West End musical, after Les Misérables, and the third longest-running West End show overall, after The Mousetrap (and I’ve seen them all). POTO is now in a world tour.

I have seen lots of (over 20) POTO productions and this was one of the beat I have seen. It is also my first outside of the U.K. it was amazing. All of the cast were excellent. There wasn’t a weak singer amongst them and their performances were spot on.

This performance in particular made the characters more human with a range of emotions rather than pantomime stereotypes. Carlotta in particular played very well. The Phantoms tortured soul was plan to see as was Christine’s reluctance to be controlled by others. Stunning performances all round.

Obviously I highly recommend POTO and especially if you’re in Singapore – get along to this production – you won’t be disappointed.