I never knew Beauty and the Beast was a TV series... Wasn't Brightman the original Christine in the stage show? I would LOVE to see Phantom onstage!! Still haven't had a chance to watch the special features. Who wrote the words then if Weber didn't? I thought he and Shumacher co wrote the movie version. Oh and I've been wondering about the reference to the "Keep your hand at the level of your eye". What on earth is that about?
Star, I am not sure of the lyricist. I may check the film out again and rewatch the special features or some of them; then, I will will find out his name. One guy, probably it was Schumacher, (who you meantion) started writing the lyrics; but he usually creates more humorous or witty lyrics; Weber felt he inappropriate for the entire show, which was to be very romantic and gothic in tone. Weber said that it turned out more like a 'rock opera'. Ken Russell did a promo video featuring Brightman - it's quite 'over-the-top' and interesting. On the SF on the DVD it shows this video. It's quite interesting. It helped to promote the show at the time. Yes, actually on record set, I own the original cast of the musical - London. It starred Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I am just not sure who I saw on stage in NYC playing the part of Christine. Yes, "Beauty and the Beast" was a popular TV series, probably now elevated to cult statis on DVD's. I think it aired around the 80's. I will try looking it up. It was staged in modern day and involved this whole underworld beneath NYC....pretty funky, huh? Now I can see why they picked the actor to play in the NYC version when Crawford left the show; he had experienced in his TV role the sort of being dwelling in the underground chambers much like the Phantom. It was truly an experience to see TPOTO staged live. We had very close up-front tickets and it was amazing, especially the dropping of that chandlier....breath-taking, thrilling. The stage experience was very intimate as well. They explained that, in the Extras, about this phrase "Keep your hand at the level of your eyes"...I believe, they said that was because the Phantom usually put a noose around the neck of his victims. If you hands were up to the level of your eyes, he could not tighten the noose around your head. At least, I think that was it, if I remember correctly.
Star - this site will tell you all about the TV show "Beauty and the Beast", now out on DVD; isn't everything? haha The actor was Ron Pearlman; he was very good in the role I saw. http://www.planetdvdstore.com/produc...ductid=3173650
Hi Everybody! I have been asked to take over this group. I was pleased to do so. Hopefully by next month, we can get an active discussion roling on one of the musicals. Any suggestion as to which play to discuss next? But first, have we ended the discussion on TPOTO? If there is anything more to add, please feel free; this would be the time to do so and to wind up this discussion. I was also thinking, rather than discuss the storyline in a lot of detail, to all these musicals, rather I think it might be more interesting to discuss various aspects of the shows, such as writers of the music, lyrics, how they were inspired, the actors who played the roles and other tidbits of interest, about the backgrounds of the various musicals. What does everyone else think?
