The Phantom Of The Opera...some thoughts and a complete surprise after the show....

[Yessongs]

  Just a few thoughts about seeing “Phantom of The Opera” here last Saturday. Have been to 3 of these types of shows over many years. Lion King, Cats, Chicago. Have to say, this one was the best by far. The staging, lighting, presentation, music and good lord, The Orchestra was just over the top. This show has never been to Thailand, so tickets were pricey and hard to get and even after a 3 week run here in Bangkok, they extended it another week. This particular version of performers are from New York and the UK. 

The Rachadalai Theater is absolutely pristine, 2,200 seats, we were 10th row, dead center and you could see everything. The facial expressions and set changes, props and lighting, made this a great night out. Cannot believe how all of these performers can sing. Stayed at the “Swissotel” hotel for the night, had dinner there and a 3 block walk and we are there

This video is a “tell tale” sign of the evening…..ah The Phantom, making a last ditch effort to “woo” Christine into giving him an opportunity to see who and what he really is? I know the feeling LOL! 

During this song “Music of the Night” look over at wifey, there is a tear running down her face! Look at the 2 girls sitting right next to me, they too are “dabbing” their face with a tissue! Alright, alright, alright, check your ego at the door…..even I had a lump in my throat……Jesus Christ I am turning into a fucking “softie”  I don’t want any of you to think you just wasted 6 minutes of your life by watching this video, but this show was just outstanding.

But alas, The Phantom was “shunned” by Christine for the other guy…it was sad! No really it was LOL! 

 No cameras or video are allowed during the performance…this is the best I got. Samsung Cell Phone pics only in the lobby…. 

 

 

[Yessongs]

  Alright so the show ends, they do 2 final curtain calls, all the cast members etc. are taking their bows. The Phantom and Christine are given microphones, they tell the audience they are thankful we all came out for this, they have been having a blast here in Bangkok and eating some great Thai food. That is it, the final bows and the curtain comes down for the final time. People are starting to leave, see that there are people who are kind of going down to the stage to have a look…seems like the ushers are cool, allowing people down to look at the Orchestra Pit etc…..we go down there too for a look, dam they must have 40 musicians playing this incredible music. We are stage left, get up there, the organ player has quite the rack, 3 layers of keyboards.  I see a Moog Synthesizer, Hammond Organ and one other type of Organ….maybe a Roland?

This guy looks at Rachanee and says “Sa Wa Dee Krub, Khun Chu Arai Krap”?  She tells him Rachanee…..he asks her if she liked the show tonite right? He looks at me and says” Hi there, I am Graham from Manchester, England and I am the Organ player on this tour” Cool guy, looks to me he is about 45-47 years old. I ask him if he speaks fluent Thai? He tells me hardly, but they were given a few polite sentences taught to them for their stay here….well done. I tell him this is the most incredible musical performance from an orchestra I have ever been to….he says thanks a lot and we have great musicians, most are from the UK. I told him that opening “riff” he obviously plays, when we see The Phantom for the first time at the top of the rafters is just breath taking. I asked him if it is loud for them being in the pit like this and he said “No, not at all because the entire speaker system is in front of of us suspended from the ceiling”  Oh Ok…

He said hold on a minute and I will be right back. He comes back and tells Rachanee and I to go to the end of the stage, wait for him, he will bring us down in the pit and show us??  WTF? He brings us down there, gets on this walkie talkie type thing, looks back at the sound techs, waves his hand at them at the back of the theater, fires up his Hammond Organ, looks at Rachanee and says “Are you ready”? …..and in the first 37 seconds of this video, this is what he plays. He played the Hammond and the Roland..both at the same time, one hand on each.

  Good Lord, my hair was standing on end, I looked like Buckwheat from The Little Rascals!….it was unbelievable what this sounds like live in the pit.  Rachanee lets out an “Oiiiiiiiii” I look up and about 50 or so people are stopped dead in their tracks! Full sound system in the theater still on. I ask him….did it take you a long time to learn this music? He told me “I could play this in my sleep” One of the Violin girls looks over at us and says “Graham, stop showing off” Damn….about that time he was told to get moving and finish up and I thanked him for doing this for us and told him he is one nice guy and really made this entire night a great experience for us…he said “No problem, hope to see you again one time” ……one cool British dude Graham…

 

Edited August 27, 2025 by Yessongs

[Aqualung]

Thanks for posting Mike. 

Musicals, for the masses, tends to go under the radar so to speak but I would highly recommend that some of those types of folks should step out of their comfort zones and try to see some of the shows. They will be pleasantly surprised I'm sure. 

I've seen Phantom here in the UK aswell as Cats, the rocky horror show(weird as fck), pirates of Penzance and the brilliant Blood Brothers. 

The talent on show is beyond belief. They really don't get the recognition they deserve. 

How did the Thai audience react Mike? Did they actually understand what was going on? 

 

[KWA]

As a youngster I worked the super trouper spotlight at our local theatre so saw lots of these musicals as well as operettas, plays, pantomimes et al.

The talent of many of the performers was outstanding but only the best get to go on tours like this one.  Bangkok was a warm up for almost a year touring north America.

https://us.thephantomoftheopera.com/tour-dates

 

[biggles]

Many years ago (about 35!) I went to the first Australian performance of Phantom in Melbourne. My first Real musical, I had booked the tickets about a year ahead (as best I recall) and I almost cancelled when the London cast were not playing. So glad I didn't as the local performers were brilliant. 

Everything Yessong said applied double for me. I was just overwhelmed and even now the opening melody brings goose bumps when I YouTube it

Just a little jealous of your close encounter tho, thanks for sharing 

[Britboy]

Great report @Yessongs, Phantom of the Opera is the best opera I've seen and I've seen loads.

Sounds like a great version you saw. Last time I saw it was in London. Superb.

Not to detract from your experience, but those who enjoy Phantom of the Opera will enjoy this version. For me it also makes my hair (what's left of it) stand on end . . .

 

[Stillearly]

I haven't seen Phantom yet , but it's on my list , sounds like a fantastic experience....last month I saw Les Miserables , Lion King and Book of Mormon in the West End ...all outstanding and I was blown away by the staging for them ... I'm heading back to London next month and have already booked to see Hamilton, Hadestown and Les Miserables ( 40th Anniversary special cast ) 

[Yessongs]

21 hours ago, Aqualung said:

Thanks for posting Mike. 

Musicals, for the masses, tends to go under the radar so to speak but I would highly recommend that some of those types of folks should step out of their comfort zones and try to see some of the shows. They will be pleasantly surprised I'm sure. 

I've seen Phantom here in the UK aswell as Cats, the rocky horror show(weird as fck), pirates of Penzance and the brilliant Blood Brothers. 

The talent on show is beyond belief. They really don't get the recognition they deserve. 

How did the Thai audience react Mike? Did they actually understand what was going on? 

 

Steve, great assessment, spot on, these types of live shows are phenemonal....of course, like everything we all experience, a matter of opinion. Great question, yeah the Thai audience appeared to understand everything. Obviously all done in English, with Thai sub titles on the screens to the sides of the stage. 

19 hours ago, KWA said:

As a youngster I worked the super trouper spotlight at our local theatre so saw lots of these musicals as well as operettas, plays, pantomimes et al.

The talent of many of the performers was outstanding but only the best get to go on tours like this one.  Bangkok was a warm up for almost a year touring north America.

https://us.thephantomoftheopera.com/tour-dates

 

KWA, spot on, as a youngster back in the day, that must have been cool to hang around the theater. Yep,  have already forwarded that same, exact link to friends back home.....the Orpheum Theater in San Francisco is beautiful and this show will be there May 2026....

17 hours ago, biggles said:

Many years ago (about 35!) I went to the first Australian performance of Phantom in Melbourne. My first Real musical, I had booked the tickets about a year ahead (as best I recall) and I almost cancelled when the London cast were not playing. So glad I didn't as the local performers were brilliant. 

Everything Yessong said applied double for me. I was just overwhelmed and even now the opening melody brings goose bumps when I YouTube it

Just a little jealous of your close encounter tho, thanks for sharing 

Biggles, great that you got to see this too....it is incredible live for sure...

16 hours ago, Britboy said:

Great report @Yessongs, Phantom of the Opera is the best opera I've seen and I've seen loads.

Sounds like a great version you saw. Last time I saw it was in London. Superb.

Not to detract from your experience, but those who enjoy Phantom of the Opera will enjoy this version. For me it also makes my hair (what's left of it) stand on end . . .

 

Thanks Britboy, good to see I am not alone, what little hair i have left these days, when we were down in the pit, that booming Hammond Organ was like "Rogaine" LOL!  Hey, i am getting alot of people tell me that if we ever have a chance we should see "Wicked" Have you seen that one yet?  

15 hours ago, Stillearly said:

I haven't seen Phantom yet , but it's on my list , sounds like a fantastic experience....last month I saw Les Miserables , Lion King and Book of Mormon in the West End ...all outstanding and I was blown away by the staging for them ... I'm heading back to London next month and have already booked to see Hamilton, Hadestown and Les Miserables ( 40th Anniversary special cast ) 

Wow....let us know how Hamilton was.....have heard good things about this show...You will like Phantom for sure. 

[Yessongs]

Just a few other things about this show....was worried I was going to be laughed off the forum here.....I realize this is a "boys club" and probably these types of events, are not really all that welcome here! 

And you cannot go anywhere in Bangkok as we all know, especially to an event like this, without some of the most stunning, attractive women in all of the world.....the quality of some of these local Thai girls here at this show...was off the chart. 

Well done...

Edited August 27, 2025 by Yessongs

[Britboy]

5 hours ago, Yessongs said:

Thanks Britboy, good to see I am not alone, what little hair i have left these days, when we were down in the pit, that booming Hammond Organ was like "Rogaine" LOL!  Hey, i am getting alot of people tell me that if we ever have a chance we should see "Wicked" Have you seen that one yet?   

Unfortunately I've not seen Wicked, but would go if/when I get the chance, that's for sure.

[rajs123]

Of all the shows that are available, Phantom of the Opera was the only one on my bucket list. I am so glad that I had rhe chance to see it in New York City. Thoroughly enjoyed it .  

I still enjoy seeing the Music of the Night video sung by the brilliant Michael Crawford on YouTube. 

 

[Glasseye]

I am looking forward to reading this review in more detail.

 

I have not seen the production myself, yet. But, I can say that over time I have heard some wonderful musical pieces from it. 

[Stillearly]

@Yessongs you and your wife maybe interested in this ...

https://worldtour.lesmis.com/tour-dates/

https://ticketing.sistic.com.sg/mbs/booking/624LM0526?_gl=1*1w8vvwq*_gcl_au*NDk3NzAxODM4LjE3NjAwNDA0MTg.*_ga*MTQ2Nzk4MTY0OC4xNzYwMDQwNDE5*_ga_47M9JPMEW4*czE3NjAwNDA0MTgkbzEkZzEkdDE3NjAwNDA0MzMkajQ1JGwwJGgw