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Phantom anecdote - transcript
This one didn't take as long; wish I'd typed the other one straight up...
Phantom
Well, now. I'd like to tell you a brief story, if I may, about how I became involved with The Phantom of the Opera. To do that, I have to paint a picture. The year: 1984; the place: the Apollo-Victoria Theatre in London, upstairs, after the final preview of Stalight Express, outside the mens' room; The players: Andrew Lloyd Webber and yours truly.
Andrew is headed for the loo, and on his way, he spies me, and says: "Michael! We-we-we-we-we we-we-we-we we... we MUST do Phantom of the Opera together!"
And not being as foolish as I look, I said, "Yes, Andrew, love to." And the next morning I rushed out and bought the book. And after reading through it a couple of times, I quickly realised there were only two male roles of any consequence: one was the handsome, young nobleman, Raoul, and the other, rather grotesque, slightly older man, the Phantom.
Well, of course, I assumed he wants me to play... Raoul. So, the next day I go out and get a copy of the Claude Rains film version - as the Phantom. And as the handsome, young nobleman, Nelson Eddy. So for the next twelve months, I study this video morning, noon and night. I lived and breathed Nelson Eddy. At the end of twelve months, for all intents and purposes, I was Nelson Eddy. I looked like Nelson Eddy, I talked like Nelson, I even walked like Nelson Eddy. *Nelson Eddy-esque piano music in background* Oi, oi!
Finally, after twelve months of this, Andrew calls me. So I said, "Don't be ridiculous, operator. Of course I'll pay for the call..."
So, he said, "I want to see you tomorrow morning." So, the next morning, I ran- well, I didn't run, I walked as fast as I could... *piano music again* and I walked into the theatre, I struck a pose, and I said,
"Well, Andrew, I think you've got your handsome, young nobleman, Raoul."
And he said, "Yes, we do. We hired him last week."
I said, "What...?"
He said, "We want you to be the Phantom."
I said, "What...? The ugly, old..." And so I was. For over 1300 performances, I donned the mask and cape. *audience cheers* Playing the Phantom has certainly changed my life. I loved playing him and I always will. However, I do have one or two regrets. I'm not a bitter man, but I did, after all, waste a year of my life. And I thought that possibly, this evening, you'd give me an opportunity to maybe show you some of the work that I put in during my Nelson Eddy period. So maybe, with your permission... with your permission, I could show you my Raoul tonight. *audience cheers and laughs* Well...
Excuse me! I'll rephrase that. Maybe I could show you my interpretation of Raoul. *laughs* Dear, oh- *laughs again, audience cheers* And that... ha ha! He'll explain it to you later, madam. Um. And that will g- *laughs* That will give me the chance to sing that beautiful duet, 'All I Ask Of You' with the beautiful Dale Kristen. Please, please... you haven't heard it yet. All I ask of you my friends is that you appreciate all of the work that went into this, and to remember that I do control... all the chandeliers... above your heads...
Tee hee. I just love that story...
Phantom
Well, now. I'd like to tell you a brief story, if I may, about how I became involved with The Phantom of the Opera. To do that, I have to paint a picture. The year: 1984; the place: the Apollo-Victoria Theatre in London, upstairs, after the final preview of Stalight Express, outside the mens' room; The players: Andrew Lloyd Webber and yours truly.
Andrew is headed for the loo, and on his way, he spies me, and says: "Michael! We-we-we-we-we we-we-we-we we... we MUST do Phantom of the Opera together!"
And not being as foolish as I look, I said, "Yes, Andrew, love to." And the next morning I rushed out and bought the book. And after reading through it a couple of times, I quickly realised there were only two male roles of any consequence: one was the handsome, young nobleman, Raoul, and the other, rather grotesque, slightly older man, the Phantom.
Well, of course, I assumed he wants me to play... Raoul. So, the next day I go out and get a copy of the Claude Rains film version - as the Phantom. And as the handsome, young nobleman, Nelson Eddy. So for the next twelve months, I study this video morning, noon and night. I lived and breathed Nelson Eddy. At the end of twelve months, for all intents and purposes, I was Nelson Eddy. I looked like Nelson Eddy, I talked like Nelson, I even walked like Nelson Eddy. *Nelson Eddy-esque piano music in background* Oi, oi!
Finally, after twelve months of this, Andrew calls me. So I said, "Don't be ridiculous, operator. Of course I'll pay for the call..."
So, he said, "I want to see you tomorrow morning." So, the next morning, I ran- well, I didn't run, I walked as fast as I could... *piano music again* and I walked into the theatre, I struck a pose, and I said,
"Well, Andrew, I think you've got your handsome, young nobleman, Raoul."
And he said, "Yes, we do. We hired him last week."
I said, "What...?"
He said, "We want you to be the Phantom."
I said, "What...? The ugly, old..." And so I was. For over 1300 performances, I donned the mask and cape. *audience cheers* Playing the Phantom has certainly changed my life. I loved playing him and I always will. However, I do have one or two regrets. I'm not a bitter man, but I did, after all, waste a year of my life. And I thought that possibly, this evening, you'd give me an opportunity to maybe show you some of the work that I put in during my Nelson Eddy period. So maybe, with your permission... with your permission, I could show you my Raoul tonight. *audience cheers and laughs* Well...
Excuse me! I'll rephrase that. Maybe I could show you my interpretation of Raoul. *laughs* Dear, oh- *laughs again, audience cheers* And that... ha ha! He'll explain it to you later, madam. Um. And that will g- *laughs* That will give me the chance to sing that beautiful duet, 'All I Ask Of You' with the beautiful Dale Kristen. Please, please... you haven't heard it yet. All I ask of you my friends is that you appreciate all of the work that went into this, and to remember that I do control... all the chandeliers... above your heads...
Tee hee. I just love that story...