REVIEW 'The Phantom of the Opera' now lives beneath the Charlotte Theater in Seoul
A scene from the musical, "The Phantom of the Opera" / Courtesy of S&CO
Musical 'The Phantom of the Opera' to run through Nov. 17
By Holly Chik
The legendary musical “The Phantom of the Opera” is back in Seoul with a top-notch Korean cast and breathtaking live orchestral music.
The Korean-language version of the performance is making a strong third-time comeback with glamorous costumes, creative set design and engaging choreography.
“It gives me great joy that The Phantom's story will be told in South Korea once again in the Korean language,” the composer Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote in the playbill. He also noted that the show's debut in 2001 attracted over 300,000 people, and a successful return followed in 2009.
A scene from the musical, "The Phantom of the Opera" / Courtesy of S&CO
Adapted from the namesake novel by French writer Gaston Leroux, the award-winning musical is set in the grand Paris Opera House, where the enigmatic Phantom resides in a labyrinthine lair hidden beneath the theater.
The Phantom also assumes the role of a mysterious singing teacher known as the "Angel of Music" for Christine, a talented young woman who takes on the leading role of prima donna with her lyrical voice. This opportunity arises after a series of accidents at the opera ― suspected to be the work of "the ghost" ― leave the role vacant.
After her first performance as the chief singer, she reunites with her childhood friend Raoul, a nobleman and patron of the Opera. Their vows of love later enrage the Phantom, who plots disasters at the theater.
The story is a blend of romance, mystery and tragedy told with striking and memorable melodies.
A scene from the musical, "The Phantom of the Opera" / Courtesy of S&CO
While the longest-running show in Broadway history ended its 35-year run in New York City this April, the musical is being brought to other parts of the world, including on a national tour in China, as well as Osaka, Japan and London, United Kingdom.
In Korea, the show was performed in the southern port city of Busan in June before moving to the capital.
At the theater, audiences are greeted with a big white mask ― an iconic symbol of the musical ― in the middle of a wall of roses embellished with candelabras before they make their way up a staircase decorated with red flowers to the auditorium.
Many lined up to take photos with a cartoon version of the Phantom holding a rose.
In the Korean production, Phantom is played by Cho Seung-woo, Choi Jae-rim, Julian Kim and Jeon Dong-suk. Sohn Ji-soo and Song Eun-hye perform as Christine, while Song Won-geun and Hwang Gun-ha play the role of Raoul.
"The Phantom of the Opera" is scheduled to run through Nov. 17 at the Charlotte Theater in Seoul.