Magnificent Obsession, 1935

Suing John Cudia for Emotional Distress for:

The way his evil laugh sounds like a wail/sob.

Looking upward during the portcullis sprawl like his soul is going to leave his body with Christine brushing up against his--

Panicking and considering CPR when Christine faints.

HANDS (see items 5-7)

Doing motions that make me squirm during STYDI of all numbers when most Phantoms are concerned with the crawl.

Clutching at everything--fabric, air, his own knees and legs--during PONR.

Balling up in a fist when Christine kisses him and then stationed like they're almost protecting his heart afterwards.

The way he slides his whole body up against Christine during PONR.

The way he slides his whole body up against Christine during the final lair kiss.

Laying ON TOP of Christine when he's spiraling during the final lair.

Turning his neck at a damn near 90 degree angle when Raoul arrives in the graveyard.

Cheekbones.

It was all intentional. Lawyer up.

Gaaaaaah that first gif is literally a permanent fixture in my brain.

earl

In one of your older posts I read about how Marcus Lovett deliberately echoed Raoul and Piangi for some scenes, because he thought that Erik would mimic them in terms of “manly” behavior. I thought this was really interesting, and I was wondering if you could talk about any scenes in particular that stood out in this way?

One scene that definitely stood out was the proposal after “Point of No Return”, before the unmasking. Here Marcus Lovett’s Phantom seemed to perfectly mimick Raoul’s movements and manners in the Rooftop scene.

I thought it was an interesting take on it, and I brought it up when talking to Marcus Lovett after the show. He looked mighty pleased that I had noticed that detail. He told it was an acting choice; that he envisioned the Phantom studying the men of the opera numerous times to try and understand how a man was supposed to appear to the world. Which is why the Phantom has a slightly theatrical flair, because without realizing he was just as much studying opera roles than actual men. But with Raoul he saw genuine affections towards a woman, and this is what he figures out Christine wants - hence the PONR moment (albeit he could probably pick up more clues from Raoul, given what happens next...!)

There’s something deeply human and adorably clumsy about this, and when seeing Marcus Lovett’s Phantom again with this arch in mind I loved him doubly. He had really thought of every single little detail he did on stage, from hand movements to grander arch storytelling. Which is also why, despite moments of rusty vocals, I list him as one of my favourite Phantoms.

Why would you do this to me Fish?!?!

Phantoms who return the embrace, part 2 (part 1 here)

Sandor Sasvari & Andrea Maho | Budapest 2003

Josh Piterman & Kelly Mathieson | London 2019

Josh Robson & Georgina Hopson | Sydney Harbour 2022

Tim Howar & Harriet Jones | Thessaloniki 2023

James Gant & Holly-Anne Hull | London 2023

Kevin Greenlaw & Emma Kajander | Helsinki 2024

Nadim Naaman & Georgia Wilkinson | Lisbon 2024

Jon Robyns & Lily Kerhoas | London 2024

“Everyone saw in my face evil traits that I didn’t possess. But they assumed I did, and so they developed. I was modest, and was accused of being deceitful: I became secretive. I had a strong sense of good and evil; instead of kindness I received nothing but insults, so I grew resentful. I was gloomy, other children were merry and talkative. I felt myself superior to them, but was considered inferior: I became envious. I was ready to love the whole world, but no one understood me, so I learned to hate. My colorless youth was spent in a struggle with myself and with the world. Fearing mockery, I buried my best feelings at the bottom of my heart: there they died.”

— Mikhail Lermontov, A Hero of Our Time (trans. Vladimir Nabokov)

PRIDE AND PREJUDICE (2005) dir. Joe Wright

And of course I'm thinking about Phantom of the Opera.

panna a netvor (beauty and the beast), dir. juraj herz (1978) + anne williams - art of darkness: a poetics of gothic

Guillermo del toro phantom of the opera remake would fuck so severely