Final lair edition because this scene alone has permanent residence in an entire area of my brain.
When Davis Gaines and Stephen Buntrock take "this face which earned a mother's fear and loathing" up an octave. If you got the range, flaunt it I guess.
Hugh Panaro absolutely torments Raoul. Why are you waving at him from the other side of the portcullis? Why are you singing "raise up your hands to the level of your eyes" like that?!
The way Ian Jon Bourg and Kevin Gray scream "I love you."
The way Hugh Panaro whispers "I love you."
The way John Cudia fumbles "I love you. I--" in his performance with Sarah Lawrence.
Honestly there are no less than fifty Phantom I love you's that play in my head at any given moment. I'm obsessed with extra ilys.
But also Earl Carpenter saying "fuck an ily" and just dropping to his knees to offer Christine the ring again like the sad wet cat he is.
David Shannon screaming "No!" when Christine says "you deceived me."
Phantoms who lean their cheek against Christine's hair between kisses (shout out to Ben Crawford, Laird Mackintosh, and Jonathan Roxmouth, this is an underrated 2020s calling card).
Any Christine putting their hand to the Phantom's cheek during the kiss. Common West End staple, but bonus points if a Phantom reacts to it (Ramin, Earl, David Shannon, etc.)
When Sierra Boggess turns back to look at Erik one last time during the 25th anniversary performance and RK gives her that slight nod like, "Go ahead, it's ok." Kill me.
Lucy St. Louis staring down Killian Donnelly's Phantom through the portcullis while she (supposedly) sings "share each day with me" to another man.
The way he sings/acts "is THIS what you wanted to see?" during the unmasking. Why is it so unique and convincing??
That reptilian neck movement in the graveyard. He is a poisonous snake. He will BITE you, Raoul!
That looooooong pause in the final lair before he whispers "you try my patience."
(3a) Sometimes a well-placed pause is more powerful than a yell--especially in a musical like POTO where everything is meticulously paced and most of the audience probably thinks they know what to expect. I thought I knew!! Turns out I did not, JRox.
His hands. I'm bringing a claim against JRox's hands alone. They just kept...doing things that made me want to cry and/or die like (see points 6, 7, 8, and 9):
Touching Christine's face in PONR.
Wrapping his fingers around the apple like that.
The flickofthewrist during the title song.
Reaching for Christine during the ring return as if this is an Earl Carpenter throwback, I am GUTTED.
The whole first lair. The whole thing.
Resting his cheek against Christine's head during the embrace between kisses like he's being soothed/mothered.
The general thoughtfulness of his interpretation. Props to him for maturing into this role the way he has, it's all so assured now! He really "gets" it, but I'm just emotionally damaged by it.
I issue a public apology for my completely private judgments of you JRox. But you will still be served papers.