Phantom of the Opera

Mom & I started seeing Phantom of the Opera at the Kentucky Center for the Arts WAY back in January of 1994.  NOW-you may wonder how I remember that?   It was my senior year of high school & on our way home it started to rain/sleet.  That storm ending up being the storm of the century in Louisville where we got like 20" of snow or something crazy & it was cold as all get out.  We were out of school forever & the whole town of Louisville & interstates were shut down for days.

Since way back in 1994 we've seen it every time it's come to town SO-when I heard it was coming back again I told mom I would get us tickets for her birthday.  Her birthday was last August & the tickets went on sale in January.  Finally the day was upon us to go see it on Sunday afternoon in June.  (This had to be the longest birthday drag out ever...)

We parked in the garage next to the Muhammad Ali Center.  There were news vans everywhere.

There were a lot of people milling around as well & we saw a guy set up w/ a hot dog cart.  I think this guy is a genius.  Location, location, location.

Ya'll know I love to be early & we got there so early I'm embarrassed to tell you HOW early... But listen to my justification - traffic can get really crowded downtown closer to the start time.  Once you make it through traffic you have to find a spot to park, walk to the venue, etc.   One time we were stuck in traffic in front of the Center before a Lion King performance.  I nearly had a stroke thinking we weren't going to make it in time & we got to our seats w/ only seconds to spare.  I do NOT roll like that.
For the record - I wanted to be there about an hour early- it started at 1:00.  However my timing calculations for eating before we went & accounting for 'Sunday brunchers' we ended up with extra time...
 Ok, ok - we were there an hour & half before it started.  

Don't judge me...

  The place was pretty empty when we got there, but it started to fill up quickly.    

Mom said, 'Look-we're not the only ones here early!'

That's mom code for 'look Jaime - you're not the only crazy one here!'

I knew that they had made changes to the show & I was excited to see them.  But when we walked in & I saw the chandelier on the ceiling I wasn't happy.   If you don't know about the story of Phantom, the chandelier is a seriously big deal & an integral piece of the story.  In the other shows we've seen it starts on the stage, then is illuminated & hoisted to the ceiling before our very eyes... this time is started out suspended to the ceiling...no sitting on stage...no hoisting... 

So everyone asks me 'what did you think?'  Well--I give it an 'ok'.  The music was the same which is good because the music is AWESOME.  However, I didn't like some of the set changes.  I'm definitely a person who embraces change, but in my 'be it ever so humble opinion' the changes they made weren't for the better.

For example, when Christine goes to the Phantom's lair there were hundreds of candles that came up out of stage - come on - that's cool!  But nope, no candles outta the floor this time...

And the chandelier?  Well, don't get me going on THAT again...

During intermission mom asked what I thought & of course I told her my issues.  I ended my sentence w/ "but no one cares what I think" to which she responded, 'Oh - no one called you to get your input?'  

No, they did NOT.

Rest assured though - if it comes to town again I will go see it AGAIN.  I'm a glutton for punishment like that.  Besides - the music is reason enough to go.  (But if they start jacking w/ the music it's game over - be warned Phantom of the Opera people...)