#mari muto

[magicmorningmeteora]

Who is your birthday oshi? ~Late January 2024~

Subscribe to the main blog | Social Media + RSS Links | M3 Grand Prix page | Birthday List + Oshi Poll

[silentlondon]

Le Giornate del Cinema Muto 2023: Pordenone Post No 6

Good vibes only at the Giornate on this sunny Thursday. All of us who made it to the extra-early morning serial knew that we had got out of bed on the right side as soon as we realised that this episode of Le P’tit Parigot might have been called La P’tite Parisienne. Yes, it was young Bouboule’s time to shine, as she raced to the rescue of Biscot in a very fetching Delaunay pinafore, and…

[superspecial-awesome]

Yugioh DM english localized names list I have no idea who this is gonna be useful for but it's out there now

Feel free to tell me if I missed something or got something wrong.

Jonouchi Katsuya: Joey Wheeler

Anzu Mazaki: Téa Gardner

Hiroto Honda: Tristan Taylor

Other Yugi: Yami

Ryuji Otogi: Duke Devlin

Mai Kujaku: Mai Valentine

Shizuka Kawai: Serenity Wheeler

Pegasus J. Crawford: Maximillion Pegasus

Insector Haga: Weevil Underwood

Dinosaur Ryuzaki: Rex Raptor

Ryota Kajiki: Mako Tsunami

Esper Roba: Espa Roba

Ghost Kotsuzuka: Bonz

Sugoroku Mutou: Solomon Muto

Rishid Ishtar: Odion Ishtar (I'm like 90% sure "Rishid" is also a failed localization of the Japanese spelling of "Rashid" but I'm mostly chosing not to be annoying about the Ishtars' names here)

Rebecca Hopkins: Rebecca Hawkins (Arthur Hopkins got the same last name change)

Miho Nosaka: Melody

Tomoya Hanasaki: Lint Greendale

Isono: Roland

Amelda: Alister

Cyndia Pegasus: Cecelia Pegasus

Princess Mary: Princess Adena

Pandora: Arkana

Doll/Pantomimer: Strings/The Quiet One

Mask of Light: Lumis

Mask of Darkness: Umbra

Mei: Para

Kyū: Dox

Player Killer of Darkness: PaniK

Imitator of Death: Mimic of Doom

Mr. Crocketts: Croquet

Saruwatari: Kemo

Soichiro Ota: Nezbitt

Chikuzen Ouka: Johnson

Konosike Oshita: Gansley

Kogoro Daimon: Leichter

Shuzo Otaki: Adrian Randolph Crump III

Takaido: Sid

Satake: Zygor

Juan: Aaron

Tom: Sam

Miruko: Mikey/Micheal

Barry Ginger: Balfry Ginger

Theodore Iwalaos: Totani Ialos

Essel Jansen: Shane Jordan

Mr. Morita: Coah Morty

Tetsu Ushio: Tetsu Trudge

Blankey: Lucky

Sunny: Skye

[l-incantatrice]

Io muto

tu sorda

entrambi ciechi

Tangibile realtà

dev'essere il mio amore

se alla fine

ci hai sbattuto contro

e ti sei fatta male

Michele Mari

[dissociationswagcompetition]

THE DISSOCIATION SWAG COMPETITION BRACKET IS HERE!!!

Click for better quality as Tumblr likes to eat quality! Goodness RIP my art program putting in all of these characters and texts hahaha!

All characters, including names and media, as well as which group they're in and when their versus poll will open are all under the cut!

ROUND 1

Round 1 will be broken up into four groups to avoid having too many polls at once

Group A - Tuesday, Feb 14, 2023

Patrick "Pat" Sprigs/Rey Sprigs (Mega Man Star Force) vs Crona (Soul Eater)

Darcy Wu (Amphibia) vs Raiden Ei (Genshin Impact)

Steven Universe (Steven Universe) vs Kris Dreemurr (Deltarune)

Ferb Fletcher (Phineas and Ferb) vs Benrey (Half Life VR but the AI is Self Aware)

Jaime Lannister (Game of Thrones) vs Maxim Kischine (Castlevania Harmony of Dissonance)

Sunny/Omori (Omori) vs Yugi Muto/Yami/Atem (Yu-Gi-Oh)

Uendo Toneido/Patches/Kisegawa/Owen (Ace Attorney) vs Harrier Du Bois (Disco Elysium)

Razputin "Raz" Aquato (Psychonauts) vs Dirk Strider (Homestuck)

Group B - Wednesday, Feb 15, 2023

Abed Nadir (Community) vs Olivier Mira Armstrong (Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood)

Yellow Guy (Don't Hug Me, I'm Scared) vs Jeanne-Marie Beaubier/Aurora (Marvel Comics)

Ienzo (Kingdom Hearts) vs Laudna (Critical Role)

Michael Shelley/Michael Distortion (The Magnus Archives) vs Mae Borowski (Night in the Woods)

"Crazy" Jane (Doom Patrol) vs Raphael Hamato (Rise of the TMNT)

Lord Garmadon (Lego Ninjago) vs Alfendi Layton (Layton Brothers: Mystery Room)

Sora (Kingdom Hearts) vs Veyle (Fire Emblem Engage)

Eda Clawthorne (The Owl House) vs Cecil Palmer (Welcome to Night Vale)

Group C - Thursday, Feb 16, 2023

Oscar Pine (RWBY) vs Shallan Davar/Veil/Radiant (Stormlight Archive)

Shulk (Xenoblade Chronicles) vs Jeritza von Hrym (Fire Emblem Three Houses)

ENA (ENA webseries) vs Shigeo "Mob" Kageyama (Mob Psycho 100)

Kujou Hikari/Shiny Luminous (Futari wa Pretty Cure Max Heart) vs Mafuyu Asahina (Project Sekai)

Goldia die Heilige (Pocket Mirror) vs Madotsuki (Yume Nikki)

Gregory House (House MD) vs One-One (infinity Train)

Bruce Banner/The Hulk (Marvel) vs Garu/Karu (NU: Carnival)

Nagisa Shiota (Assassination Classroom) vs Tenma Tsukasa (Project Sekai)

Group D - Friday, Feb 17, 2023

Cloud Strife (Final Fantasy VII) vs Zenitsu Agatsuma (Demon Slayer)

Harvey Dent/Two-Face (DC) vs Homura Akemi (Puella Magi Madoka Magica)

Blitzwing/Icy/Hothead/Random (Transformers Animated) vs Kayano Mikoto (MILGRAM)

Mike/Chester/Svetlana/Vito/Manitoba/Mal (Total Drama) vs Bruce Wayne/Batman (DC)

Sayo Yasuda (Umineko No Naku Koro Ni) vs Nandor the Relentless (What we do in the Shadows)

Jackson Jekyll/Holt Hyde (Monster High) vs Ingo (Pokemon)

Punch/Counterpunch (Transformers) vs Shadow the Hedgehog (Sonic the Hedgehog)

Chara Dreemurr (Undertale) vs Ash Williams (Evil Dead)

Thank you SO MUCH for everyone who submitted these lovely characters, I wish them all the best of luck!!! See youse all tomorrow~

[torontophantom]

The Phantom of the Opera - 35th Anniversary Live on Broadway

Not usually one to post this sort of thing, but considering the historical significance I couldn’t not. Please enjoy.

The Phantom of the Opera - 35th Anniversary Live on Broadway January 26, 2023 - The Majestic Theatre New York City

Download

Cast: Ben Crawford (The Phantom of the Opera), Emilie Kouatchou (Christine Daaé), Paul A. Schaefer (u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny), Raquel Suarez Groen (Carlotta Giudicelli), Craig Bennett (Monsieur Firmin), Nehal Joshi (Monsieur André), Maree Johnson (Madame Giry), Carlton Moe (Ubaldo Piangi), Sara Esty (Meg Giry), Carrington Vilmont (Auctioneer), Jim Weitzer (Monsieur Reyer/Hairdresser), Tug Watson (u/s Jeweler), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur Lefèvre/Firechief), David Michael Garry (Joseph Buquet/Don Attilio), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino), Kfir (Hannibal Solo Dancer), Weston Krukow (u/s Il Muto Solo Dancer), Kanisha Marie Feliciano (Page), Chris Georgetti (Porter/Fireman), Trista Moldovan (Spanish Lady), Satomi Hoffmann (Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante), Elizabeth Welch (Hannibal Princess), Kelly Jeanne Grant (Madame Firmin), Janet Saia (u/s Innkeeper's Wife), Jason Forbach (e/c Marksman)

Notes: Recorded from the Front Mez. The person beside me was enjoying some theatre snacks throughout the show, so apologies for any disturbances as a result of this. I also missed the very beginning of the Entr'acte, but there's a few other masters out there should you want to do an insert. Includes the full speeches during curtain call (including the boos when they mention the closing), and the shout out to the swings. We missed you Greg!

Truly a magical night, with absolutely amazing energy. As others have said, Emilie's "Wishing..." might be the best I've ever seen.

And to the guy outside the theatre with the sign asking for an extra Playbill, who I graciously gave my extra to, only to then notice him tuck it into his jacket and continue to stand there gathering more of the limited edition Playbills: the Opera Ghost is not pleased...

- O.G.

(•}•)

[glindaupland]

35th Anniversary - Audio Gift

finally finished cleaning up my 35th anniversary audio so here’s a gift if you’d like another version among the bunch released

The Phantom of the Opera (Andrew Lloyd Webber) - Broadway January 26, 2023 - 35th Anniversary

This includes a full video of Ben Crawford’s speech at curtain call (and you can hear me being extra crazy at certain parts haha). Please credit mirrorbluenight as the master if l added to trading lists, but gift upon request. Full cast and notes under cut!

Download

CAST: Ben Crawford (The Phantom of the Opera), Emilie Kouatchou (Christine Daaé), Paul A. Schaefer (u/s Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny), Raquel Suarez Groen (Carlotta Giudicelli), Craig Bennett (Monsieur Firmin), Nehal Joshi (Monsieur André), Maree Johnson (Madame Giry), Carlton Moe (Ubaldo Piangi), Sara Esty (Meg Giry), Carrington Vilmont (Auctioneer), Jim Weitzer (Monsieur Reyer/Hairdresser), Tug Watson (u/s Jeweler), Laird Mackintosh (Monsieur Lefèvre/Firechief), David Michael Garry (Joseph Buquet/Don Attilio), Jeremy Stolle (Passarino), Kfir (Hannibal Solo Dancer), Weston Krukow (u/s Il Muto Solo Dancer), Kanisha Marie Feliciano (Page), Chris Georgetti (Porter/Fireman), Trista Moldovan (Spanish Lady), Satomi Hoffmann (Wardrobe Mistress/Confidante), Elizabeth Welch (Hannibal Princess), Kelly Jeanne Grant (Madame Firmin), Janet Saia (u/s Innkeeper's Wife), Jason Forbach (e/c Marksman)

NOTES: 35th anniversary performance, fully tracked. The energy from the audience was such an incredible thing to experience. There's LOTS of cheering! Emilie's Wishing got an extended applause with some standing ovations and was one of the best performances of it I've ever seen. Some rustling can be heard at the start of each act as I try to set up and avoid being seen by ushers. Had to hush some people talking behind me at one point and you occasionally hear the guy behind me laughing like a snake. But hey you also have to hear me laugh, awww, and even slightly cry from being overwhelmed by the performance so I'm also guilty. A video of curtain call and Ben Crawford's full speech is included. Please gift upon request.

[brokehorrorfan]

Night of the Comet will be released on 4K Ultra HD + Blu-ray on September 12 via Scream Factory. Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney star in the 1984 sci-fi horror comedy.

Thom Eberhardt (Captain Ron, Honey, I Blew Up the Kid) writes and directs.Robert Beltran, Sharon Farrell, Mary Woronov, and Geoffrey Lewis round out the cast.

Shout Factory offers an exclusive set with a second slipcover designed by Joel Robinson and two 18x24 posters with the theatrical art and Robson's art. Pictured below, it costs $44.98.

Night of the Comet has been newly scanned in 4K from the original camera negative with Dolby Vision (HDR 10 compatible). Special features are listed below.

Disc 1 - 4K UHD:

Audio commentary by actors Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney

Audio commentary by director Thom Eberhardt

Audio commentary by production designer John Muto

Disc 2 - Blu-ray:

Audio commentary by actors Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney

Audio commentary by director Thom Eberhardt

Audio commentary by production designer John Muto

Interview with actors Catherine Mary Stewart and Kelli Maroney

Interview with actor Robert Beltran

Interview with makeup effects creator David B. Miller

Theatrical trailer

Galleries - movie stills and behind-the-scenes photos

It's the first comet to buzz the planet in 65 million years, and everyone seems to be celebrating its imminent arrival. Everyone, that is, except Regina Belmont (Catherine Mary Stewart) and her younger sister Samantha (Kelli Maroney), two women who care more about fashion trends than the celestial phenomenon. Upon daybreak, when they discover that they're the only residents of Los Angeles whom the comet hasn't vaporized or turned into a zombie, they do what all good Valley Girls do… they go shopping! But when their day of malling threatens to become a day of mauling, they flee with killer zombies and blood-seeking scientists in hot pursuit!

Pre-order Night of the Comet.

[bakawitch]

Ka☆Ke☆Oh! Roles

Characters

Jabami Yumeko - Shobami Yamiko (Yami Yugi)

Suzui Ryota/Tsubomi Nanami - Muto Yugi

Saotome Mary - Jonouchi Joey (Jonouchi Katsuya)

Unofficial Counterpart - Honda Hiroto

Kiwatari Jun - Tetsu Ushio

Unofficial Counterpart - Mazaki Anzu

Unofficial Counterpart - Bakura Kagero (Yami Bakura)

Unofficial Counterpart - Bakura Amane

Unofficial Counterpart - Bakura Ryou

Unofficial Counterpart - Pegasus J. Crawford

Kumagusu - Rafael Guevera (Rafael)

Unofficial Counterpart - Amelda Seul (Amelda)

Unofficial Counterpart - Valon Anderson (Valon)

Student Council

Momobami Kirari - Kaibami Seto (Kaiba Seto)

Momobami Ririka - Kaibami Eto (Kisara)

Igarashi Sayaka - Ob Bhakta (Obelisk the Tormentor)

Manyuda Kaede - Otogi Ryuji

Yumemite Yumemi - Nosaka Miho

Yomozuki Runa - Fiona Sheldon (Fiona the Doll)

Ikishima Midari - Kaminaga Dei (Yami Malik)

Nishinotouin Yuriko - Dartz Atlan (Dartz)

Sumeragi Itsuki - Kageyama Risa

The Kaibami Family

Totobami Terano - ???*

Totobami Yumi - ???

Inbami Miyo - Hibami Hoshiki (Horakthy, the Creator God of Light)

Yobami Miri - Okibami Raika (Winged Dragon of Ra)

Honebami Miroslava - Toubami Kaure (Thief King Bakura)

Mushibami Reimi - Sasubami Mana (Mana/Dark Magician Girl)

Warakubami Sumika - ???

Obami Rin - ???

Obami Ibara - ???

Komabami Nozomi - ???

Batsubami Rei (sort of) - ???

Unofficial Counterpart - Kaibami Mokuba

Tsuibami Kabura - ??? Atem

Election Committee

Yamato Inaho - ₊ ⊹₊ ⊹*

Uru Rumia - ₊ ⊹₊ ⊹

Fuen Ruri - ₊ ⊹₊ ⊹

Unconfirmed Roles

Jabami Souko

Shagatake

Tooame

Saori

Kaoruzaki Kaori

Insector Haga

Dinosaur Ryuzaki

Isis Ishtar

Rishid Ishtar

Mahad/Dark Magician

Cyndia

Iona

Zorc Necrophades (maybe?)

Please suggest characters I missed or roles if you can!

*??? means the role is already filled but hasn't been revealed yet

*₊ ⊹₊ ⊹ means super special surprise

[magicalgirlmelee]

Magical Girl Bracket

Written list under the cut

Polls will be posted later this week

Madoka Kaname from Puella Magi Madoka Magica vs. Valerie Amaranth from Magical Warrior Diamond Heart

Arisugawa Himari from KiraKira☆Pretty Cure A La Mode vs. Sora Harewataru from Hirogaru Sky! Pretty Cure

Erza Scarlet from Fairy Tail vs. Cocona Cocomine from Flip Flappers

Yugi Muto from Yu-Gi-Oh! Duel Monsters vs. Ahiru from Princess Tutu

Zatanna Zatara from DC Comics vs. Koyuki Himekawa from Magical Girl Raising Project

Ben Tennyson from Ben 10 vs. John Constantine from DC Comics

Doremi Harukaze from Magical DoReMi vs. Momoko Akatsutsumi from Powerpuff Girls Z

Andromeda Shun from Saint Seiya vs. Max Owen from Magical Boy

Luz Noceda from The Owl House vs. Jem from Jem and the Holograms

Momozono Love from Fresh Pretty Cure! vs. Ruru Amour from HUGtto! Pretty Cure

Mari Maya from Samurai Flamenco vs. Madoka Aguri from Doki Doki! Pretty Cure

Tinker Bell from the Pixie Hollow movies vs. Ryuko Matoi from Kill la Kill

Flora from Winx Club vs. Aelita Schaeffer from Code Lyoko

Himeno Awayuki from Pretear vs. Amu Hinamori from Shugo Chara!

Danny Fenton from Danny Phantom vs. Ayumu Aikawa from Is This is a Zombie?

Luluco from Space Patrol Luluco vs. Homura Akemi from Puella Magi Madoka Magica

Ichigo Motomiya from Tokyo Mew Mew vs. Undine Wells from Sleepless Domain

Marinette Dupain-Cheng from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir vs. Chocola Meilleure from Sugar Sugar Rune

Shirayuki from Snow White with the Red Hair vs. Myoudouin Itsuki from  Heartcatch Pretty Cure!

Adrien Agreste from Miraculous: Tales of Ladybug & Cat Noir vs. Dante from Devil May Cry

Minami Maki from Majitora vs. Alear from Fire Emblem Engage

Sally Yumeno from Sally the Witch vs. Talia from Lolirock

Korra from The Legand of Korra vs. The Guardian of the Veil from W.I.T.C.H.

Kiana Kaslana from Honkai Impact 3rd vs. Hotaru Tomoe from Sailor Moon

Utena Tenjou from Revolutionary Girl Utena vs. Steven Universe from Steven Universe

Atsuko Kagari from Little Witch Academia vs. Meimi Haneoka from Saint Tail

Anne Boonchuy from Amphibia vs. Adora from She-Ra and the Princesses of Power

Laura from Tropical-Rouge! Pretty Cure vs. Anthy Himemiya from Revolutionary Girl Utena

Star Butterfly from Star vs. the Forces of Evil vs. Hoshina Hikaru from  Star☆Twinkle Pretty Cure

Chibiusa Tsukino from Sailor Moon vs. Kurama from Yu Yu Hakusho

Rose Lalonde from Homestuck vs. Sakura Kinomoto from Cardcaptor Sakura

Iris from Lolirock vs. Usagi Tsukino from Sailor Moon

[silentlondon]

Le Giornate del Cinema Muto 2024: Pordenone Post No 6

Wouldn’t you like to go Behind the Scenes with DW Griffith and Florence Lawrence? I sure would, that’s why I was bright and early at the Verdi this morning for the 1980 Biograph package. Behind the Scenes, per the catalogue is the “happy exception” among the 1908 output. Well it certainly had punch. A distraught mother must tear herself from her daughter’s sickbed to kick her heels and shake her…

[smokingago]

“Hai mai provato

A guardare il cielo

A stenderti su un prato

accarezzare un fiore

a seguire con lo sguardo

cime, foglie, aurore

che spuntano di nuovo tra l’azzurro e il sole.

Hai mai provato

A guardare il mare

Come tu fossi un pescatore,

silenzioso sulla riva,

A seguire con lo sguardo

una scia che traccia rosso l’orizzonte

Scoprire che unisce l’oriente e l’occidente.

Hai mai provato

a scegliere una via

come tu fossi un viaggiatore,

lasciarti trasportare dall’istinto

andare in giro per il mondo

tra mari, monti, pianure, deserti

imbrigliare muto o guidare un sentimento.

Hai mai provato

A costruire un sogno

Come tu fossi un costruttore,

soltanto con l’aiuto del tuo cuore,

Senza avere per le mani una città

Un progetto, un permesso, una licenza,

grattacieli e grandi i spazi di speranza.

Hai mai provato

A guardare il cielo,

a lasciarti guidare da una stella

a far della tua vita un sogno

lasciare ogni cosa che si avveri

come nella favola più bella.”

Arnoldo Foà

#fotomia

[speccyfilmnerd]

Richard Elfman’s ‘Forbidden Zone’...

An Unknown, Absurdist, Avant-Garde Cult-Classic.

23.12.23

Overview

Forbidden Zone is what I, and many others, would consider a true hidden gem. Born from the underground alternative film scene of late 70s LA, the viewer is taken on a visual rollercoaster through the un-methodological madness of creator, director and producer Richard Elfman's mind, creating an experience unlike any other.

I highly recommend that you, if you haven't already, watch this movie. And you do it in a way that would support the people behind it. This is especially important to do for Forbidden Zone and films like it, for reasons I'll get into later… I'm aware that in the current and extremely annoying space of streaming it's tempting to delve into piracy but I'd advise against it. trust me it's worth it.

The Film Itself

The movie follows a french girl named ‘Frenchy’ (played by Marie-Pascale Elfman, the director's wife at the time) falling through a door in her basement into the sixth dimension. A place that is, for a lack of a better term, very horny. The hedonistic landscape consumes her and through a series of musical numbers she finds love and evil is conquered.

(Susan Tyrrell as Queen Doris)

This ‘evil’ is the scene stealing (reason I'm gay) Queen Doris, portrayed by the incredible Susan Tyrrell. Susan's performance is, in my opinion, the reason this film has had such an impact on me. Forbidden Zone is the reason I started taking film making seriously, not just as a hobby but as a career, and Queen Doris is the reason I love this movie. Her main musical number ‘witches egg’ is a charming and memorable scene (and I'm still upset it got taken off Spotify.) Her eye-catching appearance embodies the word camp. She's truly an incredible actress playing a delightful character that is a joy to see on the screen. I could turn this whole essay into a fan-girl spiel just about her, I adore her.

It would be impossible to brush over Hervé Villechaize’s Character, King Fausto. Although Fausto doesn't sing or dance, he does do something no other character does… he's the most annoying not-an-antagonist the entire realm has to offer. I mean, maybe I feel this way cuz I've got a massive crush on Doris and he doesn't realize how lucky he is- actually it is that. it's totally that. THE CHEATING SCUM!!!

(Danny Elfman as Satan with the Mystic Knights of the Oingo Boingo)

Something I've mentioned already is the music. Forbidden Zone features music written and performed by the Mystic Knight of the Oingo Boingo, more specifically it's leader Danny Elfman, the directors brother, and his right hand man Steve Bartek. The Knights also have an appearance in the film, Danny plays a Cab Calloway style interpretation of Satan while Steve and the other Knights dance behind him, dressed in long black cloaks and painted head to toe in gray makeup. And yes I see you, reader at the back scratching his head, it's that Danny Elfman.

Frenchy herself is another joy to watch, her sweet voice and ditsy personality are just another layer of charm for the viewer to lap up. Along with playing the lead, Marie was also the production designer. The film had a low budget (less than $90,000) and she did an exceptional job using what she had to create the stylised world of the sixth dimension. The overall visual look of the film is that of a live-action cartoon. Along with animated segments by John Muto which tie a lovely bow over the whole thing.

Production

It's no surprise that a film with such a low budget and small cast and crew would go through a lot before release. Richard Elfman himself recalls losing his house often in interviews, along with the finished film entirely. After several decades it was rightfully returned to him. Most of the cast and crew were paid very little or nothing at all, surprisingly I found a video of DEVO’s Gerald Casale saying he and his bandmates originally approached to do the film's music, but they refused after finding out how little money was in it.

Along with the film's actual composer, Danny and his band with Marie being actors, writer Mathew Bright and other crew members played characters on screen, even Richard has a small scene. This leads me to say how the film has a passion running through it. Unlike many other movies we see more and more of, Forbidden Zone was truly a creative adventure for all involved with no intention of making the most money possible. 

Richard, in 2019 said: "Doing anything original is taking a chance. Financially it bankrupted me and we lost our house. But I'm still glad I did it. 

Conclusion

Forbidden Zone is one of my favorite movies of all time, and I've seen a lot of movies. Once again, I recommend taking a look for yourself and supporting the artists behind it.

Interviews referenced/sources used:

Richard Elfman talking about the film in 2019:

rolling stone:

[withallthingslove]

The Phantom of the Opera Broadway Thoughts/Review - March 9, 2023

This marked my fifth time seeing Phantom on Broadway, and I went with my friend who was seeing it for the first time. The Phantom was Ben Crawford, Raoul was Paul A. Schaefer, and Christine was played by both Emilie Kouatchou and Kanisha Marie Feliciano. Kanisha replaced Emilie during Il Muto. 

compared to when I saw it in December, the audience was not as loud during songs and was more enthralled/not taking a breath

From the start, Paul’s Raoul seemed stronger than the last time I saw him. It was also a vocally strong performance all around for everyone. 

While going down to the lair during the title song, Ben’s Phantom caressed Christine’s arm as she passed him at the end of the travelator

During STYDI, Emilie and Ben had a lot of tension when she decided to hand his mask back. And the way Ben hovered over her before grabbing her arm made me sjdjsk

Ben and Emilie were not seen coming up the trap door after the lair and the part where the ballerinas would spot the Phantom and Christine was cut. Instead the ballerinas just screamed after Magical Lasso and exited instead of pointing toward the Phantom and Christine so something felt off there

Kanisha came on during Il Muto instead of Emilie and it was my first time ever seeing an emergency cover happen in a show. During Il Muto I thought Kanisha’s confusion played well, but in All I Ask of You she seemed a bit overwhelmed. Paul really took over All I Ask of You and increased his energy in a really reassuring way.

When Ben appeared in the angel my friend went “oh fuck oh fuck” so it’s cool how surprising the angel still is to people who haven’t seen it

Ben also timed his hand coming up over the angel to the music so well it made it feel really gothic and creepy

Nehal Joshi as Andre really brought a ton of physical comedy and had dialed it up a bunch since I saw it in December. He walked through the ballerinas performing in Hannibal and bumped into more ballerinas during Il Muto. He also was more exaggerated with Firmin. 

Ok so we have to talk about Paul in act II... the first time I have seen him have consistent stage presence all the way through. He had so many cute moments with Kanisha and was appearing so protective instead of just standing there. I can’t even begin to recount the number of little reassuring touches he did that just added so much to his relationship with Christine. My friend commented that she thought she would be bored of Raoul based on the beginning but was obsessed with him in act II so she also noticed it

Kanisha has such a beautiful voice, but I think it took until Wishing for her to settle into the character. Her Wishing was really beautiful!

When Ben appeared in the graveyard my friend went “not this fucker again.” 

It was the best Wandering Child trio I’ve seen (and I do not like the trio in the song I prefer how it used to be from years ago). But the trio actually worked here. It was really cool to see Ben’s characterization change with Kanisha compared to how he would be with Emilie. With Kanisha he was immediately more paternal with her and this made the lyrics “wandering child” and “fathering gaze” that much more impactful.

Paul was bringING it during Wandering Child and since Kanisha and Ben were too, the sequence of Christine walking in a trance to the Phantom to Raoul stopping her, to the Phantom yelling at them while Chrisitne tries to stop Raoul while Raoul tries to protect Chrisitne just all ~ came together ~ 

Ben sounded really good in PONR. The new blocking I think this time I interpreted that Christine was just trying to force the Phantom to finish the choreography and then once she unveiled it as him she was maybe going to try and find a way to help the situation without the Phantom needing to die. And then he proposed to her and she was SHOCKED

During the final lair Ben was a bit more scary and physical than when I saw him in December and this made Paul louder and more protective. Kanisha’s “tears of hate” line was very defiant.

After the kiss for a second it looked like Kanisha’s Christine maybe felt something for the Phantom but a bit unclear on what that feeling was. She definitely stopped hating him after the kiss though and was looking at him almost perplexed and even after he let Roaul go, she still seemed to be trying to figure out what he was doing and what she felt

Ben broke my heart because when Christine came back to return the ring he leapt up and seemed to be thinking she was going to stay. Then Kanisha took a huge step back and stiffly outstretched her arm and it dawned on him that she wasn’t staying. 

He sang “I love you” once, and once she left he said it again but more in a pitiful way to himself. So he wasn’t trying to convince her to stay like he did when I saw him with Emilie. 

I don’t get the 100% vibe that Ben’s Phantom goes after Kanisha’s Christine. He seems to have sadly accepted it and I see more of like a 25% he considers trying to find her but doesn’t go through with it

I cried multiple times during the show and when I got home I sobbed at the thought of that being my last time seeing Phantom, so I bought one more ticket for April. My credit card and friends and family are probably unsurprised yet exasperated, but I think need one more time to say goodbye. This show in particular was pretty much perfect vocally, and it was so cool to compare the different acting interpretations and how they changed once Kanisha came onstage. 

But it was super chaotic and a roller coaster of emotions from hoping Emilie is OK, wondering what happened, being disappointed Emilie wasn’t on anymore, loving that I got to see Kanisha, and then being disappointed I couldn’t have seen Kanisha at the beginning while still wishing I got to see Emilie all the way through. By the time Ben was singing at the end of the Final Lair, I realized my emotions had been so all over the place and I had so much adrenaline that I didn’t get to use the show the way I originally intended and hadn’t been able to just sit back and appreciate it one last time.

So I guess I’m going back again

[rainofaugustsith]

I really wonder if the Conservative Americans (tm) banning drag shows and "impersonators" even think for a moment about all the times that characters/actors playing a different gender are part of what is considered wholesome family entertainment and has been for a good century or more. It's only when it's a drag show or LGBT+ that it's somehow harmful which is so damned interesting, eh? A ban on "impersonators" (either by performing as a different gender or wearing gender nonconforming clothing) bans classic theater that is considered perfectly fine for under-18 year olds to see and even act in: 1. The Nutcracker ballet (Mother Ginger) 2. The Phantom of the Opera musical (Christine during Il Muto) 3. Chicago (Mary Sunshine) 4. Twelfth Night, Two Gentlemen of Verona and a bunch of other Shakespeare plays (female characters dress as and impersonate men) 5. Any ancient Greek play performed traditionally (the actors were men) 6. Any Shakespeare/Elizabethan play performed traditionally (the actors were men and boys) 7. Gypsy musical (Baby Louise dresses as a boy in her numbers) 8. Les Miserables musical (Gavroche is sometimes understudied and performed by the girls who play young Cosette/Eponine; there are at least two women actors dressed in the same clothes as the men on the barricades) 9. The Vampire Lestat musical (Gabrielle) 10. La Cage Aux Folles 11. Victor/Victoria (title character is a woman playing a man playing a woman) 12. Rent (Angel) 13. Miss Saigon (Tam has been played by both girls and boys even though the character is male) 14. West Side Story (Anybodys) 15. Cabaret (the Emcee possibly) Others?

[ilquadernodelgiallo]

Chi eri nel mondo dei vivi chiese il passero allo spaventapasseri Un uomo che non suscitò in chi amava l'amore per questo ti posi impunemente sulla mia manica vuota _______________ Nella mia testa c'è sempre stata una stanza vuota per te quante volte ci ho portato dei fiori quante volte l'ho difesa dai mostri Adesso ci abito io e i mostri sono entrati con me _______________ Dal mio banco al tuo c'erano tre metri che non ho mai percorso Per quel peccato originale ora salgo su tutti i ponti del mondo gettati sui fiumi più larghi sugli abissi più fondi ma dopo appena tre metri ogni ponte si sporge sul vuoto _______________ Ti ho amata sempre nel silenzio contando sull'ingombro di quell'amore e di quel silenzio ed anche quando poi ci siamo scritti la profilassi guidava la mia mano perché ogni senso fosse soltanto negli spazi bianchi e nondimeno mi sentivo osceno come se la più ermetica allusione grondasse la bava del questuante Mai in ogni caso dubitai che tu sapessi finché scoprimmo insieme di esser vissuti trent'anni nell'errore tu ignorando io presumendo e allora in un punto è stato chiaro che solo al muto il battito del cuore è rimbombante _______________ Il tuo silenzio dici è pieno di me Così so come si sentono i morti pensati dai vivi _______________ In uno di quei vecchi film francesi con le musichine francesi nelle brume francesi Yves Montand diceva ad Annie Girardot o Maurice Ronet a Jeanne Moreau che il segreto dei lunghi amori è continuare a vedersi come la prima volta che ci si vide E tu pazza hai avuto paura del mio amore perché temevi la concorrenza di quella che chiamavi la tua icona senza riconoscerla come il tuo tesoro più grande Così rimanete separate la tua deriva al mondo la tua essenza a me _______________ Sei venuta a vedere per la prima volta l'università dove insegno e dove ho studiato il giorno stesso in cui mi hai detto addio Non altrimenti l'assassino fruga nel portafoglio della vittima per saperle un nome che renda più domestico il fantasma _______________ Fedeli al duro accordo non ci cerchiamo più Così i bambini giocano a non ridere per primi guardandosi negli occhi e alcuni sono così bravi che diventano tristi per la vita intera

Michele Mari, Cento poesia d'amore per Ladyhawke