THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Wednesday, November 22, 1995 TAG: 9511220066
SECTION: DAILY BREAK PAGE: E1 EDITION: FINAL
TYPE: Theater Preview
SOURCE: BY MAL VINCENT, ENTERTAINMENT WRITER
LENGTH: Medium: 70 lines
AS TRACTOR-TRAILERS rolled into downtown Norfolk carrying a huge chandelier, hundreds of costumes and tons of other props and equipment, the excitement couldn't have been greater if the pope were paying a visit.
``Phantom of the Opera'' has arrived.
With $4 million already spent on tickets, it is destined to be the biggest and longest-running show in local theater history. In other ways, it's a show told in numbers:
Twenty trucks will be needed to move everything from the last stop in Rhode Island.
The chandelier weighs 1,000 pounds and contains 35,000 beads.
For the underground lake scene, 141 candles will rise from the floor of Chrysler Hall.
In all, 550 pounds of dry ice are used for each performance.
There are 230 costumes and a
lifelike, life-sized elephant that rolls on wheels.
Of the 90 members of the company, 36 are performers. There will be a 16-piece orchestra.
Stage manager Elizabeth Farwell, who was supervising the move-in last week, has been with the company three years and has seen ``Phantom'' 800 times. It never gets old.
``We keep it fresh. There are always new people coming in,'' she said. ``It's never quite the same any one night. When we bring in a new principal, we rehearse for four weeks before he or she goes on. We hold regular rehearsals for the ensemble, usually between noon and 5 p.m. a couple of times a week. It's hard to find time for rehearsal when you're on the road.''
As opposed to other venues on the tour, some of which were completely rebuilt to house the production, Chrysler Hall required fewer renovations. Re-enforced steel was used on a portion of the ceiling to support the chandelier and its motors.
``With the motors, the chandelier is some 2,000 pounds,'' Farwell said. ``One doorway was enlarged to accommodate sound equipment being moved in. Cables had to be laid all over the theater. On the whole, though, this theater didn't require as many changes as most.''
Based on the classic novel by Gaston Leroux, the musical tells the story of the hideously deformed Phantom who lurks beneath the stage of the Paris Opera. When he falls in love with the young soprano Christine, he decides to make her a new star - and get rid of her rivals. He plans for her to live with him on the underground lakes.
As almost everyone knows by now, things don't go as he plans.
Andrienne MeEwan stars as Christine with John Schroeder as Raoul, her handsome suitor. Her not-so-handsome suitor is played by Thomas James O'Leary.
So far, 65 percent of the tickets available for ``Phantom's'' long Norfolk run have been sold. City officials are hoping that not all of the money will be spent at the box office.
Ticket purchases have been made from as far away as Florida, with big responses from Raleigh, Chapel Hill and Richmond. People coming from those areas will need places to eat and sleep while they're in Norfolk. Who knows, some may even visit Nauticus. ILLUSTRATION: Color photo
There are 36 performers in the company presenting "The Phantom of
the Opera" at Chrysler Hall in Norfolk.
by CNB