From the Archives, 1993: Curtain at half-mask to farewell Phantom
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First published in The Age on June 6, 1993
Curtain at half-mask to farewell Phantom
MORE than 284 bottles of champagne, dozens of plates of “Asian-inspired” finger food, streamers, flowers and tears…
People queue for tickets to see The Phantom of the Opera at Princess Theatre.Credit: Sandy Scheltema
‘The Phantom of the Opera’ wound up its record-breaking, 30-month run at the Princess Theatre last night.
Gone are the 4000 tourists who came weekly, and the daily queues on Spring Street of diehards waiting for cancelled tickets.
The musical ‘Cats’ will return to fill the vacuum at the theatre after a short season of the ballet ‘Beauty and the Beast’.
Yesterday the phantom, Rob Guest, was “savouring every moment” of the show’s last day in Melbourne.
“Phantom was a phenomenon. The Princess will never be the same again, for better or worse,” he said.
The closing scene was neatly staged with the prerequisite standing ovation, streamers, herded media and a four-page speech by the leading man.
Mr Guest last night thanked the “unnoticed” brigade of people behind the production in his prepared speech at curtain call.
The final performance of ‘The Phantom’ marked the end of an era in Melbourne, he said.
“When this production opened in Melbourne in 1990 nobody had the inclination that it would play 1648 performances and never have an empty seat,” he told hundreds of adoring fans.
The run of ‘The Phantom’ in Melbourne eclipses ‘My Fair Lady’ and helped ensure a future for the Princess Theatre that looked bleak until its restoration in 1989.
“Many have asked us what makes this production so special,” said Guest. “The answer is relatively simple.
“There is the famous story by Gaston Leroux, Andrew Lloyd Webber’s wonderful score, superb staging, magical sets and costumes, add to that the work of individuals involved in the cast, the orchestra, technical staff, wardrobe and costumes, together with our product house staff, catering staff and management
“All of this gives you a very powerful recipe for success.”
He said that Victoria and Australia should be very proud of the production’s achievement and its future.
The 300 people involved in the production of ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ have raised $100,000 in charity and have given Melbourne many significant financial benefits, according to the lead player.
“Half-a-million customers who stayed in Melbourne injected millions of dollars into the city’s economy,” he said.
“I’d like to thank you Melbourne, it has been a triumph.”
He closed the final performance with a quote from the play: “It’s over now, the music of the night.”
Three parties were held after the show. The theatre’s developers, David and Elaine Marriner, threw a turn with French champagne and nibbles for 150 in the formal dining room before the show, while catering and theatre staff celebrated downstairs with a few drinks afterwards.
“Friends” of the show, such as entertainers Patti Newton and Daryl Somers, Felicity Kennett, the wife of the Premier, and the Lord Mayor, Cr Des Clarke, were admitted to the revelling camps. Found socialising after the show, Mrs Kennett confided that this was the fourth time she had seen the spectacle.
“It’s fun and lovely and colourful,” she enthused. “I came tonight because I brought my mum along.”
Another cast-and-crew party for 300 was held at a South Yarra restaurant last week.
The packing up, or “bumping out”, of the spectacular set began as soon as the show finished. Meanwhile, the cut, some of whom will continue with the production, have scattered for holidays.
The Princess Theatre will not be idle for long, and renovations are underway to the Federici Bar and Princess Cafe.
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