Early FX
Category: Stage show - special effects, etc
Subtitle: #0 Did they really try...? The special effects which didn't reach the final show.
Author: Christine Daae
Date: 6 Jun 2005
Keywords: early|special|effects|FX
Descent to the Lair
A dummy of Christine was to ride down the bridge on a white model horse, being led by the Phantom. It looked lovely but it had to be cut as it had an annoying habit of going down the bridge backwards. It was set up as a skate board, and the actor operated the brakes. When he stood on the board the breaks came off. Unfortunately they couldn't get it to turn around in time.
Masquerade
Michael Crawford was gong to walk down the Masquerade stairs on 3 ft stilts. This was taken out as they were worried about the other actors and understudies doing it.
The Phantom was originally going to walk down the stairs carrying a tall staff. When he was on the trapdoor, the crowd would close in on him, and he would crumble into a heap of clothes. This was done by putting the staff into a hole on the stage and the actor would go down the trapdoor leaving the hat, mask and cloak etc, as they were attached to the staff. They used padding and a false arm to give the impression that he was still there after he had gone through the trap door. The effect ran out of time during rehearsals and could not be finished, so was scrapped.
The Mausoleum
When Christine sang "little Lotte" as an introduction to "Wishing", her father could be seen through the gauze, playing the violin, as a "flashback".
There were two stone angels on the platform with the cross. Two actresses in grey starched costumes would kneel motionless for the whole scene, only to move suddenly as the pyrotechnics went off at the end.
Descent to the Lair
A dummy of Christine was to ride down the bridge on a white model horse, being led by the Phantom. It looked lovely but it had to be cut as it had an annoying habit of going down the bridge backwards. It was set up as a skate board, and the actor operated the brakes. When he stood on the board the breaks came off. Unfortunately they couldn't get it to turn around in time.
Masquerade
Michael Crawford was gong to walk down the Masquerade stairs on 3 ft stilts. This was taken out as they were worried about the other actors and understudies doing it.
The Phantom was originally going to walk down the stairs carrying a tall staff. When he was on the trapdoor, the crowd would close in on him, and he would crumble into a heap of clothes. This was done by putting the staff into a hole on the stage and the actor would go down the trapdoor leaving the hat, mask and cloak etc, as they were attached to the staff. They used padding and a false arm to give the impression that he was still there after he had gone through the trap door. The effect ran out of time during rehearsals and could not be finished, so was scrapped.
The Mausoleum
When Christine sang "little Lotte" as an introduction to "Wishing", her father could be seen through the gauze, playing the violin, as a "flashback".
There were two stone angels on the platform with the cross. Two actresses in grey starched costumes would kneel motionless for the whole scene, only to move suddenly as the pyrotechnics went off at the end.
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