How do the special effects work?
Author profile: Christine Daae
A Phantom of the Opera fan who legally changed her name to Christine Daae.
She ran an international Phantom of the Opera fan club and published a Phantom fanzine, and put up the second ever Phantom of the Opera site on the web. She saw the show 83 times with 18 different Phantoms, in 4 countries.
She ran an international Phantom of the Opera fan club and published a Phantom fanzine, and put up the second ever Phantom of the Opera site on the web. She saw the show 83 times with 18 different Phantoms, in 4 countries.
The mirror, how the Phantom disappears, and others. If you don't want to think they're not magic, don't read on.
The Mirror
How does the Phantom suddenly appear in Christine's mirror, which still shows her reflection?
This is achieved with a half-silvered mirror, and lighting. With no lighting at the back, and lit from the front, it functions as a normal mirror. However, when the lights are dropped from the front and it is lit from the back, it becomes transparent, and the Phantom can be seen behind it. Cleverly controlled lighting and the mirror produce the effect. When Christine has stepped through and the glass slid back, the lights are turned off behind the mirror, and it is once again lit from the front and reflects normally.
The Labyrinth and Lair
How do they get up the top so quickly?
They don't. The Phantom and Christine who walk across the stage are doubles; the pair who walk across the travelators are also doubles. The real Phantom and Christine come out in the boat, which is radio-controlled.
Where do the candles come from?
The candles and candelabras are under the stage, and rise up through trap doors. In touring productions where the stages don't have the necessary traps, the candelabras slide on from the side of the stage instead.
How does the mannequin lean forward?
It's an actress, with a plastic mask to make her face look less real. She is replaced by a real mannequin for the next scene in the blackout.
How does the music box start playing?
It's also radio-controlled. (Some of these may be replaced by infra-red signals, as radio controlls are prone to interference.)
Doubles
In what other places are doubles used?
As well as those in the title song, there is a Phantom double used at the end of the Masquerade scene (the second Red Death), and appearing briefly in Box 5 ("I'm here... I'm here... I'm here!"). The Phantom who casts the shadows over the Il Muto ballet is also a double of sorts - the "real" Phantom is already in the angel at this point.
Act Two
How does the Phantom disappear at the end of Masquerade?
Through a trap door. In London, there are two small raised points on the stage so he can feel through his shoes and make sure he's standing in the right place without looking down. The Phantom's lines to Christine are the cue for the trap dropping him down. On tours with no trap doors, he runs off stage instead.
Don't ask how he gets back up the stairs so quickly, please... See above.
Where does he appear from in the Graveyard Scene?
The cross isn't solid; the Phantom is standing inside it. In some productions he may come from behind the cross instead.
The Final Lair
How does the throne work?
It has a false back. When the Phantom throws his cloak over himself, he attaches the top to wire which pulls out, keeping the shape of a head. The back is released and he can move into the false back of the chair. If Meg sat on the chair at the end, she would be almost sitting on the Phantom's lap.
The Mirror
How does the Phantom suddenly appear in Christine's mirror, which still shows her reflection?
This is achieved with a half-silvered mirror, and lighting. With no lighting at the back, and lit from the front, it functions as a normal mirror. However, when the lights are dropped from the front and it is lit from the back, it becomes transparent, and the Phantom can be seen behind it. Cleverly controlled lighting and the mirror produce the effect. When Christine has stepped through and the glass slid back, the lights are turned off behind the mirror, and it is once again lit from the front and reflects normally.
The Labyrinth and Lair
How do they get up the top so quickly?
They don't. The Phantom and Christine who walk across the stage are doubles; the pair who walk across the travelators are also doubles. The real Phantom and Christine come out in the boat, which is radio-controlled.
Where do the candles come from?
The candles and candelabras are under the stage, and rise up through trap doors. In touring productions where the stages don't have the necessary traps, the candelabras slide on from the side of the stage instead.
How does the mannequin lean forward?
It's an actress, with a plastic mask to make her face look less real. She is replaced by a real mannequin for the next scene in the blackout.
How does the music box start playing?
It's also radio-controlled. (Some of these may be replaced by infra-red signals, as radio controlls are prone to interference.)
Doubles
In what other places are doubles used?
As well as those in the title song, there is a Phantom double used at the end of the Masquerade scene (the second Red Death), and appearing briefly in Box 5 ("I'm here... I'm here... I'm here!"). The Phantom who casts the shadows over the Il Muto ballet is also a double of sorts - the "real" Phantom is already in the angel at this point.
Act Two
How does the Phantom disappear at the end of Masquerade?
Through a trap door. In London, there are two small raised points on the stage so he can feel through his shoes and make sure he's standing in the right place without looking down. The Phantom's lines to Christine are the cue for the trap dropping him down. On tours with no trap doors, he runs off stage instead.
Don't ask how he gets back up the stairs so quickly, please... See above.
Where does he appear from in the Graveyard Scene?
The cross isn't solid; the Phantom is standing inside it. In some productions he may come from behind the cross instead.
The Final Lair
How does the throne work?
It has a false back. When the Phantom throws his cloak over himself, he attaches the top to wire which pulls out, keeping the shape of a head. The back is released and he can move into the false back of the chair. If Meg sat on the chair at the end, she would be almost sitting on the Phantom's lap.
