Paper Faces on Parade

This production was VERY well done. Jensen was working behind the scenes (as part of one of her theater classes.) We went to the very last performance and Jensen gave us a tour backstage before we went to dinner. We couldn't resist taking some pictures.

Vocally the students were very good, especially Carlotta and Piangi and Phantom and Christine and Raoul, probably in that order. Carlotta showed off a couple of times by throwing out some notes that you normally just don't sing, more like in the auditory range of canines. There were occasions when I wanted more power from the singing of the principles (and let's face it also from the organ and the orchestra.) But, these are college students who haven't fully matured in their performance abilities.

They actually hanged Buquet (not a dummy.) Jensen says it was a first. And I must say it did add to the anxiety.

They did a number of staging and emoting additions/changes that REALLY helped the exposition and helped with understanding the motivation of the characters. Lenore said it put the story on the same level as the music. Whereas in the past the music was always the star.

Here I am doing my best ailing Vicomte de Chagny impression, getting ready to bid on lot 665.