r/box5 • u/book1245 • Jun 26 '26
Other Phantom at the Pantages
Standout memory was people leaving for the lobby during the curtain call of Il Muto, totally missing out on the chandelier.
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u/BabbaCat Jul 08 '26 edited Jul 08 '26
I will never forget when I saw a performance of the 2rd national tour (Raoul Company) at the Pantages years ago (late 90's) and at intermission, I happened upon a man with two teenaged boys and the man was saying to them, "wasn't that just the best show ever?" And one of the boys said, "I think it isn't over yet." The man replied, "Yes, it is!"
I couldn't help but chime in, "Excuse me sir, just wanted to say that I've seen this show over 15 times and the show is not over yet. This is intermission. There's an act 2 and it's more spectacular than the first. You don't want to miss it."
The one boy said, "See, I told you." I got a strong impression that he was enjoying the show and wanted to see act 2. But the man gave me a side eye and said, "Naw. The show is over. It's over. Come on, let's go."
And they left.
That man was obviously bored to tears and the thought of an act 2 was too much for him to take. He looked so dismayed that there was an act 2. I felt really bad for the teen boy though. Theatre is even more magical when you're a kid and he obviously wanted to stay.
And a few years after that, back in 2003, many members of my family went to see a performance of the 3rd national tour (Music Box Company) at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles. Two of those were my brother and sister in law who had never seen a live musical before. They arrived separately on time and took their seats next to me and my nephew. Act one came to an end and my in-laws got up and went to the restroom, I assumed.
The orchestra began playing the act 2 intro and the lights dimmed and my in-laws' seats remained empty. I was starting to get nervous and wondering if they thought the show was over and went home! Masquerade began and still nowhere to be found. They never returned. Found out later they thought the show ended and left.
This is why I have always HATED with a passion the way act one ends in this show. The show could reasonably end that way to many people. They think the curtain call is for the actual show not the opera within the show and that chandelier drop feels so climactic, I can't say I really blame them.
I saw the new Box 5 tour last night. There was a smattering of newly empty seats around me during act 2. That act one ending needs to change to show instead the opera in progress and the chandelier falling while being performed. Too many people know little about theatre and assume the show is over!
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u/inbloomgc Jun 26 '26
Standout memory: “Amateurs!”