My personal synopsis of the story told in the musical

The story

Opening Scene

The scene opens to an auction taking place inside the ruins of the Paris Opera House. Pieces of props and furniture are being sold. A music box in the shape of a monkey playing the symbols attracts the attention of an old man. After winning the bid he speaks of a woman who use to talk about this music box. Continuing with the auction, a chandelier in pieces, This is the very chandelier that features in the famous, disaster. As the chandelier is revealed and lifted into the air it bursts into light and dramatic organ music fills the room.

The scene changes to an earlier date, the opera house is restored to its previous glory. The stage is filled with music and bright colours as rehearsals take place for a new production. The lead actress, Carlotta is doing her normal routine of stealing all of the spotlight, singing out of tune with everyone else. The present manager of the opera house, Lefevre, interrupts the rehearsals and announces his replacement by the new managers Firmin and Andre. Carlotta quickly introduces herself to the new managers by singing the song Think of me in a very slow and showing off voice. Her singing is interrupted as one of the curtains falls onto the stage, nearly crushing her. Carlotta storms of angrily while Giry, the ballet teacher gives the new managers a letter from the Opera ghost. He welcomes you to his theatre and makes several demands that the new managers are quick to ignore. Without Carlotta it seems the production will be cancelled, but one of the chorus girls introduces her friend, Christine, and claims she could take Carlotta's place. Nervously Christine begins to sing and the managers don't seem impressed, but as if by magic Christine finds some new courage and sings beautifully. Top

Angel of Music

Christine is now singing Think of me in front of a full audience and the actors behind the curtains who are bewitched by her beautiful voice. In one of the high boxes a young gentleman, Raoul applauds her. After the performance Christine is in her new dressing room, she lights a candle for her dead father. A voice from no where praises her singing. One of the chorus girls, Meg Giry enters the room and asks where Christine learnt to sing. Christine tells Meg, when her father died he promised he would send an angel to watch over her. Christine believes she has been visited by this angel, who is teaching her to sing.

Christine is then visited by Raoul. We learn that they were childhood play mates. Raoul asks to take Christine out for Dinner, she refuses saying the angel of music is very strict. Raoul thinks she is just playing and leaves the room telling her to get ready. The candles and lights in the room suddenly go out and an angry voice is heard. The voice is not happy with Raoul's behaviour towards Christine, she apologises to him. A figure appears in Christine's mirror and starts singing to her as she enters a trance I am your angel of music, come to be angel of music. She walks through the mirror and meets the phantom face to face. Top

Phantom Of the Opera

The phantom leads Christine down through secret passageways to his lair as she remains in a trance. When they arrive the phantom begins singing to her the song Music of the night. Near the end of the song he shows her a mirror, when she looks in the mirror she sees herself dressed as a bride. Christine faints and the phantom lays her on his bed, Help me make the music of the night.

Christine wakes up the next morning, still in a slight trance. She recalls the night before and realises everything she dreamt is real. She approaches the phantom who is currently conducting music on his organ. Several times she reaches for his mask, but backs away when he turns around. Finally she manages to remove the mask Who is the face behind the mask. She wakes from her trance and falls back in fear as she sees a sight that currently the audience is not allowed to see. The phantom changes character from a soft romantic person into a loud and angry demon. He shouts at Christine but slowly calms down and tries to explain that she should try to find the man beyond the ugly face. Christine hands him back the mask, he puts it on and then leads her back to the theatre.

One of the backstage people is flirting with the chorus girls, describing the phantom and his magical lasso. The phantom briefly appears and returns Christine, everyone is quiet. Giry breaks the silence and warns the backstage worker to be quiet and keep your hands, at the level of your eyes. Top

Notes and Warnings

Firmin and Andre burst into the theatre carrying letters they received from OG, detailing how the theatre should be run. As they conclude the letters are a joke Raoul bursts into the room carrying a letter and demanding to know who sent it. The letter orders Raoul never to see Christine again, both managers deny writing it. Carlotta rushes into the room with another letter, saying she has been replaced by Christine. The managers quickly try to calm her down but Giry walks into the room with yet another letter. This letter contains instructions for the roles played by Christine and Carlotta in a new production of Il Muto. Carlotta walks of in disgust but after a lot of begging and creeping is persuaded to stay. The phantom's voice booms If these demands are not met, a disaster beyond your imagination will occur.

The scene changes to the stage where Il Muto is in full swing, with Christine as the page boy, and Carlotta as the countess. The show is interrupted when the phantom's voice can be heard. Christine speaks and Carlotta is quick to jump on her Your part is silent, little toad. The phantom sneers at this and as Carlotta starts to sing again her voice croaks. After several croaks she runs of the stage with the audience laughing. The managers appear on the stage and while looking at box five state The role of countess will be played, by Christine. While Christine is changing her costume a ballet is performed for the audience. During the height of the ballet a body falls onto the stage, with a noose around his neck. Top

Thats all I ask of you

Christine leads Raoul to the roof of the opera house, saying they will be safe up there. On the roof she confesses to Raoul about the phantom, but also admits how she admires the phantom's voice. Raoul tries to calm Christine down by saying the phantom is all inside Christine's mind. Unknown to the both of them, the phantom is listening to the whole conversation behind a statue. Raoul finally calms Christine down and starts singing love to her, let me be your shelter, let me be your light. The two embrace in a love song and kiss, love me, that's all I ask of you. As the two leave the roof and discuss their future, the phantom appears. At first he sounds upset, but as their singing cycles through his head his tears turn to anger, You will curse the day you did not do, all that the phantom asked of you! With this the chandelier falls down onto the audience and the curtains close for act 1. Top

Masquerade

After the interlude the scene changes to a masked ball inside the Opera house. Couples are dancing together while wearing masks to conceal their identify. Hide your face so the world will never find you. The main cast enter the room and comment on how the last few months have been peaceful with no phantom. We also learn that Christine and Raoul are planning to get married, but Christine wants to keep it a secret. The phantom appears and presents a new opera that he has written. Christine and the phantom share a moment's silence before he notices her engagement ring Your chains are still mine, you will sing for me.

Firmin and Andre are reading new letters from the phantom, orders from the phantom for the cast. Carlotta and her husband begin complaining about the script and their roles. Carlotta jumps on Christine, blaming everything on her. Christine speaks up and states she does not want to take part in the play. Raoul gets a plan, to use Christine as bait to lure the phantom out of hiding so they can capture him. Christine is uneasy about the idea can I betray the man who once inspired my voice. She fears that the phantom will take her and never let her go. Raoul comforts Christine and tells her that they will never be free from the phantom until he is captured, yet while he lives, he will haunt us, till we're dead.

The scene changes to the stage where Carlotta and her husband are practicing their lines. They are both having trouble singing the notes correctly. Carlotta complains about the music and everyone starts arguing. Suddenly the piano starts playing by itself and as if in a trance everyone sings the lines perfectly. While this is going on Christine goes down to the chapel to visit her father's grave. Top

Angel of Darkness

She sings her memories of her father, and how she misses him. Lighting a candle she sings wishing you were here again. At the end of the song the phantom's voice can be heard talking to her. She asks the phantom if he is her father or not, he replies have you forgotten your angel?. She quickly loses her defence and goes under his spell/trance, just as Raoul appears. Raoul saves Christine by saying this thing is not your father! The phantom angrily throws flaming skulls near the feet of Raoul, but he starts walking towards the phantom. Christine manages to pull him back and they both escape as the phantom shouts now let it be war between you both!.

A group of soldiers are seen walking into the opera house. Firmin and Andre give the orders to kill the phantom when he appears. On the stage the introduction song is performed, the awful lyrics disgust the audience. The lyrics talk about murder and prostitutes. Dun Juan (played by Carlotta's husband) speaks of his plan to hide his face and trick a young maiden (Christine) into falling in love with him. He walks of stage laughing, then in the background we hear the phantom laughing. Top

Point of no return

Soon after the phantom walks out from the curtains dressed as Dun Juan and begins singing the song pass the point of no return. At first only Christine realises it is the phantom, but everyone becomes suspicious of the phantom's manner of singing. As Christine starts singing she looks up at Raoul and he alerts the guards to get ready. Firmin and Andre give the order not to shoot until he is of the stage. At this point it is hard to tell if Christine is playing along, or is actually falling for the phantom. Her singing becomes erratic and they finish in a close embrace as everyone stares at them.

The phantom starts singing love to Christine and she turns to face him. Love me, that's all I ask of the phantom is interrupted when Christine removes the mask from his face. The audience gasp and turn away at the sight of his face, only Christine is brave enough to look at him. The phantom grabs onto Christine and disappears through a trap door. The soldiers run onto the stage and find Carlotta's murdered husband. Giry confronts Raoul and tells him to follow her, saying she can lead him to the phantom, but remember, keep your hands at the level of your eyes. Top

Down once more

The phantom forcefully drags Christine down to his lair, followed by Raoul and an angry mob. At his lair he seals the entrance with a large gate and then argues with Christine. He claims that people treat him badly and the reason Christine doesn't love him is because of his face. Christine corrects him and states the distortion is in his soul.

Raoul appears at the gate to the lair and demands to be let in. The phantom calmly welcomes Raoul and opens the gate. As Raoul enters the phantom quickly throws a noose around his neck. The noose has some magic effect on Raoul, who is unable to move. The phantom gives Christine the choice of accepting his love to spare the life of Raoul. If she refuses then the Phantom will kill Raoul. The three begin to argue, Christine pleads to the phantom while Raoul tells her not to throw her life away for him. The phantom finally shouts you try my patience, make your choice.

Christine slowly walks towards the phantom and engages in a long kiss. At first it seems the phantom is getting what he wanted, but the phantom realises that Christine does not love him. He breaks down and removes the noose from Raoul. In the background the shouts of the mob can be heard, the phantom orders them to leave him alone. Raoul and Christine escape on a boat while the phantom sits down on his chair and looks at his mask, hide your face so the world will never find you. The mob enter the lair, Meg Giry approaches the chair and lifts up the cloak to reveal the mask on its own. The phantom has disappeared. Top