When I was about 7 or 8 years old, I was at home watching HBO and caught a cartoon that would impact me greatly. It was the 1980's animated film, "The Phantom of the Opera" and I was mesmerized by the misunderstood, disfigured musical genius who lived in the cellars of the Paris Opera House. I yearned to comfort the character, to tell him that he was brilliant and didn't have to hide in the shadows. Being pretty young, I wasn't able to really tie in the sexual part of the Phantom's character, but years later would figure that out...lol
I then set to renting any and every movie that was either Phantom of the Opera or close to it. I saw the 1925 Lon Chaney silent film, the 1940's Claude Rains version, the Hammer Horror 1960's one with Herbert Lom, and so on and so forth. I loved each and every one but also have my favorites that I will watch more than others. I know for a fact other "phans" as we call ourselves, have our personal favorites including favorite men who played the Phantom/Erik. It's just the way it is being a "phanatic" ;-)
When I was in middle school, I had a teacher, Mr. Wetzel. We had always gotten along and I really respected him and held him in high regard. I had study hall in his classroom and every day I would read, write, or every now and then talk to him about theater and other interesting things we had in common. I had wanted to read the original novel, "The Phantom of the Opera" by Gaston Leroux when I was in elementary school, however, my mom told me I wouldn't grasp the writing. So I waited until I was about 11 years old. I brought the novel with me to Mr. Wetzel's class and was reading when he walked over. He turned the book cover so he could see what I was reading. He then asked me about it and I told him the cartoon I saw and my obsession with this timeless tale. He walked over to his desk and turned on his CD boombox. He would play albums quite often so I thought nothing of it. But then he told me that this CD he was going to play, I would love. I trusted him. All of a sudden this loud organ music started up and I whipped my entire body around, wide eyed! I listened in awe as Mr. Wetzel smiled. The entire overture of Andrew Lloyd Webber's version of Phantom still effects me the same way since that day in Mr. Wetzel's class when I almost jumped up out of my seat! That's what I love about that musical and I owe that to my favorite teacher. He opened my eyes to this musical and theater in general. I went on to perform in different musicals and still to this day adore the theater.
In 1993, my dad got my mom and I tickets to go see ALW's Phantom of the Opera in the Twin Cities. That was such a great birthday gift!! I remember the Phantom I saw was Franc D'Ambrosio, Christine was Lisa Vroman (at the time Tracy Shayne's understudy) and Raoul was Ciaran Sheehan. I still have the souvenir brochure and playbill.
I don't know what it is about getting older, but I feel the need to get back into touch with my childhood. I discover I never lost interest in the things I was "into" was I was a kid. I guess it's just nostalgia smacking me in the face. :-)
Now I collect all things Phantom. That's why I started a website. That's why I called it, "Devon's Domain" The Phantom has influenced my life since I was about seven or eight. I will always be effected and influenced by it. It's my favorite story of all time!
Funny, I thought this blog would be a lot longer considering how long I've been a phan...lol I guess when push comes to shove, I love "The Phantom of the Opera" plain and simple!!
Here is an online forum I belong to. The other phans on the forum are very nice and welcoming:
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