First things first: Country Dinner Playhouse is not staging Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera.”
But “Phantom,” a 1992 musical version of Gaston Leroux’s classic story by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston, more than holds its own, offering an intimacy and richness of character not found in Webber’s better-known Broadway spectacle.
This thoughtful and elegant presentation emphasizes the love story between the Phantom and his student soprano Christine. Our Phantom not only has a name (Erik), he is a real man whose journey to the catacombs of the Paris Opera House is both understandable and sympathetic. It is this real human connection we feel for him that – despite some sugary lyrics – keeps this telling from sinking into “Beauty and the Beast” schlock.
Yeston’s score is sophisticated and often gorgeous. There’s no “Music of the Night” in the bunch, but a handful of tunes comes close (“Home” and “You Are Music”).
Country Dinner Playhouse so relies on populist revues such as “Pump Boys and Dinettes” that it has not presented a show of such dramatic weight and complexity of score since 2001’s “Titanic,” which, by no coincidence, also was written by Yeston (“Nine” and “Grand Hotel”).
The timing is fitting, though. The playhouse’s previous offering, “Swing,” was the ultimate dance challenge. “Phantom” demands the very best in vocalists. Director Paul Dwyer’s 25-person cast is strong from top to bottom. Randy St. Pierre’s Phantom is as sympathetic as a wounded child without succumbing to hackneyed villainy or painting him a monster. And his voice is superb.
Nationally regarded Tracy Venner-Warren, a native newly resettled in Boulder, is a little woman with a big voice. Her Christine’s loveliness is equal to any Maria Rainer. And when Christine finally coaxes Erik into revealing his horrific face, her unexpected reaction is a moment for the ages.
Dee Etta Rowe brings vital (if a bit over the top) comedy as rival diva Carlotta, and as Erik’s father, Craig Lundquist brings this sad tale to a powerful conclusion. If you don’t know this telling, a most pleasant blindside is the heartbreaking “Story of Erik,” a flashback ballet beautifully performed, and sung, by Natalie Jensen and Bob Hoppe as young Erik’s parents.
Though intimacy is this show’s strongest suit, do not be misled. Dwyer uses every inch of his available space while maintaining a crisp pace and a fluidity of storytelling, despite occasional sightline issues. His production values are strong, with 188 costumes, 36 wigs, innovative lighting and even some pyrotechnics. Just don’t expect anything like Webber’s killer chandelier – this one will induce snickers by comparison.
But the show builds to a heartbreaking and surprisingly artful finale, one filled with one moment of real dramatic power after another, the likes of which have been rarely realized in the storied history of the Country Dinner Playhouse.
| “Phantom” | *** 1/2 RATING
MUSICAL|Country Dinner Playhouse, 6875 S. Clinton St., Greenwood Village|Written by Arthur Kopit and Maury Yeston|Directed by Paul Dwyer|Starring Randy St. Pierre and Tracy Venner-Warren| THROUGH JAN. 14|7:45 p.m. Wednesdays-Sundays; 1:45 p.m. Wednesdays, Saturdays and Sundays (dinner 90 minutes before)|2 hours, 45 minutes|$38-$44|303-799-1410
