Some informations about Estonian production of Phantom.

When I look at these pictures, I still think about Leroux's Phantom. Scenography is really interesting and original. I love Christine's dressing gown. Ballerinas' costumes are very similar to Polish. Directors' room is amazing and I think that POTO Tour was inspiration to that. Masquerade is really weird. It look like cabaret and the dancers looks like as if they dance the Can Can. Christine's Masquerade dress is nice, but I'll write some about it in another note.

I love her Wishing dress! It looks like real victorian costume. Phantom's Lair looks like in Leroux's book - for me of course.

I hope, that somebody will record a bootleg of Estonian production.

Most people say that Sierra's wig in the show at Royal Albert Hall is awful. Well, I really don't know why. Of course, for the beginning the second act her wig is a little...disheveled, but it looks so natural. It's good. For the first time, when I saw the show, I thought, that there are Sierra's natural hair. It look really nice for me, and I still think, that her wig is the best of the one.

Christine's Wishing dress

Original

This is classic victorian dress. Perfectly suited to the XIX century. Maria Bjornson knowed what exactly young ladies worn in that epoch. Colores are amazing, generally my favorite color is blue so... I love that corset(?). Narrowing in waist optically slims silhouette. Beautiful sleeves. Love that costume. Unfortunatelly on these photos you can not see a back of this dress, but - as you know - is really big. As I said before, this outfit looks like real XIX lady's costume.

Coat is classic, creators had a amazing idea to give Christine red scarf.

Hungary non-replica

I think that this dress was inspired by original. It was good idea but this collar looks like napkin (sleeves also - and by the way they're too short), Skirt is nice. Colores could be a little more dark. Generally is really good. 

Coat is beautiful! Shame, that Christine haven't any scarf or something, but I really like it.

2004 movie

Designers had a really good idea to create Christine's dress in black color. It looks like Christine wore this outfit a sign of mourning (and probably exactly was like that). Sling on her head is nice, but - in my opinion - it could be not transparent.

Big black coat obscures Christine's outfit, so I can not say anything about her dress, because I can't see it. Sorry.

Really nice contrast between flowers and outfit.

Polish non-replica

As the rest of polish costumes, this outfit is failed. Once again, creators gave Christine a crinoline. God, why?! Dress is really poor, it haven't any ornaments except of this one cross on her chest. This color remind me a color of toilet paper. Unfortunately, this costume is bad.

Czech non-replica

Inspiration of Maria Bjornson's projects. Perfect. I really like this costume. It has AMAZING back. Love these valance. Color is beautiful, sleeves could be a little more long, but it's good. Interesting outfit. 

I think it will be the best non-replica.

Summing this all, I think that original dress and that outfit from Czech non replica, are the best.  Perfect suit to XIX century. Good job.

So, we've got the new POTO 2014/15 cast in West End:

Phantom: Geronimo Rauch (standby: Scott Davies) (u/s: Kieran Brown)

Christine: Harriet Jones (alt. Emmi Christensson) (u/s: Lisa-Anne Wood)

Raoul: Lian Tamne (u/s: Oliver Savile)

Carlotta: Lara Martins (u/s: Fiona Finsbury)

Firmin: Andy Hockley (u/s: Tim Morgan)

Andre: Martin Ball (u/s: Philip Griffiths)

Madame Giry: Alicia Beck (u/s: Elizabeth Holmes)

Meg Giry: Alicia Beck (u/s: Layla Harrison)

Piangi: John Ellis (u/s: David Francis)

I love Gero and Harriet, so I'm totally happy that they stayed in the production. I'm really curious the new Raoul. Shame, that Layla Harrison is just an understudy Meg. The rest of actors is the same as before and the new persons are really interesting, so I think that it could be really good cast. 

If I remember rightly, Emmi Christensson was a Cosette in Copenhagen production of Les Miserables. 

I hope, that my Christine in September will be Harriet. I really want to see her!

Famous POTO pairs

Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman

The first Phantom and Christine. Michael is amazing actor, Sarah has incredible voice (her acting is really average). They both were remembered by world of theatre, plus Sarah is famous singer, so a lot of fans likes this musical because of her. 

Because of the fact that they are the first POTO characters, they both in a certain sense sign up in the history because of the fame of the show.

Gerard Butler and Emmy Rossum

Probably the most famous POTO pair in the world. They played Phantom and Christine in 2004 movie, and they did it horrible. Their acting is awful, interpretation is totally different than in the theatre show. Phantom is hot and sexy, Christine is stupid and naive. For me, they both cannot sing, but this is another matter.

Almost all the people in the world associate the musical with they. And of course about 60% "real" fans who watched only the movie, says that poor Emmy-Christine should choose Hot-And-Sexy-Phantom. No comment.

Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess

Ramin and Sierra are promoted wherever possible. Their "romance" started in Love Never Dies, where Ramin played Phantom and Sierra played Christine. I think that they were friends before the production started, but I'm not sure of that. Anyway, for the good promotion for Love Never Dies, Cameron Mackintosh and Andrew Lloyd Webber, chose they both to 25th Anniversary of Phantom.  

For the new phants, Ramin and Sierra are number one. 

I like these both. Maybe for me they are not the best , but Sierra is fantastic Christine (in the Royal Albert Hall show, for now on the Broadway, she is phenomenal), Ramin is good Phantom.

Ben Lewis and Anna O'Byrne

They are not the famous like Ramin and Sierra, but associating with each other. Phantom and Christine in Australian Love Never Dies. They look really nice together. After the role of LND Christine, Anna git the role in the original POTO in London (good decision), Ben unfortunately(hmmm) not. He has really nice voice, but his face in the show... 

Christine's Aminta costumes

Original

A lot of POTO actress says that this costume is their favorite. I like it too. I think, that this outfit is perfect to Don Juan, because when Christine wear it, she looks like real spanish girl. In The Tours (and sometimes in Poland), Christine dancing a pasodoble on the table (in Poland, Christine danced with Phantom - on the floor of course!). I love these colors, these ornaments, skirt...

I really like when - how to we say in Poland - "she can breath" haha. She looks then really erotic. I love the boots to this costume.

Hungary non-replica

I don't know what I think about it. That costume is interesting. Generally is pretty, but I'm not so sure that it's suit to PONR. It doesn't looks like spanish or any XIX century outfit. I can see a many girls on the streets in similars dresses so...Maybe if would be a other colors...

2004 movie

As I said before, Emmy looks like Carmen. Beautiful corset. That skirt should be more wider, sleeves more longer. Shame, that this outfit hasn't more ornaments. It's nice, but not to his opera, not to this musical.

Polish non-replica

This costume had to be similar to movie dress, but...

Sleeves are nice, lack any ornaments, artificial waist. Frill on the skirt is really pretty. Rose is good idea.

Anyway, this outfit reminds me a Zorro costume.

As you probably you thinking, I prefer original costume. Outfit from Hungary is weird, from movie is nice but it is not to this musical, polish outfit is unsuccessful replica movie costume.

Think of Me in the UK Tour is almost without change. Choreography is the same like in the original show, but Christine hasn't a scarf. The idea of ballet in the background is...interesting. It's look pretty good, but I think, that this scene is only for Christine. Anyway, is good. Shame, that an actress do not bowing at the end.

We've got two versions of Les Miserables: original and The Tours (and Broadway now). Both shows doesn't to much differ from one another, but eg Cosette has two different In My Life/A Heart Full of Love dresses...

Original

The first Cosette's dress. In 1985, Rebecca Caine sang In My Life on the Queen's Theatre stage. She worn dark pomegranate dress with white lace collar.

Generally, actress in this outfit looks so much innocently and girly, so I can say, that I prefer this dress than that from The Tours, but now, let's move to next costume...

The Tours (and Broadway)

Well, this dress is nice, but not as much like that first. I really don't like these puffy(?) sleeves. Style of this outfit is nice, but green color... Maybe if would by - I don't know - blue? But not light, only dark. And sleeves a little small. This costume isn't bad, but I really prefer the first.

Summing that short note, I don't understand, why costume in The Tours is different than in the original show. I remember, that Cosette's coat and hat also is different in original and in the next show.

When else I write something about coat and hat, but I will must say, that dark wig is to much nicer than blond. I also prefer Katie in dark hair, so...

Today, I want write something about all Christine's Slave Girl costume.

This costume is her first outfit in the show, and as we all know, the  first impression is more important, so let's get started...

Original

Original costume is absolutely my favorite. I love these colors, that corset etc. That's perfectly suited to the B.C eras. I most prefer these costumes in Hamburg (like on these pictures), because they have most intensive colors on the corsets and most beautiful ornaments. The least I like Slave Girl costumes in Australia. When I saw these costumes, I had the impression, that they're faded. 
Accessories in this costumes are perfect. I really like the fact, that on the all world are different tiaras, so everyone costume looks otherwise. I could be wrong, but on the West End, Slave Girls haven't bracelets. The most I like these on the Broadway. Generally, that outfit is to hard to assess by me, because it is the first Slave Girl costume in POTO, and as we all know, Maria Bjornson did real works of art, so I think that, we can just compare a rest of Slave Girl costume to her works.

Hungary non-replica

When I saw this costume for the first time, I thought that this could be a tribal costume. Really. I know, that I was wrong, but girls look like shamans haha. Anyway, this outfit is nice, especially "corset" (that skirt could be worn by Pocahontas). I like these ornaments. 

Generally is good.

2004 movie

I don't like it. It's not of course my negative bias to the movie, but I really don't like movie Slave Girl costume. Generally is good, I mean, this costume fit to the Hannibal opera and  that epoch, but is...ugly. Bra (it is bra?) is awful. Colors are bland. Skirt looks like it was made of paper or stiff veil. This ring at the neck could be worn by Cleopatra.This outfit recalls me a roman costumes. You know, roman slave girl. Good idea, bad execution. The only things that i LOVE in these costumes, there are accessories. Meg has nice shackles, shame that there haven't any gems. Christine had beautiful roman hairdo. Nice hair bands and retty earrings.

Polish non-replica

Describing hungarian costume, I told that it recalls Pocahontas outfit. Well, now I can clearly say, that this costume is much more for indian girl...or...persian? Anyway, this is I think the only costume who doesn't recalls outfit from 2004 movie. 

That "skirt" is okay, but I really don't like bra. Awful colors.

Summing all of this, I can tell, that original costume is the best.  The rest...no comment. I'm really curious how will be look czech Slave Girl. I hope, that czech designers make a really good costume. For now, we have only project of this outfit, but I think it's very nice, so we must just wait...

At the outset, I want to say thank you for your e-mails and high statistics. Answering of your questions, no, I haven't got the trading site, but I plan create it soon. Recently I contacted with many traders, and I've got now the pretty good collection of my bootlegs, so if you want to trade with me, you can contact me for my e-mail gina.stelle@gmail.com . I send you my bootlegs list and maybe you will be interested something :).

Christine's dressing gowns

Dressing gown is my favorite Christine's costume in the musical. I just love that contrast between Phantom and Christine, when he took her to his Kingdom of Music. We have the archetype here. The archetype of good and evil. Good, immaculate is white and evil, darkness is black. Into the bargain this music..  It's like a temptation to fall. Dark passion, something erotic... I know that not everyone sees this scene like me, but can you try imagine Christine in this moment in ...I don't know...pink costume? Or yellow? No. Do you remember the video with Colm Wilkinson and Rebecca Caine? Exactly...

Original

We've got here the photos of Marni Raab from Broadway and Robyn North from West End. The only difference between these costumes are decorating on the material. I don't know what can I say about this, because original dressing gown is really perfect. I love a threnody of this costume and that contrast between white dressing gown and colorful corset.

Hungary non-replica

This dressing gown is ugliest. The upper portion looks like jacket on usual white dress. Sleeves're preety but there are too short. That's all what I can say positive about this costume. I definitely don't like it. On these pictures are - I think - Eszter Biro and Linda Kiraly.

2004 movie

My favorite Emmy's costume in the movie. This is exactly that definition of this situation of Christine and Phantom, that I said before. Really nice, big contrast between these characters. Good angel and bad angel. I like that corset. If I could change something in her costume, I would do it less transparent, especially the skirt. I wrote once the note about costumes in this movie, and I say once again, that this is young lady in the same stockings with adult man.

Polish non-replica

Everyone say, that this costume is awful. Well, I like it. Maybe sleeves are too long, but is pretty cool. Nice threnody and hue of white. Skirt is too wide by these valance. Maybe it isn't the best dressing gown, but the idea on this costume was pretty good.

On the photos are Edyta Krzemień and Kaja Mianowana.

Czech non-replica

As I said before, It is the best non-replica's dressing gown. Beautiful trim of skirt. Pretty sleeves. Big, big, big plus. I love it. This costume really reminds me XIX century's clothes. Bravo for the creator of this. Basically, the show in Praga has the best non-replica's costumes. I see in this - once again -  inspiration of Maria Bjornson's projects. On the photo is Michaela Gemrotova.

Love Never Dies, London

Beautiful costume. It is very similar to Rose's outfits from Titanic. The beginning of XX century. Sleeves are so pretty and these valance... You know, I just really love the West End's designers. Great material.

Summing all of this, I can only say that Maria Bjornson was a real genius, and designers from West End are the best of the world.