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I have recently read The Phantom of the Opera, and lean that there is so many differences! I am not going to say them, but here's one: Have you ever notice that in the play/movie they don't mention the Phantom's name? However in the book, he actually has a name, Erik! I have such a huge crush on Erik!

You can say them. That's the whole point of this group: to talk about the differences between play & book.

Somehow Erik maybe seems to take away from the "mystery" of a nameless Phantom? I agree, though, Erik is a great character

Okay, here's another one: in the book Raoul has a brother Philip, who Erik kills on the lake. In the play, they seem to miss the Persian! He was a major character of the book. It's seems like in the play, they replace him with madame giry.

Yes, I agree, it was easier to conflate Mme. Giry [who already exists in the world of the Parisian opera house:] and ditch the Persian (who knows about Erik's past) and skip the plot of the brother. (Although considering it's a musical and one has to get it under three hours, I guess that makes snese.)

I understand what you are saying Jenna. I guess they what to keep the mystery part of it all. However, wouldn't be easier to make a small nod to the Persian. They did it for trapdoor with all the mirrors.

I haven't read the book, The Phantom of the Opera, but I have seen the musical. I liked the musical a lot, but I don't know if they left out really important things from the book.

I just read the book to make that comparison of what is left out. I don't think they left out anything really important. The book goes into more details about things and characters are combined into fewer characters in the musical. I really enjoyed the book and found it a quick read, I suggest it if you enjoy the musical.

I just love both!

I love the book and show too. Has any one else on here see the Las Vegas Spectacular version of Phantom of the Opera. They drop the chandelier in that one in a different place and way from the original stage version. I think that change fits better with what happens in the book with the chandelier.

I recently saw the Hungarian production of Phantom of the Opera. It was interesting, as it's not like the usual production but has different costumes, staging and direction. I liked it a lot. The staging is less extravagant but still nice, and I like being able to concentrate more on characters than on how big and impressive everything looks. And I liked how it was directed. Christine actually had a brain and a personality. That usually doesn't happen anywhere.

I've read the book ages ago, but don't remember it well. I liked it, though, and mean to reread it.

Katri, I'm so jealous that you get to see the European productions. I really wanted to see Jekyll & Hyde when I was in Wien with a college group years ago, but our professors said we could only go out at night in groups of 2-3 and no on else wanted to go...

Oh, that's tough luck! You should have been able to see the Vienna production - it was amazing! I mean, I haven't seen it, but I've had access to *cough* material, and I've heard reports of people who did see it. They had Thomas Borchert as Jekyll/Hyde, who is only one of my favourite musical actors ever. (And has also played the Phantom in Germany, to keep this vaguely on topic.)

I am awfully happy about getting to see European productions, because they're fantastic. I generally like them better than West End and Broadway productions, somehow there's more life and creativity in them. Though Finnish musical productions aren't usually much good, so I need to travel quite a bit to see them. But now I'm going to Budapest for half a year and will certainly be like the proverbial kid in a candy store...

I'm reading the book right now and I'm almost done with it. I love it. I've never seen the play but I did watch the movie and I've heard various soundtracks. I may as well have seen it. I like the book better even though I love the play.
One thing, though, is, I have never liked Raul at all. Not in the movie. Not in the musical. He just wasn't there for a reason, it seemed, other than a love interest for Christine. But I absolutley adore him in the book. He actually does things and has a personality!

It's interesting that you say that, Elizabeth. I thought Patrick Wilson was the best thing about the movie. I like Gerry Butler but did not care for the gravely rock voice for the Phantom, and Emmy Rossum had zero charisma.

I thought they could have picked a better Christine but I liked the phantom. I've tried to like Raoul but I just couldn't. It wasn't Patrick Wilson I didn't like, it was just his character. I don't know. They just didn't seem to write him a personality. I guess it's all a matter of opinion though.