Hello World!

So, I am a recent migrant from the latest tumblr chaos, here to mess around and see if I can actually be more blog-y in my writing!

I have no idea how this platform works, so bear with me! (assuming anyone will read this...)

I'll probably use this as a home for my musings regarding Gaston Leroux's the Phantom of the Opera (currently reading the de Mattos translation), and the ALW musical.

I.. just like musicals in general, so feel free to chat with me about them! (however one goes about doing this on here..)

If you're reading this, I hope you have a wonderful day!

(no subject)

Had some excellent gluten free waffles for breakfast (not hopping on to the trend bandwagon- I have celiac)- you wouldn't expect Walmart brand stuff, esp gluten free stuff, to be good, but they're the best I've found :)

Phantom Thoughts pt. 1

All quotations from the de Mattos translation, unfortunately. (I've been unable to get my hands on any other translations, so I'm just using this one b/c it's public domain.)

"Sorelli was very superstitious. She shuddered when she heard little Jammes speak of the ghost, called her a "silly little fool" and then, as she was the first to believe in ghosts in general, and the Opera ghost in particular, at once asked for details"

I find Sorelli a very interesting character, despite her relatively minor role. What is her background? What does she see in Philippe? What does she think of Carlotta? (Their roles seem to have been combined in ALW.) Are they rivals? Friends? Tentative allies against the forces of the Ghost and the management? What happens to her after Philippe dies? Is she heartbroken or is she able to return to the Opera House fairly quickly? Were they just casually 'going steady' or were they in a strongly committed relationship despite never being able to marry?

And what does she think of the Ghost, once she discovers he is merely a man, a man who has most likely killed her lover?

Phantom Thoughts pt. 2

quotes from the de Mattos translation, as usual (whyy does my local library not have any others??)

{"Pooh!" said one of them, who had more or less kept her head. "You see the ghost everywhere!"

And it was true. For several months, there had been nothing discussed at the Opera but this ghost in dress-clothes who stalked about the building, from top to bottom, like a shadow, who spoke to nobody, to whom nobody dared speak and who vanished as soon as he was seen, no one knowing how or where. As became a real ghost, he made no noise in walking. People began by laughing and making fun of this specter dressed like a man of fashion or an undertaker; but the ghost legend soon swelled to enormous proportions among the corps de ballet. All the girls pretended to have met this supernatural being more or less often. And those who laughed the loudest were not the most at ease. When he did not show himself, he betrayed his presence or his passing by accident, comic or serious, for which the general superstition held him responsible. Had any one met with a fall, or suffered a practical joke at the hands of one of the other girls, or lost a powderpuff, it was at once the fault of the ghost, of the Opera ghost.}

Who is this sensible ballet girl? (since little Jammes and Meg have already been introduced, we can reasonably assume it isn't either of them) Does she believe in the Ghost at all? Or has she played along with the Ghost pretending just to fit in with the others? Is she popular, or does she only have a trusted friend or two?

Is the Phantom basically a meme in the Opera House? Hear me out- the whole 'blaming the Ghost on minor misfortunes that he might not have even caused' sounds kind of like the whole Thanks Obama meme, doesn't it? I mean, "people began by laughing" and then the whole thing "[swelling] to enormous proportions" even sounds like the way a meme travels.

Or maybe I'm just reading too much into this.. (Not that I'm going to stop.)

Phantom Thoughts pt. 3

quotes in {} (aka the fancy brackets) from de Mattos

{For instance, a fireman is a brave fellow! He fears nothing, least of all fire! Well, the fireman in question, who had gone to make a round of inspection in the cellars and who, it seems, had ventured a little farther than usual, suddenly reappeared on the stage, pale, scared, trembling, with his eyes starting out of his head, and practically fainted in the arms of the proud mother of little Jammes.[1] And why? Because he had seen coming toward him, AT THE LEVEL OF HIS HEAD, BUT WITHOUT A BODY ATTACHED TO IT, A HEAD OF FIRE! And, as I said, a fireman is not afraid of fire.}

Now I'm just wondering how and why Erik would do this?? Was it basically a prank? Was he bored and couldn't think of anything better to do?

{The fireman's name was Pampin.}

Well, that's.. nice to know, I suppose. IDK why it's particularly significant, though. (*furiously scribbles in notebook* NEW LEROUX RAREPAIR: Pampin/proud mother of little Jammes)

{At first sight, this fiery head in no way corresponded with Joseph Buquet's description of the ghost. But the young ladies soon persuaded themselves that the ghost had several heads, which he changed about as he pleased.}

Well, replace heads with masks and they've almost got it right. (Or at least it accurately describes the behaviors of Charles Dance!Phantom.) Now I'm just picturing the Phantom as a hydra... chop one head off and two more spring up, each more hideous than the last.

{Sorelli, armed with a dagger that never left her}

She's a ballet dancer so why?? Is it to ward off creepy guys? Is it a sentimental gift from someone? Does she just like cool weapons?

{She said to the little ballet-girls:

"Come, children, pull yourselves together! I dare say no one has ever seen the ghost."}

That's actually pretty sweet of her, trying to comfort the little girls :)