Phantom of the Opera entertains Dubai

Dubai: It received a standing ovation. For three straight nights! 

Musical theatre aficionados were haunted by the "Phantastic" trio phantoms' high-caliber repertoire in Andrew Lloyd Webber's hit musical The Phantom of the Opera, which was shown in Dubai early this week. 

An evening of Broadway magic combined the extraordinary performances of Earl Carpenter, Rohan Tickell and Matthew Cammelle, who have all played the title role in The Phantom of the Opera. The phantom wouldn’t be complete without his Christine, joined by musical theater star Gina Beck.

"To return to Dubai is an absolute delight for me. Three Phantoms is an incredible and unique event that I love performing in and will be such a wonderful treat for us, Ductac and anyone who loves The Phantom of the Opera," Carpenter said in a press statement. 

On the first night of the show, he welcomed the audience, saying, "It's an absolute pleasure to be here and take you to the musical journey for the program that we have chosen as we mixed the world's entire greatest musicals ever written and the evening will conclude of none other than The Phantom of the Opera. The show started with a narration and revealing creative genius sound of the grand piano accompanied by Anthony Gabriele, Andrew Lloyd Webber's current Musical Director of Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre." 

Music teacher and a choir director Joy Santos was thrilled that she watched them live, saying the concert was "a wonderful experience."

"My choir mates and I truly enjoyed the camaraderie among the singers as well as their character on how they delivered the song, I am excited to share this beautiful genre of music to my students and I will impart this medium to enrich and bridge the cultural gap and language as far as my profession is concerned."

Broadway enthusiast couple from Australia Mr. and Mrs. Bugden said “the feature tonight is the fact composite of various Broadway top numbers to Dubai as far as the expats and local of the Nations is concern it exposes and provides a different type of production to what they normally get and its an opportunity experience at least part of the world wide production. Dubai is ready for this genre given the cosmopolitan population it caters to those who follow Broadway shows and it’s a great addition to the cultural activities happening through Ductac”.

“I wish they would have sung more Phantom music but we were very glad they sang many of the songs that my husband and I knew and enjoyed”. Mrs. Bugden added.

Ductac General Manager Millie Tsai said, "We are looking forward to be an excerpt of Broadway for our musical part that hopefully attracts people from GCC country to shop and to watch Broadway. Our mission is to bring culture to link people together and we want art to be accessible and inclusive not just in musical but a holistic approach of performing arts. We want also to push it outside Ductac to different venues and make it a city wide celebration to be soon called a Dubai International Art Festival."

A Q&A with Earl Carpenter

Who has been the best phantom?

I actually haven't seen POTO, but I would have to say Michael Crawford as he was always an idol when I was growing up.

What’s it been like to step into the shoes of one of the most iconic characters in theatre? 

Amazing, especially when it was role that I'd wanted to play for many years.

Several Broadway and West End shows have been turned into movies, and chances are most of the audience have seen the movie version of the show they’re about to watch. Do you look at how an actor has portrayed your character on screen and try and blend that in with your interpretation of the role? 

No I don't. Acting comes from listening and responding and not from copying. When you have all the lights, music and costume and when you're responding to who you’re acting with then I believe your interpretation comes from that.

If you could be remembered for just one performance, what would it be?

The night I had to perform the role of the Phantom in front of both Andrew Lloyd Webber and Cameron Mackintosh. Very scary!

Is there any show or role you wish you could have performed in? 

I think id have to say that so far in my career I've been lucky enough to play all the great roles in modern musical theatre history already.

What’s your earliest theatre/musical memory, the one that made you say ‘This is what I want to do’? 

I think I'm still searching!

What’s the most important aspect of preparing for a role in terms of getting into character? 

Usually your inspiration comes from the design and music and then the people you had with.

Unlike a movie, there’s no-one to say ‘Cut!’ if something goes wrong, no-one to come up and adjust something that’s fallen off, so what’s been the biggest mistake that’s happened to you while on stage? 

It's more than likely 'words', but something tends to come out, even if it doesn't make sense.

With the onslaught of movie-adaptations of theatre productions, are people going to stop making the effort to go for a show, when they can go to a cinema hall and watch the adaptation for cheaper? 

No because you cannot beat or replicate 'live' interaction.

If someone sees just one play or musical in their entire lifetime, which one should it be? 

Any, Theatre in any form is exciting!

What’s the most exhilarating and exciting day for you? As in, the first day of rehearsals, the last day of the show or some day in between?

When the agent calls to tell you have the job!
 

PROFILES OF THE PERFORMERS

Earl Carpenter

Earl Carpenter has played title roles in a number of prolific productions, such as the phantom in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”, Darryl van Horne in “The Witches of Eastwick”, Joe Gillis in the original UK tour of “Sunset Boulevard” Danillo in “The Merry Widow” Archibald Craven in the Scottish Première of “The Secret Garden” and Beast & Gaston in Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast”. 

He has instigated more than two hundred theatrical projects; conceptually founded the online media group Reelkandi.tv He’s been responsible for filming events such as the Laurence Olivier Awards He created a consortium of international producers that his company Ginger Boy Productions represents and has maintained engagements in Dubai and ‘premium’ soiree events at the prestigious Cliveden House in Berkshire since 2006. 

In 2002, he instigated a new era for the internationally renowned Bournemouth Symphony Orchestra by facilitating a partnership with London’s West End. Earl has been involved with the World’s most popular musical, Les Misérables since 1996. 

In October 2009, Earl concluded an eighteen-month run as Inspector Javert at the Queens Theatre, London before recreating this role for the new and critically commended 25th Anniversary production of Cameron Mackintosh’s Les Misérables that will conclude its European tour at London’s Barbican Centre this October. For more information please visit www.earlcarpenter.com

Rohan Tickell

Rohan Tickell trained at Victorian College of the Arts, Melbourne, Australia.  Rohan has understudied and played the Phantom, Raoul, Andre and Piangi in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “Phantom of the Opera”; Enjolras, Valjean and even Javert in “Les Misérables”; Brad, Rocky, Eddie and Doctor Scott in “The Rocky Horror Show”; The Ball Player; Insignificance; Young Freevil; The Dutch Courtesan; Dr Chebutykin; Three Sisters; Von Eberkopf; Peer Gynt and Orlando in As You Like It. Rohan currently plays the opera tenor Ubaldo Piangi in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London’s West End.

Matthew Cammelle

Matthew Cammelle has just finished playing the title role of the Beast in the UK tour of Disney’s Beauty & The Beast. Immediately prior to this he was standby for the Phantom in The Phantom of the Opera at Her Majesty’s Theatre, London, playing the role on many occasions. 

He has also played the role of Raoul in The Phantom of the Opera both in the West End and on the national tour. His professional theatre work includes creating the leading role of Arnaud du Thil in the National Tour of Martin Guerre, Young Buddy in the Royal Festival Hall production of Stephen Sondheim’s Follies , Marius and Enjolras in Les Miserables at The Palace Theatre, London.

At the Haymarket Theatre, Basingstoke, Matthew appeared as Alex Dillingham in Aspects of Love and George Deever in All My Sons, which transferred to the Liverpool Playhouse. Other theatre credits include national tours of The Rocky Horror Show and Something Wonderful, a tribute to the work of Rodgers and Hammerstein.

Matthew’s extensive concert work includes Summer Showstoppers at Powderham Castle, Enjolras in the Scandinavian Tour of Les Miserables, soloist in White Christmas at the Royal Albert Hall, Feuilly in the Les Miserables Tenth Anniversary Concert at the Royal Albert Hall, West End – The Concert for West End International in Norway and Denmark, West End Showstoppers at Petworth Park, Surrey and Marius in Les Miserables at Hylands Park, Chelmsford. Matthew is currently performing Harry Spright (the Colin Firth role) in the international tour of Mamma Mia.

Gina Beck

After graduating from the Central School of Speech and Drama with a BA in acting her theatre credits have included Wendy Darling in Peter Pan (Birmingham Rep); Rebecca in the world premiere of Imagine This and Cosette in Les Misérables at the Queens Theatre.

She was lucky enough to tour Cape Town and Johannesburg with The Merry Widow, and joined the opera chorus in Ruddigore and The Sorcerer (Buxton Opera House) and Madama Butterfly and L'elisir d'amore (Opera Holland Park). She played Hettie in Ann Veronica (Theatre Museum) and toured nationally and internationally with the National Youth Music Theatre in Warchild, The Kissing Dance and Pendragon. Television includes: Carrie Harkness in Doctors (BBC), Florence in The Return of Sherlock Holmes (BBC), Lydia in The Crust (BBC), Shelley in Dogma TV (C4) and a commercial for the German company Evonik in which she played a vampire.
 
Radio and voiceovers include: Elizabeth in Taggerz (BBC), Susan the Robot in The Crust (BBC) and Cosette in Les Misérables (Focus on the Family Radio Theatre). Gina regularly makes recordings for Pearson Education English language teaching. For more information please visit www.ginabeck.co.uk. Gina is just finished an incredible successful two year run as Christine Daaé in Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera.

Anthony Gabriele

Anthony Gabriele was born in 1973 of European parentage, Anthony studied conducting, composition, piano and voice at the Sydney Conservatorium of Music during which time he participated in numerous musical activities and projects with the Opera Australia. 

Since completing his studies Anthony has worked on a huge variety of operatic and musical theatre projects as a Conductor, Music Director, Chorus Master, Language Coach, Vocal Coach and Accompanist. Credits include Orpheus in the Underworld, The Barber of Seville, La Bohéme, The Magic Flute, La Cenerentola, The Little Mermaid, The Moonrakers Opera and The Happy Prince. As a Music Director, Anthony's credits include South Pacific, Blood Brothers, Ken Hills Phantom of the Opera, A Grand Night for Singing, Chess - The Musical, CATS, Grease - The Musical, The Wizard of Oz, Bye Bye Birdie and The Lion King (London's West End, Sydney, Melbourne and Shanghai).

In addition to his conducting engagements, Anthony works as an arranger and orchestrator and performs as part of a chamber music ensemble. Most recently Anthony conducted the British Philharmonic Orchestra in a programme of popular classical work as part of the Tower Music Festival. Anthony is the current Music Director for the West End production of Phantom of the Opera.