On Saturday, my family and I went to the Esplanade to watch the Phantom of the Opera, a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Its was my first time at the Esplanade and it truly was an eye-opener. I marvelled at the splendour of the famous "durian" by the Bay, and coupled with the hues of dusk, the Esplanade made for a good accompaniment of the scenic view of the cityside.
In the theatre, the musical started with the dimming of lights and a flashback to the protagonist, Christine's past when she was but an actress with a minor role in the theatre's plays. Unbeknownst to everyone, she is being secretly groomed by the Phantom, who resides in the dungeons beneath the theatre. Gradually, the Phantom, a disfigured, talented "angel of music" grooms Christine into a star, and only yearns for her love just as her childhood sweetheart appears, and they burst into a duet of the song "All I ask of you", which happens to be my favourite song. I admire the techniques used by the director, as he manages to elicit an initial response of fear and revulsion for the Phantom, but later reveals the hidden side of him as a tortured soul, longing for someone's love and company. Overall, the poignant musical provided pure enjoyment as I basked in the melodious harmony of voices, and I must say it was worth every single cent!!