Concert at the Albert Hall

[Rhubarb]

0

http://www.thephantomoftheopera.com/london

We got tickets for this ages ago. It turned out a relief to be in an air-conditioned cinema - it was the hottest day of the year so far- hotter than the Mediterranean!

AND!
It was fantastic

The odd bit was the count down while we waited to be connected to the Albert Hall, with the advert (like in the trailer) of splintering glass and then
"15 minutes before going live"

There would be a little documentary by Andrew Lloyd Webber and then
"10 minures before going live"

And so on.
It was weird when we did go live, they demonstrated all the camera angles (some we decided later were too close- could almost see up Carlotta's nose!) while the audience in the Albert Hall were settling down and the Orchestra came on with the conductor.

At this point I decided to read my programme, which we all had a copy of on our seat. The lights were put out! :doh2:
Oh well read it later at the interval.

The interval:
20 minutes- there was the shattering glass and a timer on screen. Sue, Jeff's mum brought herself some sandwiches since she'd been out on their boat all day and didn't have time to eat.
Philip dashed and joined the queue for the dolly-bird selling ice-creams only to get served by some spotty lad.
I went to the loo!
I get back just as Mark was dishing out the ice-creams and drinks, so I settled back in my chair (which although very comfy my lumber region has seized, so sitting for too long is dreadful!)
Pick up the programme............the lights go out! :doh2:

I thought I would be ok, you know, get totally absorbed in the music and the costumes, but I still cried at the 'Wishing you were here' anthem and Sue did too. *
I thought it odd that the cinema audience didn't applaud- I guess because our reactions wouldn't be heard at the venue.
'Sod it' I thought and after the solo I started to clap, so did Sue and then I heard others join in.
After that when the 5 past Phantoms from the London production came on stage after the final curtain including the original, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman, the whole auditorium was in uproar
Shame Michael was too emotional to sing.

Sue really enjoyed herself (I wasn't sure if she would) and now wants to go to London to Shaftesbury Avenue and see it on stage there.

*Jeff wanted this at the start of Christine's funeral, rather than the option Mark wanted of the Phantom's solo.