My Feels Over The Phantom of the Opera, Last Night in Bangkok

NO SPOILERS, don't worry.

          I expected the show to captivate - as the telling of the story of the Phantom always does - but not surprise me since I am so familiar with both the story and the stage adaptation. But literally 10 minutes into the 3 hour opera, my emotions found a loophole in my certainty. Before there was even enough story to be affected by, the opening score gave me pangs of nostalgia for the years in middle school and high school that I was Phantom-obsessed. Understandably because of the inescapable impact of the symphony, the first thing I was reminded of was playing the Phantom medley in school band concerts a little more than once. I remember having so much joy in practicing what was really a simple, simple percussion part because as a whole the piece sounded so epic, so dynamic, and I was a part of the makings. I thought about the people I used to discuss or sing Phantom with. Jinsol. Nina. Richelle. Nathan. Kestrel. Mostly band geeks like me. I remembered buying the VDC of the movie (yes, it was back in those times) and watching it twice when I got home. I remembered the soundtrack of Phantom being permanent items in my mp3 player. I remembered being amazed, lying in bed at late hours, by how much additional thrill the original book could offer. I remembered the first and only choice that came to mind when Auntie Fumiko asked me what show I wanted to watch in Vegas. And lastly, I suddenly remembered how at 14 years old, watching the Phantom of the Opera live for the first time, that my breath was taken away just as early on at this very part.   

         For the rest of the show, I continued to be at disbelief at how despite knowing what enchanting effects, stunning choreography, and comedy sketches were coming up (and how sleep deprived I was at the time) I remained at the edge, and even barely, of my seat with eyes wide open. By the end, I was standing with my eyes were bulging from an extra layer of salty water. Not from sadness. Or happiness. But from how beautiful the entire composition of live sound, images, and motion was. And the beauty of appreciation ringing through the Rachadalai Theater Hall. 

I wonder how many more times I have to have this experience before I feel like "I've seen it all". 

But I hope the number is infinite. 

  "Softly, deftly, music shall caress you.

Hear it, feel it secretly possess you.

Open up your mind, let your fantasies unwind,

In this darkness that you know you cannot fight.

The darkness of the music of the night."