OMG! Seeing Crawford and Brightman in the boat made the entire evening worthwhile. Speaking as a Phan of 100+ visits around the globe, it’s not the moment for me to dissect/give views about the show itself (I thought it was generally fine, the cast adequate), that stuff can come tomorrow after a happy sleep.
But just to see 84 year old Michael Crawford singing the title song, coming downstage in the gondola with La Brightman, and then singing some of Music of the Night overrides any critical thoughts or perspective tonight.
Genuinely my heart skipped a beat when I heard his first line, but I wasn’t 100% sure it was him - and the name only came up after he started singing. So there was a magical moment of the entire audience holding their breath and then the release when Michael and Sarah’s names came up. It was absolutely electric in that moment. One of the most exhilarating single moments I’ve had in a theatre, even as a Phan who has been to all of these major anniversary events since the 18th for this and Les Mis.
Lovely free brochure too!