The Closing of San Francisco

Written by Daphnie

I was one of the lucky people who had the chance to see the last performance of The Phantom of the Opera in SF with Franc D'Ambrosio, Lisa Vroman and Chris Carl. I remember that day so well. It was a day I looked forward to because I would get to see Phantom, but it was a day I also dreaded, because it would be the day my life left. You see, Phantom is my life. It's my inspiration, my drive, my passion. I had seen the show only 7 times before the final performance, and this would be my 8th and final time.

As I walked into the theater, I took more notice and paid more attention to the surroundings, just so I could have a better memory in my head for when I wanted to relive my last Phantom experience. Sadly though, half of the posters were gone and blank walls occupied their spaces. I walked to my seat and the realization hit me hard; this would be my last time sitting in the Curran Theater, looking at the Angel Statue and Chandelier onstage, awaiting a performance of the Phantom by my beloved SF cast.

The Overture began and I got those chills up my spine... the beauty of the music overtook me, and the feeling that this would be the last time I'd ever hear this music again made it so much more special. I know I'd be able to hear it again if I saw a different cast, but it wouldnt be the same.

The show went by flawlessly. The applauses after every scene lasted longer than I had ever heard before. Everyone knew this was an extra special performance, so we gave the performers extra special attention =)

The Final Bows
"The Final Bows"
The whole final lair scene was breathtaking, and when Christine kissed him, I couldn't take it anymore and I started to cry. The sheer beauty of this, the magic of this entire musical gave me this feeling inside my heart. A feeling that could never be replaced. The minute Franc sang "It's over now, THE MUSIC OF THE NIGHT..." I started sobbing uncontrollably, gasping for air, my chest racking with tormented breaths as I tried to stiffle my crying, for I knew it was really over. My music of the night was gone.

I guess it sounds stupid how upset I got over a musical leaving, but no one but phans understand thr pain you have to go through when something you love so much is leaving for good. I'd cry to my friends about phantom leaving, and they's just say.."GET OVER IT! NO BIG DEAL!" That's the thing though, it was a big deal. I had a passion and a love for this musical. This musical seemed to be my reason for living. I know it sounds obsessive, but it's true. Only fellow phans understood what I was going through, because they were going though the same thing. They were all saddened and depressed by the loss of our Phantom.

It took me a few months to get my life back in order. I tried to be happy, and a put on a facade of happiness covering what I felt on the inside, but always in the back of my mind, I'd be thinking of the phantom and how much I missed it.

I've been able to move on with my life now, I still miss phantom, but not so much it makes me depressed. It will always have its own spot in my heart though. and the spot is reserved for Phantom, and nothing else. Phantom changed my life. Its leaving closed a chapter of my life, but began a new one, a new chapter where I used my love for the Phantom to let me thrive in things I love, such as performing and singing. Let's just say if anyone ever asks me in the future how I became the woman I am today, I'll answer The Phantom of the Opera.