Invitation to the Windsor Arms

We started the day out with a brunch at JJ Muggs, as Toronto's Phans usually did before a big performance. Unlike the 10th Anniversary, no actors form the production attended. Brunch was nice, with various people running in and out trying to go buy that morning's papers for the articles on the show.

Then it was on to the first auction of the night. This auction featured some of the large posters that were displayed outside on the sides of the building to entice people to come see the show. (Yours truly bought the "Hannibal" one featuring the Winter 1995 cast.) Those posters were on the 2nd floor of the lobby. The first floor had such things as the large (and I mean large!) posters that were used to advertise in the subways, nice shadow boxes with signed ballet slippers, Rene Simard CDs, masks and jewellry made by cast members, and many other items. It was amazing how how some of the bids were! But that was great because all of the money was donated to charity.

Stengel, Stanley, Guerin, and others

Then it was time to get ready for the show. The emotions were so high as phans were seen crying outside of the theatre. It was an odd mixture by looking at the audience, people in Phantom costumes and other people dressed up like members of the band KISS (of which Paul Stanley is a member).

Once inside the theatre, I was struck by how dead the interior looked, stripped of most of the posters and with very few souvenirs left to buy. The lobby wasn't even decorated as nicely as it had been a month earlier for the anniversary.

The applause at the end of songs and scenes were the longest I have ever seen. Kim Stengel did the only libretto change: "Si, these things do happen. All the time! For the past TEN years these things do happen!" Needless to say, she had to pause because of the enormous applause and cheering.

Fireworks

It didn't hit me until the second act that this was the end. The last time I'd see Phantom at the Pantages Theatre with all of these wonderful cast members. During several points of the second act, it looked as though the actors were thinking exactly the same thing.

Then the curtain dropped for the last time on that wonderful production. Everyone got a standing ovation. Once my friend Stacey started to cry, I started bawling as well. Then my other friend Catherine had to point out that some of the cast members were in tears as well, so Stacey and I cried even more.

Past cast and crew members were invited onstage - Laird Mackintosh and Lyse Guerin were the only ones I recognized. Then everyone who was onstage sang the version of "Music of the Night" in about ten-part harmony that they sang for the 9th Anniversary with the five Phantoms. Then the streamers started to fall and the fireworks went off.

More fireworks and the cast waving goodbye

A few months before the show, ticketholders were sent an invitation to the Windsor of Arms hotel for a party and auction. There was a silent auction which included some of the same items that were auctioned off earlier that day.

Then the cast was brought onto the stage and introduced. The cake was wheeled over next and was cut by the actors.

Kristina Marie Guiget and Catriona Ferguson

Now was the point that everyone had waited for - the auction! Included were items such as the "Hannibal" poster, the pistol and three wooden skulls, the monkey music box, various costumes, and a guitar that Paul Stanley had autographed. Kristina Marie Guiget (Mme Giry) sang a song to advertise what she put up for auction - a Victorian Tea.

At one point during the auction, bidding was not going well. So, Paul Stanley had his son Evan (five years old) go up on stage to sing. His son had such a powerful voice, maybe he'll be The Phantom in the future. The trick worked and bidding went on well!

Principal cast members

Before the auction, there were rumours that Paul Stanley would win the monkey music box. The bidding was fierce - I was standing next to Mr. Stanley's wife and manager (?) while they bid. Eventually, the woman bidding against them won. The music box was sold for $28,000 Canadian while Paul Stanley's guitar went for $14,000.

Then the inevitable happened: it was time to say goodbye. A couple of us went back to the theatre (it was on the way to the hotel) and stopped at a Tim Horton's to talk about how depressed we were all feeling! For all the crying my eyes did that night, I wouldn't have traded it for anything. Just the feeling that I was part of this wonderful experience was enough for me.

Cutting the cake

Some Phantom of the Opera in Toronto facts:

Number of months it took to construct both the chandelier and proscenium: 6

Facts taken from the October 31, 1999 edition of The Sunday Sun newspaper.