I have Eye-Candy with a Story today.

It starts back in 1987, when I was spending a college semester in London. Phantom of the Opera was all the rage, THE must-see show. Lots of my classmates had gone ane raved about it, so I decided that I had to see it. Tickets were incredibly hard to come by, of course, but they had the handy, student-price offer of “extra” tickets that you could stand on line for . . . um, excuse me, queue up for on the day of the performance.

So, on December 3rd, after my classes had finished for the day, I walked by the theater and paused to think. “Is it too early to get on line? Should I go get something hot to drink and come back?” While I stood there pondering, another American student came up behind me and asked, “Is this the queue?” Thinking quickly, I planted my feet and said, “Yes!” (and I’m first!). Over the next four hours or so, we became chummy with each other and the people in line behind us. We’d hold each others’ spots while we ran to a nearby McDonalds for bathroom breaks or quick snacks. And when the box office opened at 6:00, we were right there, all ready to go. We all got our tickets (I opted for first row balcony rather than the orchestra seating–I like the bird’s eye view of musicals), and then six or ten of us all went somewhere or other for dinner.

Well, the show. I didn’t know what to expect. I hadn’t heard any of the music, none of the plot. I’d never seen any of the horror versions of the story. All I knew was that it was supposed to be amazingly good, and what little I could infer from the pictures outside the theater. Need I say that I was blown away? When that chandelier came to life during the opening, I knew it was going to be amazing. I loved every minute of it. You can say what you like about Andrew Lloyd Webber, Sarah Brightman, and everyone, but . . . wow. What a spectacle.

A few days later, I called home to say hello . . . but also to ask, was the soundtrack out in the U.S. yet? The show wasn’t due to open on Broadway until January, but it was possible it would be out early . . . no? You’re sure, I asked? Nope. Not available anywhere Mom had seen. So I bought a copy. A double vinyl LP, which I packed oh-so-carefully into my suitcase before coming home. And which I listened to–for the first time–while I was unpacking, and chattering away a mile a minute about my trip, about London, about my classes, how much I’d missed everyone . . .

But, meanwhile, I’d also told Mom on the phone not to delay, but to get tickets for Phantom on Broadway as soon as possible. Not to wait until the show opened. It was amazing, she’d love it–hurry! But what with one thing and another, it wasn’t until the show opened and the rave reviews were out that she called Ticketmaster, and so was the proud owner of three tickets in the top, back balcony . . . in September. Right at the beginning of the next school year in fact–but that was okay. It was worth the wait, and we saw it in New York with the original cast–including Michael Crawford, which was great. I’d had the soundtrack long-since memorized, and was excited to hear the “real” Phantom.

Years passed. I still listened to the soundtrack. I had my magic mug (which has a mask which magically appears when you fill the mug with hot liquids). I had my souvenir book to look through from time to time. And then my friend Cindy said she’d never seen it. Cindy, who loves Broadway
AND Opera. Well, I couldn’t let that last! So for a combo Christmas/birthday gift one year, I got her a ticket. She, Mom and I went into the city, had great seats in the Orchestra, and well . . . even without Michael Crawford, it was still amazing. The music style was maybe a little too 1980s, but still. Great fun.

There was a long lull there, for a while . . . I didn’t have the soundtrack on CD, so couldn’t listen to it in the car anymore. The movie version–while beautiful to look at–was disappointing in its musical ability. Not horrible, but, well . . . no comparison to seeing it live in the theater.

Why am I telling you all this now? Because tomorrow, on Saturday, my Mom and my niece are going, as a Christmas present. They’re going to love it.

And, at least, I can listen to it in the car again. I found the soundtrack–the original London theater recording–at Your Music for only $11.98. I’ve got that organ cadence pounding through my ear right now…. You know the one. Dummmmmmm …….. Dum da dum da dummmm……. da da dum dum dummmmmmm . . . dum da dum da dummmmm….

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