Cobb Great Hall was jam-packed as people filed inside the auditorium while others sat and chatted amongst themselves, everyone eagerly awaiting the show to begin. Soon enough, the lights dimmed and conversations came to a halt.
The stage, with a screen resembling cobwebs in front of it, was decorated with a table and various pieces of 19th century-style furniture.
A group of people, including an auctioneer, entered the stage and began bidding on the furniture. The auctioneer pointed to the covered chandelier hanging above the stage, saying it had been restored after being damaged under mysterious circumstances.
The brown fabric covering the chandelier suddenly fell away as different sets of lights flashed on it, highlighting the glistening crystals. It was an elegant and stunning spectacle. The orchestra began playing dramatically, and it was clear to everyone that the show had begun.
“The Phantom of the Opera” will continue playing at Wharton Center from now until April 12. Although it is Broadway’s longest running musical, audiences were still completely entranced by the music, sets and especially the special effects.
At one point midway through the show, the mysterious phantom, angry that the new Paris Opera House owners had denied his requests, suddenly took aim and shot at the chandelier while a performance was happening. The chandelier sparked and began to dramatically plummet, stopping halfway between the ceiling and the startled audience.
Then, the curtain fell and it was intermission. Audience members, clearly stunned and engrossed, began clapping enthusiastically.
During another chaotic moment, the phantom crashes a masquerade party and sets fire to the floor, causing the partygoers to scream and run around in fear.
The walls of the room were composed primarily of mirrors and during this scene the lights danced off the mirrors wildly, making it look like the room was almost spinning. The lights against the mirrors added to the reality of chaos and hecticness of the scene.
Elementary education senior Bethany Kinnan, an usher at Wharton Center, said Friday’s showing of “The Phantom of the Opera” was nearly sold out, with 2,200 people in attendance. She said she thinks students are drawn to the show because of the reduced ticket prices, convenient location and how big of a Broadway show it is.
Among those in attendance was Grand Valley State University student Trevor Wuori, who said he was seeing the show with his father.
“It’s been awhile. I was pretty young when I saw it last so I’m excited to see it again,” he said.
Wuori said he was particularly looking forward to seeing the song “Masquerade,” performed, as it’s his favorite song and scene.
Interdisciplinary studies senior Brianna Mykkanen, who works at the Wharton Center as an usher, said she loves “The Phantom of the Opera,” especially the flashy scenes, and has seen it five times.
“I saw it the first time when I was three so I didn’t really remember it, but my brother, who was two years older than me, absolutely loved it and he eventually wanted to be the phantom on Broadway, so I kind of grew up loving it that way,” she said.
For Mykkanen, “The Phantom of the Opera” is more than a show.
“It just reminds me of my comfort zone, just of home and everything,” she said. “Broadway shows were such a big thing in my family, so coming back to see a show like this, especially at the Wharton Center, is just like going home to family.”
