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NOISES OFF
Phanfare for a Phantom
Then the phantom disappeared.
All right, he's not exactly vanishing into thin air, but Colm Wilkinson, who has played the love-struck ghoul in The Phantom of the Opera since it's premiere in Semptmber of 1989, is donning his mask for the final time tonight.
Colmania will be the theme of the evening, though the folks at Livent (the show's producer) are keeping mum on the exact nature of the festivities.
We do know that assorted surprise treats and presentations are planned. And we can tell you that although Phantom composer Andrew Lloyd Webber won't be on hand, he was in town recently to see "Show Boat" and to plan The Music of Andrew Lloyd Webber Part Two, a touring show that will star the newly liberated Wilkinson.
As you might expect, the audience at the Pantages will be strewn with members of the Colm Wilkinson Appreciation Society (hailing from as far away as Ireland and Australia), who'll be on hand to weep the star out of the theatre.
Wilkinson will share his last Phantom curtain call with longtime assistants, makeup artist Lesley Olson and dresser Dawn Masine, as well as his 11-year-old-daughter Sarah, an aspiring actress.
Taking over from Wilkinson will be Peter Karrie, who has played the Phantom in London and filled in for Wilkinson in Toronto. (Nor will this be the first time he's taken the stage after Wilkinson: Karrie played Jean Valjean in the London production of Les Miserables, a role originated by Wilkinson.)
Karrie might want to take note of some significant numbers: since tonight will be Wilkinson's 1,653rd performance as Phantom, and he averages four hours per show in makeup, that's 270 days he's spent in grisly get-up.
No wonder he's had enough.
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