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Phantom Star Hits right note with fan club
Toronto Star
February 29, 1992
He's friendlier than Madonna, more talkative than De Niro and leaves Pacino in his wake when it comes to being a gentleman.
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That's what 69-year-old Juni Granger decided after meeting de-masked Phantom of the Opera star Colm Wilkinson at a party he threw for 48 dedicated fans from across North America.
I've met them all - Robert De Niro, Al Pacino, Madonna, and Colm is truly the most gracious host and person," said Granger of Hartford, Conn.
"He is friendly, kind, witty, gentlemanly and has great creativity."
The hour-long party came as a surprise to many of the Phantom fans - all members of the New York-based Colm Wilkinson Appreciation Society - who were feted with champagne and carrot cake in the Phantom Suite at the Pantages Theatre on Yonge St. yesterday.
After arriving to attend a Saturday matinee of the popular Andrew Lloyd Webber opera, the fans had hoped that society director Lois Jolson could set up an autograph session.
They were thrilled when she announced that instead they were being treated to a party by the Phantom himself.
"You don't usually get to come down to a suite like this and have him walk through the door and say, 'Hello, how are you?' " observed Susie Coffman of Bradford, Pa.
But Wilkinson said after the party ended, it's a "treat" to meet with the people who write him letters and buy his records.
"You get locked into a show and you lose touch with the people" he said. "These are the people who say, ' I played (the record) and I loved it.' "
The man with the mesmerizing singing voice chatted easily with fans who crowded around to have souvenir photographs taken together.
"I don't understand why people would want to go to Hollywood when they can see a famous star right here, " said 14-year old Christine Killius of Oakville.
"He shook my hand and I"ll never wash it again."
Her little sister, Caroline, 11, spent an entire day making Wilkinson a necklace of origami paper cranes, a traditional Japanese sign of good luck, which he wore around his neck throughout the party.
By Moira Welsh
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