r/MasqueradeNYC

Back once again!! This time with my best friend (and roommate). We saw the 2:15pm show with a surprise Austin Colby, Claire Leyden, and Dan Hoy. Here are all my thoughts and feelings as well as any interactions my friend and I had.

Hallway:
-I used the bathroom before the show and they had us line up in that hallway, I could hear (I think) pulse 3 & 4’s title songs loud and clear which I never did before and that was really cool?

Opening:
-Georgia was on Giry, but I am itching to see her as Christine one day too !!
-I saw some new costumes during masquerade that I’ve never seen before ?? I think one was supposed to be an owl/bird
-I knew Ryan had called out for the matinee but I had no idea who was on for him, a bit disappointing because I’d hyped him up to my best friend so much that she picked this pulse to see specifically. But after masquerade I was sooo shocked and delighted when Austin Colby appeared. No complaints here 🙂‍↕️
-His voice reminds me of Peter Jöback at times. Just a very strong, high tenor.

Hannibal:
-My friend was pulled by Madame Giry to play piano
-Carlotta came down and started asking people if they knew she was and delighted when someone next to me finally said yes
-she handed me her perfume bottle and I held it because I am her biggest fan yasss
-one of the ensemble members told me buquet never does his job right and is always drinking and partying I was like oh I hate when my coworkers do that
-After Carlotta quit Claire Christine came up to me and said “She can’t be serious? The vicomte is supposed to come tonight!”
-I really love how Claire performs think of me, just such a lack of confidence and you watch her grow so much through the song alone. You can see her mentally hype herself up for the high C.

Mirror/Title
-Austin’s phantom barely blinks
-During Christine’s verse she like side hugged my friend
-Great title song, Austin was instructing Christine during the high notes like it was a music lesson. Gesturing for her to open more, I really liked the detail.
-Christine is simultaneously scared and in pure awe of the phantom. That’s her angel for real. (No it’s not)

Music of the night:
-He is very soft with Christine, wants to touch her but is scared she’ll break. But also he’s touch starved. Bad combo!
Bedroom/Automaton/Letter:
-I’ve gotten this exact order every time I’ve gone to masquerade it’s starting to freak me out what are the odds
-Claire has such a playful energy with the veil, and is genuinely so intrigued by this “new world” she’s in.
-as always I love the automatons, perfect addition I could watch them for hours
-I feel like Austin’s movements match the automaton, there’s a stiffness to him… until there isn’t more to come on that.
-they gave my friend and I like stiff robotic waves goodbye and we waved goodbye too 🥺
-does Sierra Boggess know they are using her think of me cadenza in this voice over.

Unmasking:
-I was on the outside and had kind of a bad view because I was behind a column so not the best recount of this scene srry
-Claire Christine is def questioning her sanity throughout the whole show but she nearly ran right into the automaton phantom and that really startled her
-Austin’s phantom really thought things were gonna work out between them but then he saw her face so now it’s over now

Carnival:
-Walking into the room I was immediately grabbed by the Barker and taken to Erik’s cage, he had me feed him and was like don’t make friends!! Friends repeat after me: always disappoint you.”
-Young Erik ended up tying me a bracelet <3
-Austin’s phantom is very stoic throughout the carnival but there’s a simmering rage under there. It’s a memory he flashes back to often.

Learn to be lonely:
-Indoor track! Makes sense it’s so hot in the city. I have only gotten the outdoor track once btw in the 6 times I’ve gone.
-Georgia Giry is very motherly and gentle
with Young Erik but can only do so much.
-Olivia as Meg very cute, her and Claire had great chemistry
-she handed me the rope when I sat down so uh oh I’m an accomplice to murder because Erik did come over and take it from me 😬

Fly tower:
-Austin’s phantom is treating this as a full blown performance, having the time of his life.
-that is until Christine shows up, he heard her gasp as Buquet falls and they made eye eye contact. His entire face dropped like
😄😦

Rooftop:
-Dan Hoys Raoul is really grounded and doing his best to calm down Christine but her mind is going off in 20 different directions
-during the “but this voice…” line Austin moved his hands as if he was conducting Christine
-When Raoul started singing Erik tightened his fist so hard I could literally hear it
-Very sweet All I ask of you, Christine really wants reassurance and Raoul is more than willing to give her it. Especially after she says “Promise me that all you say is true”
-Austin is giving a thousand year stare throughout this
-His reprise is sad, he’s chocking back tears until he just accepts a sad defeat…. But then they start singing and he decides to lock in. Maniacal laughter and all.

Wishing:
-I was on the balcony for this! Never done that before.
-Claire is such a powerful Christine, and so interactive too. I love her choices. Her grief is palpable.

Wandering child:
-Claire is desperately clinging on to her engagement ring with Raoul and taking deep breathes as if she doesn’t believe the phantom is really there but she lets it go and gives in at “but my soul obeys”
-Dan’s Raoul is not having it!
-Christine ran up to the balcony and on her out grabbed my hand and we took off.
-she was fully crying and all I could say was “Are you okay? That was a lot.” And she said “Yes… no… sometimes I think I see things.” And I said “you are not seeing things”
-while walking down the stairs she practiced warming up, gave a big hug to one of the butlers, her and Piangi wished each other luck for Don Juan.

Plot rooms:
-Claire Christine is jumping at her own shadow, but is doing all that she can to put on a brave face.
-she tries practicing but slams the score shut in frustration.
-Dan Hoy Raoul truly means well, I truly believe he wants what’s best for her but doesn’t fully know how to go about it.
-heartbreaking twisted
-Carlotta gave my friend a note and her and Piangi the funniest people ever as always love those divas
-Austin’s delivery of “fear not my friends he has an understudy” was so genuinely earnest like aww we are his friends
-single manager show! It was just Firmin, he literally said “I wish Andre was here to read this note with me”

Don Juan:
-Christine knows immediately it’s Erik and is trying her best to steer clear, but once she can’t get any help she locks in.
-Austin’s Erik is a performer in every sense of the word. Everything in his life is a performance.
-He’s trying to be normal, and nonchalant but he’s bursting at the seams and feels like he’s gonna throw up at any moment
-During the change into the wedding dress I had a perfect angle to see phantom turn his head to Raoul and smirk as he mockingly sang all I ask of you
-Claire’s going through the motions a bit as she tries not to panic
-best she can do is unmask him and he is crawling on the ground immediately
-he’s twitching, hunched over and regressing, genuinely starts becomes a creature right before your eyes here
-reminds me of how Leroux phantom moves
-After Claire pushes him out of the way, he really gently holds her face. But then turns towards Raoul again and smirks kinda like “gotcha” before it crashes

Final lair:
-oof this final lair
-Austin goes full Leroux here lol
-He like tries to grab at Christine’s skirt but she backed away and put her arms up in a defensive position
-he’s crawling on the ground a lot it’s awesome to me, genuinely moves like a creature
-During the “turn around and face your fate” line Claire Christine did turn around in a defiant “I’m not scared of you” way which I believe at this point she isn’t scared of him she’s just sad for him and wants out.
-When Raoul says “I love her, does that mean nothing?” Austin’s phantom genuinely flinches and is disgusted
-he also like gently caressed raouls chin to lift his head wooo #rerik
-after the “let me see her” “be my guest sir” Claire wants to run to Raoul but is so hesitant, kinda gives the phantom an exasperated look of “okay how is he gonna do that?”
-Austin phantom had to drag her away from Raoul once she did reach him, I swear Dan’s Raoul was mouthing “it’s going to be okay it’s going to be okay” before that don’t know for sure might have made that up
-Claire’s Christine is shell shocked by the ultimatum hugging the roses to herself tightly before delivering quite a chilling tears of hate
-Austin is sooo wounded
-kinda the best I’ve seen the rose choreography done?
-the make your choice line was delivered very coldly
-great kiss, when it’s done Austin’s phantom is grinning ear to ear and is blissfully happy just for a moment.
-once he hears the mob those he lets go of Christine and she immediately grabs them and puts them back around her and says “no!” When he says “forget me forget all of this”
-She helps untie Raoul and ushers for him to go and run, before trying to go back.
-She’s screaming no as she’s dragged off and Erik is smiling sadly
-he really breaks down here, the facade is truly gone.
-he kinda thinks Christine has actually come back but halfway through is like ohhh oh no
-he is like getting more progressively ecstatically happy during the final unmasking it made me really emotional idk
-right before the final black out he let the biggest, happiest sigh of relief before looking up and spreading his arms out.

Really great time overall as always!! Feel grateful to see this now rare pair, I didn’t think I’d get a chance to see Austin during his run. After seeing Claire again she has def become a top Christine for me. I’ve said it before but she’s a masterclass in acting and truly embodies her perfectly.

Also tried to do the standby line in hopes of seeing pulse 1 (or any really) and was thwarted again. I’m 0 for 2 and I’m starting to think the universe just doesn’t want me to see Kyle and Eryn for some reason Ive tried several times now have failed every time 🥴

Apparently one of the matinee pulses was cancelled, 1:15pm I think? It caused them to have to put the guests from that pulse into tonight’s shows instead making them more packed than usual. One day I will see pulse 1 at 7pm I swear!!! I guess I will have to buy a full priced ticket to do so oops.

I’m going to the masquerade for the first time on July 18th and I’m so excited! I bought the clothing items from different sellers so they all arrived at different times. Today the dress came and I was finally able to put my whole outfit together! I love my outfit and I can’t wait for the masquerade!