Music of the Night - The Phantom Goes to China

by Lauren Nemec

Sir Cameron Mackintosh, the producer of "The Phantom of the Opera" and "Les Miserables", has announced that Chinese versions of these musicals will open in China next year. The shows will feature local performers.

I thought this was an interesting topic to post about, because musicals, like all products, are often localized to fit the language, culture and laws of the country where they are showing. For example, the famous chandelier crash scene in "The Phantom of the Opera" is not the same across performances in different countries. In Australia- a laid-back and adventurous country- the chandelier crashes to the stage at a great speed and features pyrotechnics. In Britain, however, strict safety codes usually result in a slower and less dramatic crash.

Many other musicals are expected to play in China in the next few years, including "Mamma Mia", "Cats", "The Lion King", "My Fair Lady" and "Miss Saigon". It would be interesting to see how these performances are adapted to fit the Chinese culture. Anyhow, read the AFP's article, "Les Miserables goes Chinese" for more information about musicals in China.