The production of Phantom of the Opera recently began at the Artscape Opera House on the 2nd of April and ended on the 13th June. Produced by Pieter Toerien and The Really Useful Group, they succeed in creating a beautiful romance with a magnificent wardrobe and intricate set designs. Although the show is produced satisfactorily, there are some setbacks. The operatic music makes huge demands on the singers and some of them fail to meet these demands. However, is spite of this, the show is superbly performed with convincing characterisation and a compassionate, yet heartbreaking storyline.

A particularly triumphant part of the production was one of the lead rolls, the phantom, played by Andre Schwartz. He succeeds in portraying his character as both an evil and bitter maniac and a sad, lonely disfigured man who earns the audience's pity. His vocal delivery is...