Details

Title: The Phantom of the Opera
Author: Anna Riner
Where to get it: www.lulu.com
Release Date: 2007
Pages: 149
Versions: printed, ebook

Contents

Strange things are happening in the Paris Opera and behind them there is a “Phantom”…. The contents of the book is the same as in Gaston Leroux’s “Phantom of the Opera”

From the description at www.lulu.com:

“Many are familiar with Gaston Leroux’s tragic novel “The Phantom of the Opera.” This script has been adapted solely from that fantastic tale of love, jealousy, obsession, and redemption. Let this play serve as the threshold into a world which will prove the undeniable reality of the Opera Ghost.”

Nadir’s Review

There are many versions of Leroux’s, “Phantom of the Opera”. Some are a retelling of the classic, others are just different translations of the original French text. This one is “simply” brought into another format. As radio plays and stage have demonstrated before: sometimes you need a script. And this is what Anna Riner has done; she has converted Leroux’s venerable opus into a script that can be used for stageplays without cutting the original story down or let it go into something trashy. In contrast to some stage versions, she left the the original characters as they were. The story is still the same and the dialogs are written over but not changed in meaning.

Anna Riner allows Leroux to speak with the reader. Sorelli interacts with the ballett rats, the Phantom bewitches Christine, Raoul calls deperately for his beloved and the Persian manages the problems.

It goes without saying that the nature of reading is to imagine the charachters, the places and the acting. This is what makes reading so intriguing. But what is also interesting is to get stage directions which aid in seeing the book like a movie in your mind.

As always, it is a matter of one’s taste that will determine if you like or dislike the book. The fact remains that this is yet another way to meet with the story. Anna Riner is giving the control to the reader and their imagination, with a little help from her directions, of course. In any case, it’s fun to read and a good basis for a live acting role play.

Thanks to a good friend for editing my review.

• Audio CD (28. September 2007)
• Anzahl Disks/Tonträger: 1
• Label: Import (Megaphon Importservice)
• ASIN: B0002NA6AY