Scott showing us auction items

Phans of Toronto's production gathered each year to celebrate another year of Phantom. Past anniversaries included such treats as backstage tours, autograph sessions, five Phantoms in one performance, and for the past three years, a phan brunch.

This year, Laird Mackintosh (Raoul) joined the phans for brunch at JJ Muggs, a restaurant across the street from the theatre. We were shortly joined by Scott Wantanabe (Passarino), who lugged over massive amounts of auction items to show us. The auction items were going to be sold at the various auctions on the day of the last performance.

Phans at JJ Muggs

Kim Stengel then stopped by for a few minutes to chat with the fans and to tell us of the nightmare about the performance she had the night before!

The group of phans then took many pictures on the steps inside JJ Muggs and left to go see the Pantages Theatre, where Phantom played for a little more than ten years. At the theatre, we persuaded one of the ushers let us into the lobby so that we could take some group photos.

Some balloons in the lobby

The Pantages staff had decorated the lobby full of black and white balloons (we later found out that there was also a large amount of balloons and confetti ready to be dropped during the fireworks in the theatre itself).

The performance was wonderful. I won't bore you with the details (you can see my personal website for a complete review), but there was such a feeling of emotion and electricity through the air that made it that much better.

The author, Jeff Hyslop and Catherine

After the cast took their bows, there were a few speeches, as was the custom. Jeff Hyslop told the audience that his first performance as The Phantom occurred on his 40th birthday and that they had a huge cake for him. One of the staff at the Pantages read a letter from Andrew Lloyd Webber thanking the cast, crew and the fans. Then the 'big cake' was rolled out for its last birthday celebration and the fireworks commenced! I don't think that the other productions have a history of shooting off fireworks after anniversary celebrations!

All in all, it was a wonderful 'Phantom' day, but a bit sad for the people who would be unable to return for Toronto's last performance a month later.