Phantom of the Opera: Phantom scales perfection's peak

Magnificent. Outstanding. This is likely the most accomplished Abbey musical yet. As performance piece and spectacle The Phantom of the Opera offers breathtaking vocal and visual pageantry, along with an engaging and engrossing theatrical experience. Any performance of Phantom carries a huge weight of expectation, but fears about an amateur society taking on this colossus and somehow not doing it just can be thrown away right now.

From Chris Crowe's towering physical presence and vocal prowess to the sumptuous set with its subterranean boat ride and enhanced arrangements from Barry Jones' 18-piece orchestra, this is a production worthy of a professional company. The gothic tale, originally published as a novella more than 100 years ago, with a disfigured demented obsessive bullying musical misfit as its protagonist, is possibly the epitome of modern musical theatre roles.

This is a character to relish, and Chris does so for the third time since Phantom has played locally in New Zealand, demonstrating a peerless ability to unleash the Phantom in full fury, while also reining him in to expose his more sensitive and seductive side. He is beautifully matched in Daniela-Rosa Cepeda's Christine. The Hawke's Bay lyric soprano's voice simply soars, while convincingly conveying the performance nuances that capture the essence of her character.

There is also admiration for Val Andrew who perfectly captures the personality in song and demeanour of the diva Carlotta Guidicelli, and for her operatic partner Ubaldo Piangi delivered with great aplomb and maturity by Bradford Meurk. Chris Thompson presents Christine's suitor Raoul with an air of dignified composure and concern, with Gail Shirley maintaining a telling presence as Madame Giry.

All members of the cast and ensemble show a wonderful commitment to their tasks, which translates as authenticity across the pre-World War I period footlights. Director Stephen Robertson has done a brilliant job with this production; it may be on a huge scale with complex backstage and lighting cues, but it also manages to tell a human story, superbly; one well worth sharing with as many people as possible