In This Labyrinth: Justice From the Heart of The Phantom Of The Opera
28 episodes - English - Latest episode: about 3 years ago - ★★★★★ - 2 ratingsThis podcast draws on the world's most popular musical, Andrew Lloyd Webber's The Phantom Of The Opera, as well as on the experience of Phanship having been a Phan myself for three odd decades now, to explore social justice and intersectionality. That said, although a lot of my exploration and analysis comes from the Lloyd Webber stage-musical, I will talk about other versions of Phantom as well, along with some of the best of Phanfiction that I've yet come across! And whenever possible, I'll be interviewing fellow Phans, Phan-authors/creators, etc, to give voice to different experiences than just my own. So enjoy, and long live Phantom as a force for a better world!
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Episodes
Phantom Of The Future part 1 - The Story At The Heart Of The City
March 29, 2021 06:00 - 6 minutes - 8.98 MBThe year is 2030. Phantom has been revived in Toronto, but not like before. As the city is transforming toward justice and sustainability, so, too, the production leads the way by being produced justly and non-extractively. The story, long gone, has returned to the heart of the city. This first episode of the Phantom Of The Future was inspired by and is my submission to The 2030 Archive, a project developed by the People’s Climate Movement of Toronto/GTA. The Archive seeks to use the art...
Phantom of the Underworlds: Erik as Lord of Sex and Death
November 28, 2020 02:00 - 1 hour - 92.4 MBIn this (LOL very much belated - Oops) Halloween/Samhain episode, I explore some of Phantom’s mythological roots. In particular, I explore some of our Erik’s connections to/resonances with deities of the underworld, death and passion! Oh, and apologies for the issues with the sound-quality. Tech weirdness!
At The Intersection of Trauma and Politics: My Review of the Phanfic Shadow Government/Shadows Over Eden
October 17, 2020 22:00 - 57 minutes - 78.5 MBIn this episode, I discuss the brilliant Phanfic Shadow Government/Shadows Over Eden by Quiet2885. I discuss how it explores the intersection of trauma and politics in a way I haven’t seen done elsewhere in Phanfiction. And I discuss some of the reasons why I find I prefer the original online Phic to the published version, at least on first reading of the Kindle ebook.
Music Of Quarantine/Quarantine Of The Opera: My Interview With Melissa Duijvestijn
August 29, 2020 23:00 - 1 hour - 100 MBIn this episode I interview Dutch Phan Melissa Duijvestijn. We talk about some of her experiences as an Autistic and Visually Impaired Phan, and also about the very cool POTO role-play and recording groups she’s involved in! #ManderleyAgain #QuarantineOfTheOpera #MusicOfQuarantine Plus, bonus, she sings and reads an excerpt from one of the role-plays! Special Guest: Melissa Duijvestijn.
PSA: #SaveTheBrilliantOriginal!
August 07, 2020 02:00 - 5 minutes - 7.32 MBPSA #SaveTheBrilliantOriginal #PhantomoftheOpera! As folks may know, the London and Broadway flagship productions have been closed due to #COVID19 (read more about it on the podcast blog). So now, we need to make sure that, when they reopen, Hal Prince’s, Gillian Lynn’s and Maria Bjornson’s original vision is preserved! You can sign and share the petitions https://www.change.org/p/cameron-mackintosh-save-the-brilliant-original-phantom-of-the-opera?fbclid=IwAR3P7JBdCaByzAps3Ofh4TvbpEOJK3W0...
Review of Leroux Sequel Lazare by K. E. Torwood
July 23, 2020 05:00 - 48 minutes - 66.4 MBIn this twentieth episode - Wow!, I review and discuss the awesome Queer sequel to the Leroux novel - Lazare: Gaston Leroux’s Continued Investigation Concerning The Phantom Of The Opera - by K. E. Torwood. I talk about how this book is not only masterfully written, but awesomely historical and intersectional as well! Check it and the author out at @KETorwood and https://ketorwood.com.
Do I Become His Prey: POTO, Violence And The Spirit of Transformative Justice
June 02, 2020 05:00 - 57 minutes - 79.1 MBContent warning. This episode weighs in on on-going discussions of whether or not Phantom condones, glorifies or romanticizes violence, especially gendered violence. I argue that it doesn’t! And I discuss how, instead, Phantom addresses certain realities of trauma and makes a powerful case for transformative rather than punitive justice.
Review: Phantom's French Language Debut!
February 28, 2020 22:00 - 55 minutes - 51.1 MBIn this first episode of 2020 - Wow! - I review the French language in-concert production of the Lloyd Webber Phantom that ran from January 8th to 26th 2020 in Montreal, Canada. I had the sheer privilege of going twice, and really loved it both times! Although, I also found myself having some friendly critiques. So needless to say, I have a lot to say about this production!
When All Is Lost: Environmental Justice In A POTO Phanfic
December 18, 2019 06:00 - 56 minutes - 51.9 MBIn this episode, in honour of COP25 (the climate negotiations that just took place at the UN) and the students striking for climate justice, I discuss the amazing Phanfic When All Is Lost by Quiet2885. I talk about what environmental justice is, and explore how it’s thoroughly woven into the plot and characters of this epic Phanfiction thriller! https://www.fanfiction.net/s/2942105/1/When-All-is-Lost https://www.fanfiction.net/u/731205/Quiet2885
This The Phantom's Opera: The Magic of Haunting In POTO
November 12, 2019 22:00 - 43 minutes - 40.2 MBHappy belated Halloween/Samhain everyone!! In this slightly belated (Oops, sorry about that) Halloween/Samhain episode, I talk about haunting in POTO! I explore what it means when the haunting isn’t by the ghost or spirit of a deceased victim of injustice, but a living, breathing human-being. I also give a shout-out to my newest Patreon supporter! :-) Thanks hugely for your contribution!! http://www.patreon.com/phantomfemme
Denied Me and Betrayed Me: Thoughts On the Lawrence Connor Production
September 05, 2019 18:00 - 1 hour - 57.2 MBWow!! This is the first episode of the second year of the podcast!! Is that not cool? Anyway, in this episode, I discuss the recent U.K. and U.S./Canada touring productions of the ALW Phantom directed by Lawrence Connor. I discuss some of the changes he’s made from the original, and why some of those changes are down-right problematic! And on that note, content warning for mild references to kink and to violence against women.
Tribute to Hal Prince #RIPHalPrince
August 29, 2019 22:00 - 5 minutes - 4.6 MBA tribute to Phantom’s legendary director Hal Prince, who sadly passed away on July 31 2019 at the age of 91 after a truly awesome and ground-breaking career that spanned nearly seven decades, winning him 21 Tony awards and transforming the modern musical stage! The whole music-theatre world, and especially the entire Phantom family, mourns this loss! #RIP #HalPrince #TheBrilliantOriginal #PhantomoftheOpera
RIP Kevin Jackson!
July 27, 2019 22:00 - 2 minutes - 2.27 MBSharing some very sad news. Kevin Jackson, co-founder and co-organizer of the Toronto Disability Pride March @TDPM, has recently passed away very suddenly. RIP Kevin, and huge condolences to all the friends, family and colleagues he leaves behind, especially to his fiancee! Also, his fiancee is raising funds to cover the cost of his burial and celebration-of-life. So if folks can contribute, that would be a wonderful way to show support and solidarity to her at this really sad and difficu...
Journey to a Strange New World: Queer/Crip Desire in the ALW Phantom
July 26, 2019 21:00 - 56 minutes - 52 MBIn this episode, which marks the 1-year #podiversary of the show - Wow!!, I celebrate both that and #Pride2019 by exploring how the ALW stage-musical of Phantom actually contains a lot of Queer Crip sexuality and desire! I also run a little non-competitive contest for folks to win a poster-version of the podcast artwork, just to do something a bit special for the occasion. Happy 1-year podiversary everyone! Thanks for listening and making the show awesome this past year, and I can’t wait t...
The Angel's Flight: A Review of The Angels of Music Series Book 2 by Louise Anne Bateman!
June 07, 2019 02:00 - 42 minutes - 39.3 MBIn this rather overdue episode (Oops, sorry about that), I finally review The Angel’s Flight by Louise Anne Bateman - the sequel to The Angel’s Shadow and second book in her Angels of Music series. In particular, I review the really superb full-cast dramatized audiobook of the novel! Btw, correction, you can find the info on where to get Bateman’s first book in the show-notes and blog-post for episode 9, not 10. Sorry about that! And you can, of course, find The Angel’s Flight in print, eb...
What Makes You Beautiful: Interview with Bridget Liang.
April 26, 2019 23:00 - 1 hour - 85.9 MBIn this awesome, extended episode, I interview local Toronto author and activist Bridget Liang about their recently released young-adult novel What Makes You Beautiful, all about a bunch of Queer/Trans youth and a highschool production of Phantom! We talk musicals, gender, Queerness, surviving teenagehood, and, of course, Phantom as we talk about what inspired their writing. We have a really fabulous chat, and share some ideas for Queering up Phantom, both in Phanfics we’d love to see writt...
From Christine to the Khanum: Femininity in Phantom
April 01, 2019 15:00 - 46 minutes - 42.9 MBIn this (slightly belated - LOL Oops) episode in honour of International Women’s Day, I talk about gender in Phantom. In particular, I explore what the Leroux novel, the ALW musical and the novel by Susan Kay do with femininity, and how they all present subtle but powerful critiques of the dominant division of women into “good girls/women” and “bad girls/women”. #IWD2019 #InternationalWomensDay And on an unrelated note, here’s that GoFundMe link I mentioned for my moving. Thanks in advance...
Christine, I Love You! - Romantic Relationships In POTO #ValentinesDay
February 14, 2019 06:00 - 32 minutes - 30.2 MBIn this first episode of 2019, because it’s Valentine’s Day, I talk about romance in Phantom! I explore how the ALW stage-musical contrasts two distinct versions of romantic relationship, one decidedly heteronormative, and one more daring and potentially radical. P.S., Heads-up for very mild references to kink around power dynamics!
Review: The Angel's Shadow by Louise Anne Bateman
December 24, 2018 04:00 - 46 minutes - 42.4 MBIn this episode, I review Louise Anne Bateman’s Phanfic novel The Angel’s Shadow, book 1 of her Angels of Music Saga. In particular, I review her superb full-cast audio-dramatization of the book! Although, I discuss aspects of the plot, characters and Ms. Bateman’s excellent writing as well. So, warning, here be spoilers! Also, content warning for mild discussion of depression, suicide, and sexuality, as these are themes in the novel. https://www.facebook.com/theangelsshadow/ https://www....
Masquerade: from Poe to ALW
November 21, 2018 20:15 - 36 minutes - 33.8 MBIn this episode, I explore the famous Masquerade scenes found in both the original Leroux novel and the ALW stage-musical. I look at the original short story, Masque of the Red Death by Edgar Allan Poe, that they’re based on, and some of the ways that story has been interpreted. And then I explore how Phantom, in both Leroux and ALW, puts an inadvertent? Disability twist on it!
My Power Over You Grows Stronger Yet!
October 31, 2018 07:00 - 41 minutes - 38.1 MBI’m back finally! And in this episode, I talk about obsession. I discuss obsession in the story of Phantom a bit, but I mostly discuss the experience of being an obsessed Phan. And I try to tie it in to the history of obsession in Western culture and medicine, and think a bit about how obsessive Phanship breaks some of the rules of the very normalcy that, I’ve argued previously, Phantom itself challenges!
Your Spirit And My Voice!
September 22, 2018 06:00 - 28 minutes - 26.4 MBIn this episode, I explore the critical role Phantom and becoming a Phan played in shaping my Disabled identity and politics, and how the Phantom’s spirit helped me find my voice as a Disabled person! I share this in honour of Toronto Disability Pride 2018, which is today. So happy Disability Pride everyone! #TDPM #DisabilityPride #DisabilityPride2018
Our Strange Duet: The Oft Overlooked Power of the Title Song!
September 04, 2018 21:00 - 35 minutes - 33 MBIn this episode, I discuss the Title Song from POTO - the one actually entitled “The Phantom of the Opera”. I talk about some of the awesome things that I read going on in that song/scene, and some of the reasons why it was that song in particular that made me first fall in love with Phantom!
Turning From True Beauty
August 06, 2018 21:00 - 53 minutes - 49.2 MBIn this episode, I discuss some of the things I take serious issue with in the Gerik, aka the 2004 film adaptation of the Lloyd Webber Phantom. I talk about why I find this film adaptation extremely problematic, and ultimately unfaithful to the spirit of the stage-version! Warning, here there be spoilers for both the stage-musical and the film!
That Man And Mystery: POTO and the Trouble With Normal part 2, ALW
July 20, 2018 20:00 - 40 minutes - 37.4 MBIn this episode, I talk about the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage-musical of Phantom, and explore how it deals with and relates to the idea of “normal/normalcy”. Like with the discussion of the Leroux novel last time, I explore both the musical itself as a text, and some of the historical context in which it emerged.
RIP Gillian Lynne.
July 07, 2018 11:00 - 3 minutes - 4.07 MBA short tribute to Gillian Lynne, the original choreographer of the Andrew Lloyd Webber stage-musical of Phantom and of many other shows as well. She sadly passed away on Sunday July 1 2018 at the age of 92, after a career spanning 7 decades! Her loss will be felt by the music-theatre world, especially in the U.K., and by the Phantom community around the world as well.
Poor, Unhappy Erik: POTO and the Trouble With Normal part 1, Leroux.
July 07, 2018 10:00 - 48 minutes - 44.8 MBIn this second episode, I talk about the original novel of Phantom by Gaston Leroux and its relationship to the concepts of “normal”/“normalcy”. I explore the historical context of the novel, and look at how that context might impact the novel’s handling of those issues. Apologies, btw, for this episode being slightly late. RL business plus technical difficulties equals delay! So thanks very much for your patience. Also, content warning for references to sexism, racism, colonial and able...
Whose Is The Face In The Mask?
June 12, 2018 22:00 - 37 minutes - 35 MBIn this very first episode, I take some time to introduce myself and the podcast. I explain something of my background and where I'm coming from in doing this show, and some of what inspired me to do it. And I cover the basics of how the podcast is going to work and some of what I hope to cover in it. So I hope you enjoy!