2006年VOA标准英语-Phantom of the Opera Becomes Broadway's Lo

By Barbara Schoetzau
New York
11 January 2006

The international musical hit "The Phantom¹ of the Opera" became the longest running show in Broadway history Monday, after its 7,486th performance. 
 

Theater patrons, media, gathers outside New York's Majestic² Theatre prior to performance number 7,486 of The Phantom of the Opera  
  
The Phantom of the Opera has been a sensation since it debuted³ in London in October of 1986, spawning⁴ productions from Budapest, Hungary to Shanghai, China, a 2004 movie and an online store.

The producers say more than 80 million people have seen the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical in 22 productions worldwide. Eleven million of them have seen the lavish⁵ Broadway production, which arrived in 1988. After 18 years, it has become Broadway's longest-running show, beating the previous record holder⁶, Cats, also by Andrew Lloyd Webber, who was in New York for the record-breaking performance

 
Cameron Mackintosh, left, and Andrew Lloyd Webber  following performance number 7,486 of The Phantom of the Opera in New York 
  
"I am overwhelmed by it," he said. "I don't really know how to put it into words. I am very humbled⁷ by the whole thing. It is certainly not something I ever anticipated I would do and it is not something I know I am going to do again.,"

The extravagant⁸ show is based on a French novel about a disfigured composer who wears a mask and lurks⁹ in the catacombs of the Paris Opera House, where he falls in love with a young opera singer and uses all of his wiles¹⁰ to promote her career. Lush sets include a huge chandelier that crashes to the ground in one of the show's most memorable¹¹ scenes.

The Phantom of the Opera was the last collaboration¹² between two contemporary theater legends, Andrew Lloyd Webber and producer Cameron MacIntosh. MacIntosh now has the distinction of having produced the three longest-running shows in Broadway history: Phantom, Cats, and Les Miserables. He was also in town to watch the Phantom make Broadway history, attributing much of the show's success to its romantic atmosphere and music.

"In one's life there is often someone that you think 'if only' and I think that we respond to that in a way that you are taken to this magic place underneath¹³ the opera house in this beautiful lush setting with Andrew's soaring and romantic music. You can get yourself lost in it," he said.

The show has earned a staggering $3.2 billion worldwide and is still filling theaters, sometimes with repeat audiences. Andrew Lloyd Webber thinks the timeless aspects of the romance lure¹⁴ audiences.

"I think people relate to the Phantom and his isolation," he said. "I think people perhaps in a way yearn¹⁵ for a kind of high romantic piece like this in times like today. I do not think the appeal of the Phantom seems to have changed at all over the years..

 
Howard McGillin
  
Actor Howard McGillin is back playing the role of the Phantom after a record-setting 1,400 performances from 1999 until 2003.

"I think there is something in this character that we all identify with, his pain, that unrequited love that we have all experienced at some time or other as well as a little bit of not feeling like we fit in in the world. Obviously, he takes that to an extreme. It is very touching¹⁶ and very cathartic¹⁷ to play that every night," he said.

The Phantom may have had troubles finding a place to fit in at the Paris Opera House, but time has proven that he is right at home on Broadway.

1 phantom   

n.幻影，虚位，幽灵；adj.错觉的，幻影的，幽灵的

参考例句：

• I found myself staring at her as if she were a phantom.我发现自己瞪大眼睛看着她，好像她是一个幽灵。
• He is only a phantom of a king.他只是有名无实的国王。

2 majestic   

adj.雄伟的，壮丽的，庄严的，威严的，崇高的

参考例句：

• In the distance rose the majestic Alps.远处耸立着雄伟的阿尔卑斯山。
• He looks majestic in uniform.他穿上军装显得很威风。

3 debuted   

初次表演，初次登台（debut的过去式与过去分词形式）

参考例句：

• In late 2003 a full-size SUV, the Pathfinder Armada, debuted. 2003年末，全尺寸SUV的探路者无敌舰队，推出。
• The album debuted at number two and quickly went platinum. 专辑一亮相就荣登排行榜第二名，很快就取得了白金销量。

4 spawning   

产卵

参考例句：

• Encounter sites have a small chance of spawning a "Commander" NPC. 遭遇战地区有很小的几率遇到NPC指挥官。
• Instantly revives your Champion at your Spawning Pool, 9 minute cooldown. 立即在出生地复活你的英雄，冷却时间9分钟。

5 lavish   

adj.无节制的；浪费的；vt.慷慨地给予，挥霍

参考例句：

• He despised people who were lavish with their praises.他看不起那些阿谀奉承的人。
• The sets and costumes are lavish.布景和服装极尽奢华。

6 holder   

n.持有者，占有者；(台，架等)支持物

参考例句：

• The holder of the office of chairman is reponsible for arranging meetings.担任主席职位的人负责安排会议。
• That runner is the holder of the world record for the hundred-yard dash.那位运动员是一百码赛跑世界纪录的保持者。

7 humbled   

adj. 卑下的，谦逊的，粗陋的 vt. 使 ... 卑下，贬低

参考例句：

• The examination results humbled him. 考试成绩挫了他的傲气。
• I am sure millions of viewers were humbled by this story. 我相信数百万观众看了这个故事后都会感到自己的渺小。

8 extravagant   

adj.奢侈的；过分的；(言行等)放肆的

参考例句：

• They tried to please him with fulsome compliments and extravagant gifts.他们想用溢美之词和奢华的礼品来取悦他。
• He is extravagant in behaviour.他行为放肆。

9 lurks   

n.潜在，潜伏；（lurk的复数形式）vi.潜伏，埋伏（lurk的第三人称单数形式）

参考例句：

• Behind his cool exterior lurks a reckless and frustrated person. 在冷酷的外表背后，他是一个鲁莽又不得志的人。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• Good fortune lies within Bad, Bad fortune lurks within good. 福兮祸所倚，祸兮福所伏。 来自互联网

10 wiles   

n.（旨在欺骗或吸引人的）诡计，花招；欺骗，欺诈( wile的名词复数 )

参考例句：

• All her wiles were to persuade them to buy the goods. 她花言巧语想打动他们买这些货物。 来自《简明英汉词典》
• The woman used all her wiles to tempt him into following her. 那女人用尽了自己的诱骗本领勾引着他尾随而去。 来自《用法词典》

11 memorable   

adj.值得回忆的，难忘的，特别的，显著的

参考例句：

• This was indeed the most memorable day of my life.这的确是我一生中最值得怀念的日子。
• The veteran soldier has fought many memorable battles.这个老兵参加过许多难忘的战斗。

12 collaboration   

n.合作，协作；勾结

参考例句：

• The two companies are working in close collaboration each other.这两家公司密切合作。
• He was shot for collaboration with the enemy.他因通敌而被枪毙了。

13 underneath   

adj.在...下面，在...底下；adv.在下面

参考例句：

• Working underneath the car is always a messy job.在汽车底下工作是件脏活。
• She wore a coat with a dress underneath.她穿着一件大衣，里面套着一条连衣裙。

14 lure   

n.吸引人的东西，诱惑物；vt.引诱，吸引

参考例句：

• Life in big cities is a lure for many country boys.大城市的生活吸引着许多乡下小伙子。
• He couldn't resist the lure of money.他不能抵制金钱的诱惑。

15 yearn   

v.想念；怀念；渴望

参考例句：

• We yearn to surrender our entire being.我们渴望着放纵我们整个的生命。
• Many people living in big cities yearn for an idyllic country life.现在的很多都市人向往那种田园化的生活。

16 touching   

adj.动人的，使人感伤的

参考例句：

• It was a touching sight.这是一幅动人的景象。
• His letter was touching.他的信很感人。

17 cathartic   

adj.宣泄情绪的；n.泻剂

参考例句：

• His laughter was cathartic,an animal yelp that brought tears to his eyes.他哈哈大笑以宣泄情绪，声音如野兽般尖厉，眼泪都笑出来了。
• The drug had a cathartic effect.这药有导泻的作用。