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The Phantom of the Opera
Deborah Dutcher plays the role of Christine, the beautiful soprano
who is the Phantom’s obsession in The Phantom of the Opera. The
musical has run at Her Majesty’s Theatre in London since 1986,
and Deborah has played Christine for two years. She says:
I was always softly spoken as a girl, so I think people were
surprised when I found success as a singer. Also, I’m naturally
shy, but when I step on stage and become my character, I find my
confidence.
My mother was a teacher, and my father managed a glass factory, so
it was a big leap for me to work on the stage, though I built up
experience in plays at school.
I tested my courage by having a spell over in New York, and at just
20 began auditioning for Broadway musicals. Like most struggling
actresses, I earned my keep as a waitress, and once served Al Pacino in
a French restaurant
I returned to Europe after two years and worked in musicals touring
the continent, joining the cast of Phantom in Germany in 1993.
I spoke no German, and believe me forgetting your lines in a foreign
language is awful. That once happened halfway through a song, so I did
lots of heavy breathing and fluttered my eyelashes as if overcome by
the Phantom’s presence.
I brought the part to Britain in 1999. In the story,
Christine’s feelings are torn between the Phantom and her young
lover, Raoul.
That means I get to kiss two men during the performance, so
I’m always careful not to eat garlic before the show – and
I also avoid fizzy drinks, as it would not be ladylike to burp on stage.
The job is demanding. I’m on stage almost constantly, just
dashing off for costume changes when I strip off one heavy dress and
get hooked up in another.
With six performances a week, going to the gym would only exhaust me
more, but I am conscious about my weight. If I gain a pound, my
costumes get tight,
I was intimidated by performing in London at first, but I had to get on stage and deal with it. Now I love West End audiences.
The one thing that irritates me is when they rustle sweet wrappers
at the most tense moments. It’s as if they can’t enjoy the
drama without popping a sweet in their mouths. It never happened in
Germany, so I guess the British just love their treats.
I can honestly say that I feel at home on the stage, and hope to perform in London for many years to come.
(This article appeared as part of a feature on West End leading ladies, the full article was published on
femail.co.uk )
By Emily Wilcox
Daily Mail, 30th October 01
© 2001 Associated New Media
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