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Phantom of the Opera

“Phantom of the Opera” was a book that was written by Gaston Leroux, a French novelist. It was originally published as ‘Le Fantôme de l’Opėra’, between September 1909 and January 1910, in “Le Gaulois”.

In 1911, “Phantom of the Opera” was translated into English. Since that time there have been many movie, stage and musical reproductions produced, including the first film version in 1925. However, most people are more familiar with the musical production depicted in 1986 by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It has since become Broadway's theatre districts longest running musical production ever. Worldwide, it has remained for over 20 years in the box office, out-doing even the biggest grossing movies in history.

“Phantom of the Opera” revolves around Erik, who's eccentricities, mental genius and physical deformities cause terror amongst the people working in and visiting Paris' “Opera Garnier”. He constructs his home beneath the theater, mentoring the woman he loves, Christine Daaė, a soprano.

Beneath the theater, an underground lake had formed after water was pumped from the building's foundation. Tales surface about a vengeful, destructive ghost. Erik uses this to defraud the theater owners, masquerading as the ghost, by threatening to destroy the theatre if they don't pay him 20,000 francs per month and keep box # 5 solely for him for each production. The theater's manager agrees to Erik's terms, maintaining this for many years. New owners, Firmin Richard and Armand Moncharmin, take over the theater. They refuse to continue the arrangement, suspecting it's nothing more than a previous manager's prank.

In the meantime, Christine believes Erik's lies, that he is the “Angel of Music”, sent by her deceased father to assist her. He then gives her voice training instruction, resulting in her replacing the theater's main star, Carlotta. However, Christine's talent wins the love of her former boyfriend, Viscount Raoul de Chagny.

Erik discovers this, luring her to his home, where she discovers his deception. He keeps her prisoner for 5 days.

Christine's curiosity forces her to remove his mask, discovering his ugliness. Erik is livid, threatening to never let her go, but he decides to release as long as she returns, never loving another. She agrees only to escape.

Raoul overhears her talking to Erik, suspecting a possible seduction. However, she discovers Raoul's actions angrily, but after Erik reveals himself as the ghost, she tells Raoul everything, and they plan to leave Paris and Erik behind.

Erik hears this, kidnaps Christine during her last performance in ”Faust”, but Raoul pursues them, helped by a Persian. However, they are both captured, being forced witness Erik's accusations of betrayal and lies against her. Erik threatens to blow up the theater if she doesn't wed him, which she unwillingly agrees to. However, Erik's good side emerges; he releases her and Raoul, but not before he forces her to promise to bury him and the ring he had given her when he dies. Weeks later, Erik talks about his lost love, then dies.