Phantom of the Opera - Crashing chandelier

[phantomeric44]

Well, that's the fastest I've ever seen it drop.

[avwcontrols]

no, this set before it opened in Argentina was used in Brazil, Spain, Switzerland and Belgium.

[disneydanny2]

were the sets brand new when this prosduction opened  or did they come from another preoduction?

[Megafloejoe]

if i was tiny and i built a tiny seat and hooked it up when the chandelier crash time is ready i sit on it and scream. AAAAAAAAAAH

[chefmikehenry]

Lamest effect ever. And before anyone bitches... yes, I saw the damn play.

[adam4757]

@chefmikehenry I'm assuming you saw in in New York? It falls pretty slow there.

[avwcontrols]

This is from the Argentinian production that has now ended. All the equipment is currently in storage awaiting the next outing. But getting a camera onboard would be a great video, I'll have a go, but it will be some while yet..

[Monkeyballmania]

@avwcontrols Aww, it ended? How would you get the camera on it if it isn't in the theatre?

[avwcontrols]

@Monkeyballmania the set will get used again in another city somewhere in the world, this particular set was used in switzerland, belgium, spain and brazil before it got to argentina. So next time it gets used I'll try to put a camera on top!

[Monkeyballmania]

Could you please upload a video where the camera is ON the chandelier?

[childrensplace1]

the looks like NYC

[JumpStreet1983]

This is how fast it should be in all the productions, if you ask me. There's an air of excitement and real fear when the audience sees it coming down that quick. Any slower and they get bored, because they already know what to expect.

[disneydanny2]

how fast does it go (i've heard the speed varies between productions

[Monkeyballmania]

@disneydanny2 Well the Vegas one falls 35ft in under 3 seconds and stops only 10ft above the audience...

[JoaoPhantomOfOpera]

A light isn't in. In the 0:05 you can see it right.

[becki986]

Anyone know if the original show had the chandelier crash into the audience? I was confused to see it crash onto the stage when I went to see the show, because I thought I had heard that it hangs over the audience and crashes into it.

[JonasClark]

@becki986 Original show had it end up on the stage like this. The Las Vegas version at Venetian simulates a straight drop onto the audience, since they are *in* the Opera House visually.

[becki986]

@JonasClark OK, thanks so much!

[PittsBurghFuzz]

@becki986 Well I checked the libretto included in George Perry's "The Complete Phantom of the Opera" and it states "The chandelier falls to the stage at Christine's feet." so the answer to that would probably be no.

[becki986]

@PittsBurghFuzz Thanks so much for letting me know!

[Monkeyballmania]

@becki986 In the original production, it falls around 10 feet above the audience and then swings onto the stage. However, in Las Vegas, the chandelier (35ft above the audience) drops only 10ft feet above the audience in less than 3 seconds and then comes to a sudden stop.

[davewriter100]

This scene always stood out for me, even though I never saw the theatre version. I was wondering, though... has PotO ever had the chandelier raise up above the performance stage, and then crash right onto the stage before they came up with this plan? In a novel that I'm sending to a publisher, one of the characters attends this very play, then uses the "chandelier crash" scene to commit suicide in the falling action... this inspired by one of the movie versions I saw. Thanks.

[Monkeyballmania]

@davewriter100 Don't think so. The set design looks like it's made for this.

[Monkeyballmania]

@davewriter100 I don't think they ever did do that, but strangely, I did watch a Phantom interval video and the chandelier raised above the stage until you couldn't see it O_O

[wickedphant0m]

Now THAT's what a chandelier crash should look like. Broadway, please take notice.

[FIREWORKEVENTS]

We would work well together ........

[MissGryffindor07]

WOW! I cant imagine how scary that would be for u 2 be sitting underneath that thing! Man, that would scare the crap outta me! I wish I could see it though that is just simply AMAZING!

[wickedbrrr]

in detroit just this past month, it was incredibly slow.. i would have loved for it to have been life this!!

[WonderingChild]

theres a car battery inside it, its the only way they can power it with no wires, and it ways just over a ton :o

[19tavo89]

Ese es el ensayo o el destras de escena de Bs As?? quiero er mas!!! no hay videos del detras de escena... Gracias por subir ese video... Is this the backstage of The Panthom in Buenos Aires?? I want more!!! i never saw videos of backstage, thanks for upload!!!

[LakerGirl2489]

Creo que este video fue de un ensayo, antes de que se estrene la obra.

[thattaityguy]

I remember hearing that it falls as quickly as local workplace health and safety allows it too.  If the country is pretty cool about how fast it can fall, they let it fly.

When it first toured Australia in the early 90's it fell very quickly. Sadly they changed it for the late 2000 tour.

[redfraggle]

Yes, it is always a little 'strange' seeing it slowly make its way down, especially after the 'blink and miss it' Aussie version. Guess we need to get to Vegas and sit right underneath :-)

The only downside to it flying so fast, if they fail to catch it, it swings back over the audience AND over the pit, as it has been known to do. At one performance the Musical Director was almost decapitated (his view of it) and had to go home at interval and get over the shock.

[operationlifesvr2010]

@redfraggle how it works is the stage lights dim and 2 stagehands dressed in all black (even ski masks) run out and grab onto a set aof handles on the back (which have glow in the dark handels to see them) and then let it slide slowly to the front of the stage and then pull it back to the center of the stage all before it actually lands on the stage.

[rossmjames]

@operationlifesvr2010 Did you even read my post?

[operationlifesvr2010]

@rossmjames yes i did. i was just trying to explain that that's how it supposed to be done -dosn't mean it will work every time



[Musicalperformer92]

I LOVE how fast it falls :D! in copenhagen where I saw it 3 times it was kinda slow- and from the videos I have seen it is too on Broadway and London!

[wafflyadam4757]

It's not mega fast in London. However it does scare the hell out you if you are in the stalls!

[thecopykidofthestarz]

how much does a thing like this cost?

and can it sway wile falling

[MBrilhart]

I would have to assume that there is a lot more on the inside then just free-space; are there any mechanisms inside that help it fold and unfold?

You have one of the coolest jobs ever! Man, I wish I could do that some day. It's neat seeing it come down from the stage's POV too...

[avwcontrols]

there is mostly just free space on the inside. It collapses mostly on chains under its own weight, with a couple of hinges, not very high-tech!

[naachoote]

This is in Buenos Aires, my lovely city. And that's de Chandelier that's now in the theatre where The Phantom of the Opera is taking place. I love this Chandelier. We have too much luck to see that speed in our Chandelier. Beautiful, gorgeos, lovely. Without words to explain what I feel for this Chandelier.

Love it.

[avwcontrols]

correct, I did the London original chandelier and its replacement in 1996. I didn't do broadway or copenhagen and haven't seen either so can't comment.

[davidphantomoftheope]

Why was the chandelier replaced in 1996? Also, do you know where the Phantom goes when he covers himself with his cloak on the chair at the very end?

[avwcontrols]

The original chandelier drive mechanism used to be two DC motor winches, but by 1996 the London production had the slowest chandelier, so it was decided to replace the mechanism with a much faster hydraulic jigger ram system, similar to that used successfully in Holland, to speed up the chandelier and make it safer in time for the 10th anniversary performance in 1996.

The phantom is inside the chair, it is a trick chair that flips open.

[avwcontrols]

It was part of Maria Bjornson's original design. There isn't much room between the front tabs and the edge of the stage so I assume that's the reason why its oval.

[santiagoalmaraz]

this is in argetina (L)

[avwcontrols]

correct, although this same chandelier was used in Basle, Antwerp, Madrid and Sau Paulo

[FioreArdente]

Wow, that's cool. How'd you get to film this? Are you part of the crew or something?

[avwcontrols]

I design and manufacture stage automation control systems and have done several POTO's, inc London, Holland, Switzerland, Spain, Brazil and most recently Argentina

[FioreArdente]

Awesome. Have you done this sort of thing for other musicals/performances as well?

[thecopykidofthestarz]

really., well good job i love how you can make the wings look broken on the chandelier by making them flip up and down.

[avwcontrols]

The side bits are just on chains, they're not 'controlled' as such

[thecopykidofthestarz]

oh, why do you have that operating when the crowd only see the flash then darkness, but it rises, but in ones I have seen i never see the bent wings.

oh how do you get it to fall toward the stage after it travels straight down, on my model a extra wire pulls it to the stage but it makes it tilt.

and if you can, please tell me how the phantom does all i ask of you without falling.

Can you tell me how that is done off the angels wings.

[avwcontrols]

There are two sets of wires, one set that does the drop and another 'compensating' set that drags in toward the stage. The angel is a metal basket that is connected to four wires going back to a hydraulic jigger ram

[thecopykidofthestarz]

oh ok thanks for telling me. I have been dyeing to know

[davidphantomoftheope]

So you control the chandelier in POTO in Argentina?

[avwcontrols]

That's correct. I design and build control systems for theatrical productions, including POTO.

[davidphantomoftheope]

Am I correct in saying that the chandelier travels a lot higher up in this production? Also, how many meters per second does this one fall?

[avwcontrols]

it is higher than Sau Paulo or Madrid, but is about the same as Basle. Top speed is about 4 meters per second at the start of the drop

[davidphantomoftheope]

It is a lot higher than London and a lot more higher than Broadway. In London it is level with just above the angel but on Broadway the chandelier at it's highest point is level with the angel. It is also quite low in Copenhagen.

[LifthillMat]

@avwcontrols Yep, this chandelier reminds me of the one we had in Basle (Switzerland) in 1995-97. I worked there at the BO and it was said to be the "fastest Chandelier in the world" :-) . Just love the memories of my work there. Cheers!

[avwcontrols]

@LifthillMat The Chandelier is the same one as Basle, but the jigger ram is different. Basle was pretty quick though. I did the automation for Basle when I worked for Stage Drives and Controls Ltd. I liked Basle, especially when all the crew went to a Rolling Stones gig one Sunday during the fit-up. Great times.

[phantom664]

brilliant