So You Want to Play Christine....

I often get messages from people who want to be singers.  Who have a passion for singing or, as in the most recent case, passion for a particular role.  I'm always uncomfortable when I get these messages - they usually want my opinion.  I try very hard to be supportive while being realistic.  I WILL give you my honest opinion and try not to sugar coat things or give false hope while still being sensitive to your feelings. 

The most recent message was from a girl whose dream is to play - who else? - Christine in Phantom.  I do consider myself a bit of an expert on this role.  Yes, it was also my dream role for most of my life (I have just *almost* come to terms with the fact that I will never play it) and when I was in my teens, spent HOURS perfecting  (in my mind, anyway) the music.  Folks, I can sing this stuff backwards and forwards in my sleep at this point and discuss the music, character, motivations, etc for HOURS.  More recently, I have had more than one private audition for the role, and have a pretty good handle on what it is "they" are looking for (and yeah, it ain't me).

With all this in mind, let's focus on singing Christine for a minute here.  Thanks mostly to youtube, I have seen a LOT of amateur "I want to be Christine" performances.  Some are more serious than others.  Some are even pretty good.  Others...the passion and dedication are wonderful, but, the ability just isn't there.

Ladies, I cannot stress this enough - DICTION.  I have heard so many recordings of Think of Me with muddy diction.  My pet peeve is hearing the phrase "Thinka me."  Emmy Rossum was a big offender of this. Of is a word, and it is not to be thrown away.  Singers in general I think have gotten lazy about diction.  Christine is an opera singer - granted, by way of musical theatre - and needs to have solid technique, which includes CLEAR diction.

Notes.  Specifically SINGING the notes.  I wish I could post examples of what I am talking about here, but  I feel that isn't very nice to the people I would be making an example of, since they haven't given permission for me to use them as an example.  Again, Christine is an opera singer, not a pop singer.  I hear so many pop sounding versions of Think of Me.  There is a lot of scooping up to notes.  Again, even though it is by way of musical theatre, Christine is an OPERA singer.  Notes need to be clean and accurately hit, not scooped to or slid to.  They need to have definite endings, not just kind of "fall off" or slide into the next note.

The cadenza.  This must, must, MUST be clean.  There is some room for playing with the cadenza as far as tempo, and yes, even notes.  Rebecca Caine - who played Christine in the Toronto production - did a completely different cadenza from anything I've ever heard anyone else do:



Although it is quite different, each note is clear, not muddied or sliding through to the next.  Often, in the amateur videos, I hear very muddy cadenzas.  I do blame some of this on using a backing track that only gives a certain amount of time to get through it.  It doesn't allow much room to "play."  However, at 12, I was competing with Think of Me using a track, and never had a problem making each note clear and fit in place.  It CAN be done.  Regardless of how well you sing the rest of the song, until you can NAIL that cadenza clearly, do not perform it.  The cadenza is the last thing anyone hears you sing.  If you flub it, it's all anyone will remember.  Sit at a piano and play the cadenza one note at a time.  Sing it.  One. Note. At. A. Time.  Slowly.  Part of being able to sing this cadenza is muscle memory.  Go through it slowly at first, gradually picking up the tempo until you get to the tempo YOU want.  Personally, I take it in four sections.   The first seven notes, fairly slowly, a short pause then onto the second seven a little faster, a slightly longer pause into the next section which I take fairly quickly to the third to last note, slow it down slightly and take my time on the last three notes, and finally a deep breath and moment to savour the last two notes (I personally take the octave jump to the high C - some others just go right for the C).  If you take the octave jump to the high C, DO NOT SCOOP IT!  DO NOT SLIDE UP TO IT!  The jump should be clean. 

There are things to be taken into consideration outside of singing when it comes to playing Christine.  Christine has to look a certain way.  I am 5'7 in flats.  This means, were I cast as Christine, the shoes she wears would make me between 5'9 and 5'10.  There has to be a difference in height between Christine and the Phantom, and Christine and Raoul.  Something I have learned in my years of doing theatre, leading men are SHORT!  I have been the same height and even taller than most of the men I have played opposite.  Each time I auditioned for Christine, I got a comment on my height.  The last person saying they thought I was a bit too tall, but, possibly could work depending on who was playing the Phantom.  Oh, why has Hugh Panaro left the role? *laugh*  It seems the ideal height for Christine is around 5'5.  If you are 5'7 or taller, it's going to be pretty unlikely, no matter how well you PERFORM that you will be cast.

Body type must also be taken into consideration.  Christine is a ballerina when the show opens.  Sadly (for me) this calls for a certain body type.  Slender and small chested.  Christine needs to look small and delicate.

Look at yourself HONESTLY.  Look at women who have played Christine.  They all have a fairly similar look.

I'm not saying there can't be exceptions to these things.  There have been a few taller Christine's, and at least one very busty Christine (I was really afraid she was going to pop out of the Slave Girl costume!), but, these are the general standards for Christine.

Don't focus so much on getting on particular role if you intend to pursue a career in theatre.  I am not saying don't make a goal of a certain role.  I am just saying diversify yourself (yes, there was a time in my teens where I REFUSED to sing ANYTHING but music from Phantom).  Look at this realistically - there are HUNDREDS of girls who want to play Christine.  In the states, there are currently three productions running - NYC, Vegas, and the third National Tour (which closes in November).  In each production, there is the main Christine, an alternate Christine, and at least two understudies.  Vegas is double cast, but, I think the number of actresses stays the same. You're looking at about 4 Christine's per production (there are also swings and such that can step into the role in an emergency, but...) which means 12 slots in the US.  

Look at everything realistically.  Just being able to sing the part well is not enough.  There are so many things that factor into being cast in a show - any show - that have nothing to do with anything you do or don't do...or things that you even have any control over.  Be as diverse as you can.  Perform because you LOVE to perform, not because you love a particular role.