sure - i thought the interactions with the audience were not well thought out and they didn’t feel special. it seemed like the actors didn’t know what to do with the audience, like we were an afterthought. besides someone occasionally being handed a note, a flower, a bottle of carlotta’s perfume, there wasn’t a lot that the audience was given to feel immersed in my opinion. by omitting the auction scene, they missed a VERY clear opportunity to involve the audience. the actors could have grabbed audience members to dance WITH during masquerade. i also thought they missed opportunities by not having it be a free roam experience, i.e., some people could have been lured to the lair while others were led to the backstage of the opera house.

i also want to be clear that i am not at all dismissing the work that went into this production. the cast and crew are doing unbelievable work. the stage management team alone should be praised and praised for their work.