Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom is a musical version of Gaston Leroux’ The Phantom of the Opera. This musical actually predates Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Phantom of the Opera by a few years but, apparently, was never produced on Broadway. Yeston and Kopit’s Phantom is more of an operetta and, in my estimation, carries a bit more stylistic resemblance to late 19th century opera than does Lloyd Webbers version.
The production of Phantom we attended last night was at a local dinner theatre. The show was quite good, but the Beef Wellington could have used more beef and less Wellington. And, the bottom shelf Merlot had oxidized.
I am not a singer and am in no position to critically review anyone who sings on stage. But in my estimation, the entire cast produced very strong and clear voices in a style suitable for the context.
The stagecraft and lighting worked quite well. Three set pieces representing together a foreshortened wall with columns were set on moving platforms that were adjusted by the cast even while they were performing. It successfully gave the impression that many spaces within the building were represented, including a view from backstage toward the performers on stage. Very clever.
This was a perfectly acceptable interpretation of the book Phantom of the Opera. Yet, having seen a good production of Lloyd Webber’s Phantom, I sat the entire time in anticipation of a performance of Lloyd Webber’s musical numbers which never came. This is surely a common affliction.
After a nice evening of musical theatre we stepped into reality. A driving sideways snowstorm had come in to burst our bubble and, naturally, no scraper was to be found in the car.
Lamentations on Chemistry 
I just saw the same production – from the description of the food and the sets – and I was completely blown away by how much more compelling – Musically and story wise – this Phantom is compared to Lloyd Webber’s!
Rather than sitting in anticipation of overblown sopranos singing five notes of in your face music – the subtlety and complexity of Kopit and Yeston’s Phantom slowly seeped into my soul and I sat enthralled by the story.
I think Lloyd Webber does to musicals what Disney does to fairy tales. He morphs the story into the form he would have preferred to see. I enjoyed the production very much, but my mind kept going analytical on me providing a self imposed distraction. I have only myself to blame.
Not to mention that Lloyd Webber continually rips himself off, riffing on old melody lines going back to JCSS, Sunset Boulevard, and Evita. Over and over…
I have seen Yeston/Kopit’s Phantom twice, and I have seen Webber’s as well. (as well as the movie version) Both versions are very good, but if you want the one that follows the book more closely, it is Yeston/Kopit’s. Webber took great liberties in changing the story line yet keeping it close enough that you get the general idea. As for the music, I like Y/K’s better!! I’m a vocal/classroom music teacher and have had classes study both, allowing each student to choose his/her favorite version. Vocally, Y/K’s is less difficult to achieve success with. Christine’s part is still to be a Soprano, but it’s more comfortable to sing.
It is interesting to hear the opinion of a vocal music person. I do enjoy musicals and to have been to such a good production of Phantom was a real treat.