Iona College is well known, among other things, for its wide range of activities and entertainment it provides for it students. A popular choice are the trips to Broadway, where students get a chance to see popular plays and musicals for an extremely discounted price. “The Phantom of the Opera” was the college’s most recent destination, set up by the Gaels Activities Board.

On Mar. 31, students departed from the campus at 10 a.m. on a bus to the Majestic Theatre located on 245 West 44th Street to make the matinee showing of “The Phantom.” While forecasts of rain threatened to put a damper on the trip, it only proved to be a few drizzles that didn’t cause any major damage.

The story is classic, that of a young aspiring singer, Christine Daee, who becomes the obsession of a deformed man who lives in the shadows of the opera house. Enter Raoul, a childhood friend of Christine, who becomes infatuated with her, and the deadliest love triangle is formed. The Phantom begins to start all types of destructive mayhem on the opera house and all the people working there, even murder, to ensure Christine is his. A colorful cast joins along, ranging from a prima donna singer, a pair of amusing opera house owners, a strict yet helpful instructor, and all other patrons who are swept up in the Phantom’s plans.

The music is thrilling, evoking emotion with its tunes and lyrics but most notably its change of emotions, being able to be quite scary at some points then switching to that of love within the next. The special effects are also a noteworthy aspect, from the scene where a chandler is destroyed but then brought back to life right before the audiences eyes and when the Phantom takes Christine down to his lair, rowing in a boat through a fog of water right there on the stage.

“The Phantom” is based on the French novel “Le Fantôme de l’Opéra” by Gaston Leroux and adapted into this musical form by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It won a Tony for The Best Musical in 1988, the same year it moved its venue to Broadway as opposed to the West End. It also holds the title for longest running show on Broadway.

“The Phantom” is probably most well known for its movie adaption that goes by the same name. Webber even helped co write and produce the project. Gerald Butler played the title role of the Phantom and its supporting cast included Emmy Rossum as Christine and Patrick Wilson as Raoul.

The trip proved to be a success without any hitches, students leaving both dazzled and haunted by the play.