Phantom Makeup

6 April 2011Clara D

The recent Brentwood production of The Phantom of the Opera was an event that caused buzz throughout the local community and the front stage production was backed up by a crew of committed students and staff who worked together to make the spectacle possible. The make-up crew, under the direction of Mrs. Nightingale, worked daily to transform the faces of the cast to fit their characters and look their best on stage.

The makeup for the more complex characters began as early as three and a half hours before curtain and is a process which can take close to an hour of meticulous application of face makeup, facial hair and in some cases, entire facial features. The Phantom of the Opera is particularly demanding for makeup effects because of the large range of ages presented by the diverse characters. As the cast is made up entirely of teenagers, all the aging must be done expertly through the application of contour and highlight. Although this can be startling up close, the meticulously placed lines and shadows blend together to create a convincing result on stage.

However, the role of makeup onstage goes beyond the ageing of a select number of characters. Every member of the cast, boys and girls, wore eyeliner, blush, eye shadow and highlighter to make their features stand out under the bright stage lights. The makeup is hardly identifiable to those seated in the first row of the audience, but it enhances natural features that would otherwise be lost.

In working as a member of the make-up crew, I got to experience first hand the inner workings of a Brentwood musical production. The nervous excitement that builds before a show was unlike anything I had ever experienced, and being a part of such an amazing cast and crew was very rewarding. Congratulations to all members of this year’s production, it is one that will not soon be forgotten.

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