My Enigmatic Love Affair with The Phantom of The Opera: From Broadway to Fantasia

Welcome to my 3D review of The Phantom of The Opera!

It’s 3D not because you have to wear funny glasses to read it (but go ahead and put them on if you wish. I promise not to laugh. Too much. )

It’s 3D because I will be taking into 3 different dimensions:
• The Phantom of The Opera, the film, show, and work of art
• The BDSM undertones of the story (and there are many)
• My own personal connection to The Phantom,
which has spanned over a decade.

Time:
Modern Day, a few days back, Montreal.

The scene was the magnificent setting of Place des Arts. In a special partnership between The Fantasia International Film Festival & the Cinémathèque québecoise, a special pristine print of Rupert Julian’s The Phantom of the Opera (1925/29), was shown & accompanied by a 30 person orchestra directed by Gabriel Thibaudeau. Gabriel Thibaudeau, composer, conductor, and pianist for the Cinémathèque québécoise, created a glorious, thunderously compelling musical accompaniment to this beautiful classic silent film.

I had won two tickets to see this special version of The Phantom of The Opera and I was accompanied by my friend, the lovely LustyLuscious. I was very happy to have such good company for this Fantasia event and happy to have a fellow kinkster share my Phantom experience, for the first time. Particularly since my own journey with The Phantom over the years has been a solitary one. More about that later.

The fantastic music Thibaudeau created turned this cinematic event into an unforgettable night. The crowd jumped to their feet in unending applause for his wonderful achievement, and I was among the packed crowd of thrilled Fantasia movie goers. He captured the signature organ accent for the movie, along with a host of perfectly suited musical accents to accentuate the silent film’s dramatic moments.

As for the film itself, the highlight of the film was the creative genius of Lon Chaney’s acting. Yes, he did not disappoint with one of his very original & creative monstrous physical disguises as The Phantom, but his acting also featured such a heart-breaking humanity from a monster who loved and craved love so very much.

Mary Philbin, played a wonderfully over the top portrayal of The Phantom’s muse, Christine Daae. To my eyes, she physically resembled Celine Dion a little, and I could picture her thumping her chest in true Celine fashion as well. lol

Like most classic silent films, the film had many comic highlights. Such as the lurking, looming fez-wearing Inspector Ledoux, of the Paris Secret Police. Aren’t the Secret Police supposed to be, well secret and hide in the shadows? If you want to blend into the shadows, maybe you shouldn’t wear a fez so that you stick out from the crowd.

And a particularly hilarious moment was when Ledoux led Christine’s lover, the Vicomte de Chagny into the secret tunnels of the opera house, to save Christine from the Phantom’s grasp. Ledoux told Chagny they must hold a hand above their heads to ward against the Phantom’s noose, as he was wont to strangle those who opposed him. So the two of them crept along with a hand above their heads, which looked so much like the classic Bollywood “screwing in the lighbulb” move. Rather appropriate since The Phantom’s rope strangling was declared to be Indian. “Beware The Punjab Lasso!” we were told. I got a furious attack of the giggles suddenly, when I picture the silent film turning into a Bollywood spectacle all of a sudden. Too funny.

Altogether, this cinematic Phantom event was a triumphant success, for the whole Fantasia crowd, and for me, on a personal level.

For me, this was the second time I saw The Phantom immortalized on the big screen.

Fact is, I am quite a Phantom fan, and I have followed The Phantom of The Opera for a long, long time.

Time:
Flash-back to the end of 1997, Montreal.

After years of BDSM fantasizing, in 1997 I finally found someone to play with in real-time and real life. My Master. My very own Phantom.

One day, I was told to find and study the soundtrack to Webber’s Phantom of The Opera. Just the music. I was told to pay particular attention to the words of the songs, and the message of the music itself, and in particular told to study The Music of the Night. This soundtrack to the Broadway version was then used in my training and my lessons, as a submissive. I became my Master’s muse and his discovery. He discovered that I had a talent, not for singing like, Christine Daae, but for writing. My Master was the one who first encouraged me to write in the BDSM vein. For him, I composed stories and poetry. And I kept a journal for my journey with him, for his amusement and entertainment. My very first BDSM blog!

When I went to choose a soundtrack to Webber’s Phantom of The Opera to use, I did some research before I chose a version. I picked the version that was most acclaimed by critics, and what was the best one to my ear. It featured Michael Crawford and a very young Sarah Brightman. To my ear, Michael Crawford’s rendition of The Phantom was the most talented. His voice, when speaking or singing as The Phantom, was a gloriously full-bodied elegant and seductive one. I loved listening to him.


And as for Sarah Brightman, well…I felt a connection to her in so many ways. First of all, she was Andrew Lloyd Webber’s muse and discovery. He created The Phantom as a vehicle to feature her vocal talent. She was a young ingénue, who played a young ingénue. You can see so many parallels in the relationship between Andrew Lloyd Webber & Sarah Brightman, and The Phantom with Christine Daae.

And my own relationship with my Master mirrored that Creator/muse relationship pattern as well.


Time:
Flash-forward to some time after, the venue is New York and Broadway.

One day, I found myself in a weekend away in New York, with friends. Webber’s Phantom of The Opera was at the end of its run and I was bound & determined to see this story live, that had meant so much to me on my BDSM journey.

One of my friends & I had the incredible luck to nab 2 most excellent and reasonably priced tickets to this immortal Broadway classic. The only problem was that the seats were miles apart, with the whole theatre between us. But we agreed and went to the show.

In a sea of strangers in New York, I was bowled over by the gorgeous storm of The Phantom brought to life on the Broadway stage. And as I watched, I was bowled over by an unexpected storm of emotions that the show brought out of me. I sat there with tears tracking down my face as I thought of my own Phantom and wished with all my heart I could share this moment with him. I was incredibly happy and sad at the same time. It was an unforgettable moment in my life and BDSM journey.


Time:
Flash-forward to 2004, Montreal.

Time for me to finally see The Phantom on the big screen. I eagerly attended a showing of The Phantom of The Opera featuring the talents of Gerard Butler. The critics were not kind. They blasted Butler for his less than stellar singing talent. But I thought that was highly unfair. Of course one knew he was no Michael Crawford. But he did a very good job of acting as The Phantom, illustrating the Phantom’s heartbreak quite well. And well the added bonus was that Gerard Butler is a gorgeous man. So he played quite a Sexy Beast, I thought. I was content with my Phantom film fix.

The Phantom & The BDSM

Phantom of The Opera is indeed a twist on the classic Beauty and The Beast scenario. Alas, the beauty does not choose beast in the end, but chooses her other lover. Of course I always wished the beauty would choose the poor, yearning beast.

You can see so many BDSM elements in the story line. We have the Master and the one who serves his will. The Phantom is the Master of his domain, the Paris Opera House. Those who oppose him are swiftly punished. We even have dungeons at the bottom of the Opera House, and a torture room, in the room of mirrors that we see in the Lon Chaney silent film version. I couldn’t help but notice all the rope lying around in this movie version as well. And there are lots & lots of role-playing in the story, since the story features actors and acting of roles.

For myself, there is even an Angel in the story. The Angel of Music. See Andrew Lloyd Webber’s version. And my Master is the first one to call me Angel. You can read about the roots of my name here.

As for my Master being my Phantom. Ah well. You will find very true traces of my Master in this blog. So he is a Phantom here as well, of sorts.


And all that is about why I love and will always love The Phantom of The Opera.

Kinky kisses,
Angel :)

BDSM, The DSM & Orgasm Inc.

Hmmm it’s not often that I write about orgasms in a direct and in your face (so to speak hehe) manner, n’est-ce pas?

But seeing a screening of the movie Orgasm Inc. make me want to write something about the connection between BDSM, orgasms, and the vanilla world’s (and North American psychiatric circle’s) definition of what is “normal” in sexual function.

In a discussion with the sexologist present after the film screening, the speakers casually mentioned how so-called sexual dysfunction can be found in the DSM. Most people in the crowd had no clue what the DSM was/is, I have no doubt.

So enter the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV) ...soon to be DSM-V. Commonly referred to as the DSM.

What the heck is that?

Well, basically it is the medical “bible” used by doctors and psychiatrists to diagnose aberrant mental behaviors and conditions.

And yes folks, you guessed it – they placed components of BDSM in there.

Now I’ll tell you about me & the DSM & BDSM. You see we have a long history together. Ha!

One of the first books that I ever read that described BDSM was a psychology textbook in college, which described different facets of BDSM, under the DSM category.

This, my kinky friends, was the first “factual”, scientific book that I read that described these strange fantasies that I had been thinking. And since the book is used to diagnose problems, well it definitely gave me a negative view about what I was feeling. Not very encouraging to say the least. Luckily I went on to discover other materials – and people – who explained BDSM in more positive terms. Which made me realize no I was not a freak. Other people felt the way I did. Phew.

An interesting premise of the movie that “female sexual dysfunction syndrome” was actually created by pharmaceutical companies who obviously have a vested interest in pushing the pills and a range of gadgets. Just imagine having a wire stuck into your spine to help you experience orgasms. There is something seriously disturbing about that, that someone would even come up with such a concept. What the sexologist said after the movie made much more sense – that basically people need to talk to each other, to explore their desires and work things out.

That wire looked like something out of a Frankenstein movie to me. Yikes!

But thinking and discussing what is normal in sexual function made me think about BDSM and sexuality. What is normal with that connection?

At the après-film discussion, I asked a few questions about the DSM and the answer I received, to me, seemed to prove the same point as the movie did.

Pharmaceutical companies create so-called sexual dysfunctions. North American psychiatrists sit together to decided what is “normal" sexual behavior and what is dysfunctional behavior and put that info into the DSM version of the year. And thousands of doctors and psychiatrists follow this directive and diagnose accordingly.

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

Want to know what the DSM says about BDSM?

Check it out:

from AllPsychOnline

“Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, Fourth Edition (DSM-IV)
Paraphilias and Sexual Disorders
Common Characteristics

Paraphilias all have in common distressing and repetitive sexual fantasies, urges, or behaviors. These fantasies, urges, or behaviors must occur for a significant period of time and must interfere with either satisfactory sexual relations or everyday functioning if the diagnosis is to be made. There is also a sense of distress within these individuals. In other words, they typically recognize the symptoms as negatively impacting their life but feel as if they are unable to control them.

Disorders in this Category

Exhibitionism
Fetishism
Frotteurism
Pedophilia
Sexual Masochism
Sexual Sadism
Transvestic Fetishism
Voyeurism"

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

First of all, is it not disturbing to see S/M placed in the same category as Pedophilia??

And now let’s look at two specifics here:

"Sexual Masochism
Category
Paraphilias and Sexual Disorders

Etiology
There are different theories related to sexual masochism, many stemming from the psychoanalytic camp. They suggest that childhood trauma (e.g., sexual abuse) or significant childhood experiences can manifest itself in exhibitionistic behavior.

Symptoms
Sexually masochistic behaviors are typically evident by early adulthood, and often start with masochistic or sadistic play in childhood. The disorder is characterized by either intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors in which the individual is humiliated, beaten, bound, or made to suffer in some way.

Sexual Sadism
Category
Paraphilias and Sexual Disorders

Etiology
There are different theories related to sexual sadism, many stemming from the psychoanalytic camp. They suggest that childhood trauma (e.g., sexual abuse) or significant childhood experiences can manifest itself in exhibitionistic behavior.

Symptoms

Sexually sadistic behaviors are typically evident by early adulthood, and often start with masochistic or sadistic play in childhood. The disorder is characterized by either intense sexually arousing fantasies, urges, or behaviors in which the individual is sexually aroused by causing humiliation or physical suffering of another person.”

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So apparently we all got messed up in childhood and that’s why we like pain/like causing pain?
Oh boy.

You know, on the one hand I really enjoyed watching the movie and discussion, because it opened my mind a lot to the North American view on sexuality and the impact that pharmaceutical companies have on whether or not we feel we are “normal”.

On the other hand, these DSM psychiatrists have a ways to go before they understand people like us, the kinky folk, the fetishists, the transvestites & transgendered, and the oh so many variations of BDSMers out there.

My question:
Where do we go from here?
Should we even try to make inroads in the psychiatrist community to be better understood?

Kinky food for thought.
Angel

BDSM, S&M and Sex And The City

"La Douleur Exquise!"
Sex And The City
Season 2
Episode 24





Lately, I have been binging on Sex And The City.

I have systematically been making my way through all the episodes.
Right now, I am up to Season 5.
Oh my, what a fun, girly-girl fest it has been! :)

I saw the movie this summer and had never watched an episode of the quintessential New York show before. So I promised myself that one day I would watch all the chapters of this hit show.

As I watched I realized, wow there are so many BDSM elements in Sex And The City!

And then I hit an episode called "La Douleur Exquise!" (The Exquisite Pain), about the hot new S&M restaurant that Samantha introduces the girls to, which leaves one thinking about the relationship between the girls and BDSM.

So I had a thought.

What if our Sex And The City gal pals
were in the BDSM Scene?
What roles would they fit?

And this is what I dreamed up - just for fun!

Samantha (Domme and Dominatrix)

Samantha is such a natural Domme and would make a great Pro-Domme as well.
Men paying for the privilege of pleasing her in every way - and leaving them frustrated? Perfect.

Somehow I imagine a large stable of glistening hot studs seeing to her every sensual and sexual need. Perfect gleaming oily manflesh begging to serve their Mistress all at once - and currying for her favour. She would be the very Domme Queen in her FemDom QueenDom.

And if she worked as a Pro-Domme?

Just imagine what her professional dungeon would look like.
Acres and acres of wicked gleaming toys. Oh and I imagine there would be a queening station somewhere in there as well. Since she enjoys fine dining in more ways than one. ;)

Didn't she just handle that riding crop so easily in that S&M episode?
You just knew she was no stranger to the kinkier side of the toy closet.

Charlotte (The Service-Oriented and Role-Playing Slave)

I see Charlotte being the Perfect French Maid, providing impeccable service to her Master, while fetching his slippers, pouring his drinks or tea for his guests. Giving her Master a wonderful massage, drying him with fluffy towels as he steps out of his bath,

Charlotte would also make an excellent Pony Girl. She would love being kitted out in her shiny and spic & span pony gear, trotting for her Master. And being ridden very very well. Oh so very British as well.

Miranda (The Switchy Switch)

Miranda is the most ambiguous of the 4 gal pals, in more ways than one.
She can be very tough and act and dress just like one of the boys - her butch side. Or she can also show a vulnerable submissive side, that craves being take care of, treasured and loved.

I can easily see her topping (both men and women), and then easily flipping to bottoming to taste some exquisite pain herself.

Carrie (The Sexual Submisive)

Well of course Carrie would be a sexual submissive. She probably already owns the largest collection of "fuck me shoes". All those dreamy Manolo Blahniks, Jimmy Choos, and Christian Louboutins. Just add more boots - especially the thigh-high kind - and her wardrobe would be set.

And boy oh boy doesn't her character just scream submissive?
All her neurotic game-playing - I bet she would love to be taken in hand by the very firm - yet loving and sensual hand of a man.

OK none of this is at all politically correct. So shoot me...lol

But can't you just imagine their outfits??

They would be just....exquisitely perfect.

Angel ;)


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Tasting The Sugasm...Sugasm #146

Giving In To That Sugasm Craving...

Hmmm been awhile since I tasted the Sugasm.
Time to share that sugasmic taste with you all again!

Angel :)

Sugasm #146

The best of this week’s blogs by the bloggers who blog them. Highlighting the top 3 posts as chosen by Sugasm participants. Want in Sugasm #147? Submit a link to your best post of the week by emailing me directly at radicalvixenatgmaildotcom Participants, repost the link list within a week and you’re all set.

This Week’s Picks
Nipple clamps, butt plug, Hitachi - oh my!
“Once the plug is in, I’m going to send you on a little walk.”

I discover transcendental orgasm
“It was peaceful, and like holding on to a live wire at the same time.”

When We Were Kids: Thoughts on BDSM
“The tying was always my favourite part, whether I was the one tied who had to escape, or the one who got to do the tying.”

Mr. Sugasm Himself
Sugar Bank

Editor’s Choice
Like a Prayer - Part 2

More Sugasm
Join the Sugasm

See also: Fleshbot’s Sex Blog Roundup each Tuesday and Friday.

(Sugasm participants should re-post all the links above within a week. The following links may be excluded as long as you include all the above links.)

BDSM & Fetish
After the Party … (part III)
Catalina loves Naughty Secretary Roleplay
Charlotte Vale And I (Mz Berlin) In Bondage Gangbang On The Training Of O
The Enigmatic Angel’s Kinky Cinematic Journey ******MY POST! :) *******
The Pleasure Of Torment
Push Button Behavior Modification
The Sarge And Backdoor Bondage Have Great Impact Play And Hogtied Style Bondage Content
Shoes, it’s really all about the shoes.
Snap, Crackle, and Pop
Whipped Pussy Reminds You To Always Keep A Spare In The Trunk

Erotic Writing and Experiences
Bite Me
Chess
Lunch Date
On the phone
People we’ve always wanted to be
Submitting Again: Part 3
Top
Webcam
While it rains outside…
Your Gorgeous Polish Girlfriend does not feel like having sex tonight

Sex Work
The Age of Porn: Performers, Attraction, and Age
So there I was, with a caller…
The Whore in the House Next Door

NSFW pics
Dana by Goncharov (Met Art)
Fetish Model & PornSLUTkitty Gets Her Head Tattooed
A Fully Naked HHNT
Not a masochist

Sex News, Reviews, & Interviews
The Lelo Mia
Nea: by Lelo
Njoy’s Amazing Butt Plugs - A Sex Toy Review
Sex News Roundup

BDSM & Fetish
After the Party … (part III)
Catalina loves Naughty Secretary Roleplay
Charlotte Vale And I (Mz Berlin) In Bondage Gangbang On The Training Of O
The Enigmatic Angel’s Kinky Cinematic Journey
The Pleasure Of Torment
Push Button Behavior Modification
The Sarge And Backdoor Bondage Have Great Impact Play And Hogtied Style Bondage Content
Shoes, it’s really all about the shoes.
Snap, Crackle, and Pop
Whipped Pussy Reminds You To Always Keep A Spare In The Trunk

Sex Advice
Help, my boyfriend won’t go down on me!

Thoughts on Sex and Relationships
Can A Threesome Help You Find Your True Love?
Eco Sex and Green BDSM
Femme is a Noun, an Adjective, a Verb…
If You are Charming Smart, but Ugly, I Fuck You For Sure!
It’s a struggle.
Stripper Milf versus Stripper Teen: 69 points to ponder
Where The Hell Did My Boobs Go?

FetSpank is a place where Kinksters become Spanksters. This is where you come to discover, share and vote on the most popular fetish-focused Web content. Click the FetSpankit! button to spank-vote this post!

The Enigmatic Angel's Kinky Cinematic Journey

The Good, The Bad - and The Cheesy

Do you remember what was the first kinky film you ever watched out on the big screen?

Recently, I tripped down memory lane when a series of clicks led me to remember my first kinky cinema outing - Preaching To the Perverted.

Flashback 10 years ago.

I sat in the old Eaton Centre cinema in downtown Montreal (which had become repertoire-esque in those last days before it closed) and felt such a sense of experiencing the wickedly forbidden - right out in the open where anyone could see me.

The theatre was not even half-full. It was a sea of fashionable black, as if we had all agreed on what to wear before we left the house. I felt like there was a HUGE spotlight on me because my fellow movie goers were mostly men sitting alone, with the odd couple here and there. I was the only woman there by herself. There was a touch of leather of course - leather pants and jackets - and a black studded collar or two.

A man came in and sat down a few rows behind me, in the back section of the cinema. He gave me one hard stare and I suspected he didn't want anyone sitting near him - and I guessed at the reason why. During the movie, I heard some constant rocking sounds that came from his direction and you can easily guess the reason for it. I had to try not to laugh as I wondered if he got off during the movie.

As for the movie itself, well for me it was such a decadent and tasty visual treat. It was about a moral crusader who tries to infiltrate the world of an infamous and beautiful Dominatrix. In the end, he just could not resist her wicked and enticing allure. Oh sure, I did think the end seemed a little pat and tacked on - but the rest of the movie? Oh my! It was tasty and gorgeous and the clothes! Guinevere Turner, who played the Evil Temptress Tanya Cheex, was so damn HOT in her delicious outfits. I think that might have been the first time I lusted for a woman. It sure left some questions in my mind. And I was so sad when the movie came to an end. Oh and just for fun, as I got up to leave the cinema I couldn't help but look at my highly-active fellow cinema-goer as he left. He looked rather sheepish when I just gave him one long, cool look. Kind of like a deer caught in headlights.

That was my first kinky cinema outing (outing in more ways than one) and that sure released the dam. Through-out the years, I always kept my eyes peeled for other kinky flicks and went to all the ones I could find.

There was Quills, a movie about the Marquis de Sade and the time he spent in prison. Geoffrey Rush did a fine job of playing a beguiling Marquis, leading a young priest, played by the tasty Joaquin Phoenix - and others - into temptation - all while still locked up in his cell.

The most atrocious and abominable rendition of a bdsm book had to have been the disastrous big screen adaption of Anne Rice's Exit To Eden. All the bdsm content was turned into a spoof and a joke. All of sudden a totally ludicrous subplot containing thieves and undercover cops had been inserted into the story-line - all to include 2 big stars - Rosie O'Donnell and Dan Aykroyd . I suspected the director and producer did that because they didn't think the movie would be carried on its own momentum. Well, it was a total cop-out. Here was a chance to bring to life one of my favourite and sublime Anne Rice books and it was made into an unattractive and ridiculous mess. I was incensed. The male friend I brought with me (who I later dated and who had a small taste for kink it turned out) did seem turned on by the bdsm content though - so something good came out of that movie at least. The movie was a great opener for me to discuss kinky things with him.

Most recently, I watched for the nth time, one of my favourite big screen bdsm movies, Secretary, on dvd.

What can I say about Secretary? Why do I like it so much?

Well, it's not about the bdsm or fetish scene at all. It's about 2 regular human beings who explore the concepts of Domination and submission together. I think that may be one of the reasons why I enjoy it so much - it reminds me a bit about me and my own journey.

Oh and while I was musing about the kinky films I've seen on the big screen, I stumbled upon a few interesting kinky film festivals, which I've now added to my blog under the header "Tasty Film Links".

Happy Kinky Movie Viewing, Kinky Folks!

Angel :)


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