When I first heard the resounding sounds of the organ in the Overture for “The Phantom of the Opera,” I immediately fell in love with the show.
It was the first show that I saw on Broadway and one of the most amazing experiences I have had.
How can you not feel moved by every chilling note that is sung in the production? Of course, one of the major powerhouses of the show is the sensual voice of the Phantom. The character of the Phantom is captivating.
With that said about one of my favorite Broadway musicals, I was extremely disappointed with their decision to cast James Barbour as their next Phantom. Barbour was accused of having criminal sexual contact with a 15-year old girl back in 2001, according to The New York Times. He was indicted in 2006 “on nine counts of engaging in criminal sexual acts, sexual abuse and endangering the welfare of a child.”
In 2008, he was sentenced to a 60-day jail term and probation.
And he now gets to don that infamous mask and play one of Broadway’s most iconic roles.
A sign outside of the Majestic Theatre advertising for “The Phantom of the Opera.”
Barbour officially began his run in the show on Feb. 9, succeeding Norm Lewis, who also made headlines when he was cast—but for something positive. Lewis joined the cast in May 2014 and made history as the first African-American to portray the Phantom.
To see such positive press be replaced with negativity from fans is disheartening. According to Playbill, Barbour entered into a “guilty plea to two misdemeanor counts of endangering the welfare of a minor.” Because he pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor, he did not have to register as a sex offender.
Back on Jan. 14, “The Phantom of the Opera” Broadway released a statement regarding their decision to cast Barbour. “We hear you,” they shared via their Twitter page with a link to the statement on Facebook. “James fully accepted responsibility for what happened 14 years ago. He has maintained a spotless reputation. He has given his time to charitable causes. We are happy to have him join the production,” the post read.
While some people expressed their elation over Barbour being cast and the prospect of seeing his talent, other people disagreed. Their decision to cast him drew extensive criticism and backlash over social media. Some people went so far as to say that while they heard their fans, they were not listening.
And I don’t believe that in this instance, they were listening. Once the decision was made to cast him, I don’t think they could have gone back on their choice, but should that choice have been made in the first place? No matter how powerful of a voice he may have, did he deserve to be given this opportunity?
A sign in Times Square advertised for the show’s 25th anniversary in March 2013.
“The Phantom of the Opera” is not the first Broadway production he has been in, however. He previously appeared in “A Tale of Two Cities,” “Carousel,” “Beauty & the Beast” and more.
Should the mistakes from his past hold him back from making a career for himself? No, but that’s just it. This was not a simple mistake; it was a criminal sexual encounter. Maybe he has reformed himself in the past 14 years and I’m sure he put on a great audition. In situations such as this, the victim is so often forgotten in the midst of giving the accused a “second chance.”
Yes, mistakes are made that can derail a person’s future. But this was a serious misdemeanor where it is another situation of finding the all-too-common “victim blaming” from people over social media.
“The Phantom of the Opera” may not have handled this the best way. While they tried to justify their casting of Barbour and subsequently anger many people, they could have facilitated a conversation—educated people on the issue instead of not fully listening to the concerns raised by others.
I’m sure Barbour’s casting as Phantom would never act as a permanent blemish to “The Phantom of the Opera” and I would hope it would not. Hopefully more awareness is raised in these types of situations so the music can continue for years to come.
The @PhantomBway Facebook/Instagram has been deleting comments about #JamesBarbour's sexual offences. DON'T stay silent about this.
— shnnn ♡ˎˊ˗ (@filmnamtan) January 12, 2015
https://twitter.com/MadelineLady17/status/555368552383774720
