Meg Giry

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Meg Giry is one of the fictional characters from Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera. In the story she is Madame Giry's oldest daughter.

In the novel she is described as having “eyes black as sloes, hair black as ink, a swarthy complexion and a poor little skin stretched over poor little bones. She is also, in the novel, portrayed as a child of around fifteen years old and adores having her own way and attention. Due to her mother's role as the keeper of Box Five, Meg occasionally acts as a source of information about the ghost to the other ballet girls. She is described by the author in the prologue as "the most charming star of our admirable corps de ballet."

In the Andrew Lloyd Webber adaptation, she is older and her personality is much sweeter, caring and innocent showing genuine concern for Christine's claim of an Angel of Music (really the Phantom) coaching her. Meg is much more beautiful and curvaceous, having blonde hair and blue eyes.

Madame Giry is compelled to work for the Phantom because he left her a letter that told her that Meg (should she deserve it) would become Empress. Early in the novel, it is explained in the Prologue that Meg Giry, after the story's events, had indeed become the Baroness de Barbazac.

In contrast to the musical version, in the novel it is never mentioned that she is friends with Christine Daaé and the only reference she makes about Christine is when confronted with the news that Christine was singing in the opening Gala, she tells Count Phillipe de Chagny that it was impossible for her to have a "divine voice" let alone become a success, that "six months ago she sang like a rusty hinge".

In Susan Kay's novel Phantom she is mentioned briefly through Erik’s point of view as she is telling Christine of the Opera Ghost he listens to her story.

“Never you mind how I know I just do that’s all. We know a lot about the Opera Ghost, Ma and I, but it isn’t safe to talk about it here. And you’d better believe me for your own good- he doesn’t like people who don’t know how to show a proper respect, and when he’s angry terrible things happen.”

“What sort of things?” I heard real alarm enter the other voice now.

“Awful things!” said Meg cheerfully, “truly awful. The floor in our dressing room starts to run with blood...”

Up in box five I blinked in surprised amusement. That was a new one! Little Giry should be writing Gothic novels, not prancing around the stage dressed as a water nymph!

The Phantom of the Opera

In the musical Meg Giry is the one who suggests to the theatre managers to put Christine in the leading role of the opera Hannibal once leading lady Carlotta Giudicelli is spooked by the Phantom's threats. Her mother, Madame Giry agrees and supports the decision. Normally she and Christine would be part of the ballet ensemble led by Madame Giry. At the end of Christine's performance, Christine confides in Meg in the musical number "Angel of Music" that she has been coached by a mysterious tutor who is calling her to him. Meg dismisses her claims, but after Christine's disappearance, comes to believe in the Phantom's powers, in part due to her mother's experiences with the Phantom as a young man.

At the end of the musical, Meg finds the Phantom's mask that he had used to cover his disfigured face resting on his chair in his abandoned underground lair.

According to the film, when she discovers the cause from the Phantom about the stage, she says, "He's here, the Phantom of the Opera."

Sadie Montgomery's Phantom

In a series of novels written by Sadie Montgomery that take place after Phantom of the Opera, Meg becomes the primary love interest of the Phantom as the two attempt to rebuild their lives. She later becomes his wife and the two have children.

Actresses

  • Elisa Heinsohn (opening cast), Catherine Ulissey, Tener Brown, Geralyn Del Corso, Jennifer Dawn Stillings, Joelle Gates, Heather McFadden, and Kara Klein in Broadway production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. Paloma Garcia-Lee closing National tour Meg.
  • Brianne Kelly Morgan in the 2006 Andrew Lloyd Webber musical Phantom — The Las Vegas Spectacular

References

  1. ↑ POTO Onstage, phantom-media.info - accessed May 10, 2009

Paloma Garcia -Lee 2010 Youngest Meg Giry to date.


External links

Books
Stage adaptations
Film and television
Characters
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