[Yakko]

Should that scene be played out as if Christine thinks that she's singing to Paingi(Sorry for the mispelling) or should she realise be the time the Phantom starts singing?

[The Duchess of Mint]

Dear Yakko,

Were you asking weather or not Christine thinks that she's singing to the opera character or The Phantom?

I can tell you that Christine knows that she's probably singing with The Phantom, because she and Raoul planned that she should go out there, perform, and assume that The Phantom was her co-star.

She may or may not know for certain that Erik is indeed her co-star when he starts singing. I don't know exactly when she's supposed to know that Erik is with her. I wonder if that decision is at the discretion of the director...

Thanks in advance for your reply.

[Yakko]

Well I thought that she would be singing to the opera character.

Because keep in mind that they thought that Erik would watch the opera.

[Fantine]

Having seen the stage show only once (plus a few bootlegs), I can say that in the movie Christine does realise that it is in fact the Phantom who has taken over the role but then she continues to act as if she still believes that it is Piangi to lure him into a trap.

[Yakko]

Then why would she realize it's Erik when she stoking the mask if she know's all along?

[Fantine]

Sorry, I don't understand what you mean.

At first during PONR Christine thinks that it is Piangi, up until where Erik grabs her. She then realises that it is in fact the Phantom who is performing there with her, and not Piangi. She still plays along (I dare say she even gets tempted and curious of him) but then realises that she has a plan to follow and then finally pulls of his mask to reveal his true identity.

[Yakko]

[operadiva7]

Raoul and everyone else was assuming that the Phantom would be watching from his usual box, or maybe somewhere else. Christine was out on stage waiting for Piangi. She realized it was the Phantom as soon as she heard his voice. He once again captivated her, and she didn't come to her senses until he sang the AIAOY reprise, then she realized that she must beray the man who loved her to stop the madness.

[Mungojerrie_rt]

On the stage, she realises that it's him when she throws the hood off. When she does that, she steps backwards for a moment and looks worried, then the phantom draws her in again.

[jcstar]

According to the libretto, the stage direction says:
We already know that the lasso has done its work and the PHANTOM enters dressed in PIANGI's costume. CHRISTINE is unaware. His first words startle her.

Onstage, I have seen it performed when she sings the "consume us" line... she places her hand under the hood and feels the mask and tries to run away.

Andy.

[Peritombry]

Surely she can tell by the different in his voice when she's been studying with him and performing next to Piangi for years.

[Mungojerrie_rt]

When I saw it, the ohantom sounded more like Piangi in that section. The voices were closer.

I saw the understudy, by the way. He was awesome.

[Peritombry]

On stage they may be able to match them but in the book his voice is meant to be even more exceptional. Hm. Having said that he's also a very good imitator. Well there goes that theory.