Meg Giry
Encyclopedia
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 called a 'brat
'. In Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation, however, Meg is much more beautiful and curvaceous, having blonde hair and blue eyes. She is also, in the novel, portrayed as a child of around fifteen years old and adores having her own way and attention. 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 coaching her.
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.
is spooked by the Phantom's
threats. 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."
main antagonist
. She is known as the "Ooh La La Girl," and was the star of Phantom's show before Christine arrived.
She plays a critical role in the ending, kidnapping Christine's son Gustave, and wildly brandishing a gun at those who have come to rescue him, and then at herself. She furiously berates the Phantom for ignoring her and being oblivious to all she has done to help him - a more sympathetic side to her character is shown here as she breaks down and reveals she has been forced by her mother to work for years as a high class prostitute to ease the Phantom's transition from wanted criminal in Paris to Coney-Island based entrepreneur. Her sacrifice has resulted in a desperate, obsessive desire for the Phantom's love and attention.
The Phantom attempts to soothe her anger, begging her to "give me the hurt and the pain and the gun, Meg" and saying he blames himself for not seeing all she had done and that although she feels broken he can still see "all the beauty underneath". He makes the fatal error of mentioning Christine, to which Meg replies "always Christine!" and angrily gestures the gun towards her, which accidentally goes off and shoots her. Horrified at what she has done, Meg and her mother flee the scene leaving Christine to die in the Phantom's arms. The show ends with Raoul arriving at the scene and cradling Christine's lifeless body while Gustave embraces the Phantom, acknowledging him as his father.
Gaston Leroux
Gaston Louis Alfred Leroux was a French journalist and author of detective fiction.In the English-speaking world, he is best known for writing the novel The Phantom of the Opera , which has been made into several film and stage productions of the same name, notably the 1925 film starring Lon...
's novel The Phantom of the Opera
The Phantom of the Opera
Le Fantôme de l'Opéra is a novel by French writer Gaston Leroux. It was first published as a serialisation in "Le Gaulois" from September 23, 1909 to January 8, 1910...
. In the story she is Madame Giry
Madame Giry
Madame Giry is a character in the Gaston Leroux novel, The Phantom of the Opera. She is a fairly intermediate character in the novel, although her role is much increased in the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical...
'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 called a 'brat
Brat
Brat or The Brat may refer to:* BRAT diet, for patients with various forms of gastrointestinal distress* Bratwurst, a type of sausage* Military brat** Military brat Brat or The Brat may refer to:* BRAT diet, for patients with various forms of gastrointestinal distress* Bratwurst, a type of sausage*...
'. In Andrew Lloyd Webber's adaptation, however, Meg is much more beautiful and curvaceous, having blonde hair and blue eyes. She is also, in the novel, portrayed as a child of around fifteen years old and adores having her own way and attention. 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 coaching her.
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
Christine Daaé
Christine Daaé is the main female character in Gaston Leroux's novel The Phantom of the Opera , the young singer with whom the main character Erik, the Phantom of the Opera falls in love.- Character history :...
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
Phantom (novel)
Phantom is a 1990 novel by Susan Kay, based on the Gaston Leroux novel The Phantom of the Opera.-Plot summary:The Phantom is born as Erik in Boscherville, a small town not far from Rouen, in the summer of 1831. His father is a well-known stonemason and dies in a construction accident a few months...
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's mother, Madame 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 GiudicelliCarlotta Giudicelli
Carlotta is a fictional character from the French novel The Phantom of the Opera.In the novel she is a minor character hailing from Spain. The first time that she is mentioned in the novel is during the chapter "The New Marguerite", where it is revealed that she could not perform at the ceremony...
is spooked by the Phantom's
Erik, the Phantom of the Opera
Erik is the titular character in Gaston Leroux's 1910 novel The Phantom of the Opera. He is also the antagonist of many film adaptations of the novel, notably the 1925 film adaptation starring Lon Chaney, Sr., and Andrew Lloyd Webber's West End musical....
threats. 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
The Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)
The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux....
, when she discovers the cause from the Phantom about the stage, she says, "He's here, the Phantom of the Opera."
Love Never Dies
A dramatic change in character occurs in the ten year gap between the musicals. Instead of being Christine's caring friend, as Meg was in the original story, she now competes for the Phantom's attention and is the de factoDe facto
De facto is a Latin expression that means "concerning fact." In law, it often means "in practice but not necessarily ordained by law" or "in practice or actuality, but not officially established." It is commonly used in contrast to de jure when referring to matters of law, governance, or...
main antagonist
Antagonist
An antagonist is a character, group of characters, or institution, that represents the opposition against which the protagonist must contend...
. She is known as the "Ooh La La Girl," and was the star of Phantom's show before Christine arrived.
She plays a critical role in the ending, kidnapping Christine's son Gustave, and wildly brandishing a gun at those who have come to rescue him, and then at herself. She furiously berates the Phantom for ignoring her and being oblivious to all she has done to help him - a more sympathetic side to her character is shown here as she breaks down and reveals she has been forced by her mother to work for years as a high class prostitute to ease the Phantom's transition from wanted criminal in Paris to Coney-Island based entrepreneur. Her sacrifice has resulted in a desperate, obsessive desire for the Phantom's love and attention.
The Phantom attempts to soothe her anger, begging her to "give me the hurt and the pain and the gun, Meg" and saying he blames himself for not seeing all she had done and that although she feels broken he can still see "all the beauty underneath". He makes the fatal error of mentioning Christine, to which Meg replies "always Christine!" and angrily gestures the gun towards her, which accidentally goes off and shoots her. Horrified at what she has done, Meg and her mother flee the scene leaving Christine to die in the Phantom's arms. The show ends with Raoul arriving at the scene and cradling Christine's lifeless body while Gustave embraces the Phantom, acknowledging him as his father.
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.Actresses
- Janet Devenish (opening cast), and Heidi Ann O'Brien in West EndWest End theatreWest End theatre is a popular term for mainstream professional theatre staged in the large theatres of London's 'Theatreland', the West End. Along with New York's Broadway theatre, West End theatre is usually considered to represent the highest level of commercial theatre in the English speaking...
production of Andrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd WebberAndrew Lloyd Webber, Baron Lloyd-Webber is an English composer of musical theatre.Lloyd Webber has achieved great popular success in musical theatre. Several of his musicals have run for more than a decade both in the West End and on Broadway. He has composed 13 musicals, a song cycle, a set of...
's 1986 musicalThe Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
- Elisa Heinsohn (opening cast), Catherine Ulissey, Tener BrownTener BrownTener Brown is an American ballet coach of New Jersey Ballet, a former ballet dancer of American Ballet Theatre, and a former actress.-Biography:...
, Geralyn Del Corso, Jennifer Dawn Stillings, Joelle Gates, Heather McFadden, and Kara Klein in BroadwayBroadway theatreBroadway theatre, commonly called simply Broadway, refers to theatrical performances presented in one of the 40 professional theatres with 500 or more seats located in the Theatre District centered along Broadway, and in Lincoln Center, in Manhattan in New York City...
production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's musical. Paloma Garcia-Lee closing National tour Meg.
- Sharon Millerchip in the original 1990 Australian cast of The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (1986 musical)The Phantom of the Opera is a musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber, based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux.The music was composed by Lloyd Webber, and most lyrics were written by Charles Hart, with additional lyrics by Richard Stilgoe. Alan Jay Lerner was an early collaborator,...
and the original 2011 Australian cast of Love Never DiesLove Never DiesLove Never Dies may refer to:*Love Never Dies , an American silent drama directed by King Vidor*Love Never Dies , an Argentine romantic drama directed and written by Luis César Amadori...
- Jennifer EllisonJennifer EllisonJennifer Lesley Ellison is an English actress, glamour model, television personality, dancer and singer...
in the 2004 movie The Phantom of the OperaThe Phantom of the Opera (2004 film)The Phantom of the Opera is a 2004 film adaptation of Andrew Lloyd Webber's 1986 musical of the same name, which in turn was based on the French novel Le Fantôme de l'Opéra by Gaston Leroux....
- Summer StrallenSummer StrallenSummer Peta Vaigncourt-Strallen is an English actress who has performed various roles on stage and screen. Her most notable theatre credits include Meg Giry in the West End production of Love Never Dies and Maria Von Trapp in Andrew Lloyd Webber's revival of The Sound of Music at the London...
in the 2010 original London cast of Love Never DiesLove Never DiesLove Never Dies may refer to:*Love Never Dies , an American silent drama directed by King Vidor*Love Never Dies , an Argentine romantic drama directed and written by Luis César Amadori...
- Sarah Sharpe famously portrayed Meg Giry in Walled Lake Western's production of Phantom in 2011.
External links
- Fanlist
- http://www.freewebs.com/little-meg/index.htm