Beneath the Mask

Beneath the Mask was a newsletter/letterzine published by the Phantom Appreciation Society, an international Phantom of the Opera fan club.
Beneath the Mask published interviews with Phantom cast members, news and reviews, in depth articles on topics relating to the Phantom of the Opera, and letters from fans in which every aspect of the story were discussed and debated. It was sold by subscription to the Phantom Appreciation Society, in Dress Circle in London, and by the Avon Boutique in Canada.
==Zine Title Change==
The first four issues of this fanwork were titled "Masquerade" and "Phantom’s Masquerade". The name was changed to "Beneath the Mask" beginning with issue #5. 
The name change was due to the prior existence of a musical theater zine of the same title called Masquerade - The Stage Musical Fanzine. 
From "Beneath the Mask" #5: 
==The Editors' Names==
From issue #7: 
==General Reactions and Reviews==
==Issue 1==
The first issue (titled "Masquerade") was published in the summer of 1993 and contains 7 pages.
 
From the editor: 
* about collectables ("Jill Wark, Head of Corporate Sales at Connoisseur of Malvern, tells us about the making of the "Music of the Night" model") (3)
* The Film of the Musical (5)
* more things for sale (5)
* The Phantom in Print (books) (6)
==Issue 2==
The Issue Two (titled "Phantom's Masquerade") was published in the autumn of 1993 and contains 10 pages.
From the editor: 
==Issue 3==
The Issue Three (titled "Phantom's Masquerade") was published in the winter of 1993-1994 and contains 18 pages.
* several fan letters, the topic was opinions about various literary renditions of Phantom of the Opera
* reprint of an interview with Dave Willetts ("This extract is reprinted by kind permission of Mike Gibb, from his magazine "Masquerade". He interviewed Dave Willetts on 22nd, November 1991.")
* Confessions of a Phantom Addict, or, "Heaven is in the gods" - essay by Rae "Caustic" Dunnill
* Phantom Gossip (news bits)
* timeline of Phantom on film
* The Manchester Phantom, play review by Christine Daae, Christine Karrie, and Sarah Hopkins
* quizzes and puzzles
* A Woman's Prerogative, fiction by Cathy Cormany
* review of the play in Toronto
==Issue 4==
Issue Four (titled "Masquerade") was published in the spring of 1994 and contains 20 pages.
It includes "Survey #1," - the results were printed in the next issue.
From the editor: 
* fan letters
* cast news
* interview with Susan Kay
* info about "The Phantom Recordings," by Christine "Engel" Karrie
* trivia quiz
* Journey of a Phantom Fan, or, An Alternative Confession by OG
* review of Phantom in Manchester
* Being Raoul, fiction by RC Do Rozario
* A Last Night in Sydney, review by Amanda Johnson
* Entr'acte, fiction by Debera Ethington and Lisa Deason
* Christine (as seen by Erik), poem by Lesley E. Hatch
* The Garden in the Desert, poem by Lesley E. Hatch
==Issue 5==
Beneath the Mask 5 was published in Summer 1994 and contains 22 pages.
From the editorial: 
* An Interview with Peter Karrie (2)
* These Things Do Happen.... (previously the "Phantom Disasters" column) (boo-boos, glitches seen in the plays) (3)
* An Understudy Steps On, article by Christine Daae (4)
* Questions & Answers (5)
*Cast News (6)
* Recordings (6)
* Membership Survey: The Results (results of the club's first survey, the questions were in the previous issue) (8)
* Gossip (9)
* How I Discovered Phantom and the Explanation of My Frequently Changing Name, essay by Christine "Engel" Karrie (10)
* The Bits That Didn't Quite Make It... ("Rae "Caustic" Dunnill tells us about the efrects that were planned for the show, but no audience ever saw.") (11)
* Alexander Goebel Speaks ("The transcript of an interview with Alexander Goebel, Austrian Phantom, broadcast on Austrian TV. Translated into English by Marion Middleton.") (11)
* Your Letters (12)
* Competition ("The idea for this issue's competition has been stolen from the Hitch Hiker's Guide to the Galaxy fan club....Choose up to five characters from Phantom (any version), and decide what their desert island discs would be. For our overseas members, Desert Island Discs is a radio programme where personalities choose the eight records they would want if they were stranded on a desert island that conveniently has a record player on it. They also pick a book and a luxury. For this competition, you can choose up to eight records, and a book and luxury if you want, for up to five Phantom characters. Be as imaginative/soppy/ amusing as you wish, and don't forget to explain why you've chosen the records. Don't be restricted by time - you are welcome to choose thing written after 1881 , and things that haven't actually been recorded (like Carlotta's singing).") (18)
* Who Is This Man, poem by C. Cormany dedicated to Michael Crawford (19)
* Ads (20)
==Issue 6==
Beneath the Mask 6 was published in Autumn 1994 and contains 26 pages.
From "The Original Phantom": 
* Editorial and News Bits (1)
* ALAN RICE RISKS LIFE AND LIMB... ...talking to Andrea Stephenson and Kathryn "Firmin" Bell. Alan is Manchester's Firmin. Written up by Andrea Stephenson (2)
* Questions and Answers (3)
* Reviews of CDs, Books, and Plays, and the zine Phantom Notes (4)
* HET SPOOKT VAN DE OPERA: The Background to the Netherlands production, article by Christine "Engel" Karrie (5)
* These Things Do Happen, bloopers and glitches from the show (6)
* Magic is a Box 5, by Jeanette Birt (show description, Paris, August 26) (7)
* The Original Phantom, article by Carrie Hernandez (8)
* Phantom Profiles (short bios on the cast members) (11)
* Can it Be Possible, poem dedicated to Peter Karrie, by C. Cormany (11)
* Gossip (short news bits about the cast members) (12)
* Classified Advertisements (fictional, humorous) (12)
* Contest (13)
* Here, I have a note... (letters from fans) (14)
* Ads (24)
==Issue 7==
Beneath the Mask 7 was published in Winter 1994/1995 and contains 24 pages.
From the editorial: 
Two examples from the Q&A: 
* Editorial (3)
* Phantom Fiction (the fiction zine will be produced for Christmas 1995) (3)
* Interview with Mark McKerracher by Andrea Stephenson (4)
* Reviews of Books and CDs (5)
* Happy Birthday Phantom: Phantom celebrates its 5th anniversary in Toronto, article by Dot McFarlane (6)
* Phantom Profiles, sort bios of cast members (7)
* These Things Do Happen... (bloopers and glitches sent in by fans) (8)
* Three Men and a Coffin, essay by Carrie Hernandez ("In our never-ending search for the reason Christine left the Phantom for Raoul, it is helpful to understand what which motivates our heroine.") (7)
* An Evening With Dave Willets - The Other Side of the Mask, article by Andrea Stephenson (11)
* Gossip (short bits about what the cast members are up to) (11)
* New Gothic Role for Australian Phantom, article by Sharon L. Taylor (12)
* Competition (13)
* Questions & Answers (14)
* Here, I have a note... (letters from fans) (16)
* Ads (24)
==Issue 8==
Beneath the Mask 8 was published in Spring 1995 and contains 26 pages.
* Editorial (3)
* An Interview with Ethan Freeman (4)
* These Things Do Happen... (glitches and bloopers from the stages) (5)
* Cast News (6)
* Reviews (of various recordings, books) (7)
* The Phantom of Baker Street, article by Kristen Hambrick (10)
* Gossip (short bits of cast news) (11)
* Noseratu, the Vampire, Phantom cast create new Gothic musical (12)
* Phantom Profiles (short bios of cast members) (13)
* A Portrait of Erik, article by David Bergen (14)
* Questions & Answers (15)
* Competition Results (16)
* Here, I Have a Note... (letters from fans) (17)
* Ads (26)
==Issue 9==
Beneath the Mask 9 was published in Summer 1995 and contains 26 pages.
It contains several small illos by Jeanette Birt, Graham Lappin
* Editorial (3)
* News Bits (4)
* Reviews (books, plays, albums...) (5)
* Phantom phone cards for sale (7)
* Phantom on the Internet (explains about modems and the internet, online mailing lists, USENET, rec.arts.theatre.musicals, The World Wide Web) (8)
* Phantom Profiles (short bios of cast members) (8)
* The American Phantom of the Opera - A Love Story, article by Mike Campbell (9)
* Questions & Answers (10)
* Where Are They Now? (about the cast members) (11)
* Index of Back Issues (11)
* Gossip (news bits about cast members) (12)
* Happily Ever After?, essay by Carrie Hernandez (13)
* These Things Happen... (goofs on stage) (15)
* Where Will He Turn Up Next?, Erik's Influence on Film and TV, article by Sarah Hopkins (16)
* Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" and ALW's Phantom, article by Christine "Engel" Karrie (16)
* An Alternate Phantom, article by Carrie Hernandez ("I was recently privledged to see a different interpretation of the old Leroux tale, produced by the Fullerton Civic Light Opera in Orange County, California, USA.") (17)
* Six Months Without the Angel, fiction by Jeanette Birt (18)
* Here I Have a Note... (fan letters) (19)
* Ads (26)
==Issue 10==
Beneath the Mask 10 was published in Autumn 1995 and contains 26 pages.
It has small illos by Sonja Blank, Jennifer Kaplan, Michaela Meier, and Juliet Ford.
This issue contains the questions for a membership survey, results were printed in #11.
* Editorial (3)
* Submission Guidelines (3)
* Fiction Zine Announcement: "Whispers from Box Five" ("To give you a brief idea of the contents, it includes two "novella"-length stories by Carrie Herandez; an extract from "Beauty and the Opera" by Suzy McKee Charnas, which is being published next year; and a number of other stories by Phantom fans from around the world. It also contains some poems and illustrations." This was planned for January 1996, was to have 150 pages.) (3)
* Cast News (4)
* An Interview with Davis Gaines, conducted by Carrie Hernandez (5)
* Reviews (7)
* It's Over Now, the Music of the Night, two reports by Elizabeth and David Kelly, and Andrea Stephenson of the Manchester Phantom (9)
* These Things Do Happen... (goofs on stage) (10)
* Ken Hill's Phantom of the Opera (three fans comment) (11)
* Questions and Answers (12)
* Internet Update ("The location of the Phantom Home Page changed just as the last issue went out." This section also contains nine internet addresses for Phantom sites) (12)
* Behind the Scenes Part 1 - The Costumes (Q&A with Lisa Sheaves, Wardrobe Mistress on the Far East (International) Tour) (13)
* An Audience with Piangi: Patrick Togher, Piangi in the Australian Production, talks about the role (14)
* Phantom Profiles (short cast bios) (14)
* The Phantom of Vanity Press, article and reviews of three self-published Phantom fictions (aka fanzines), by Carrie Hernandez (15)
** review of Second Generation, see that page
** review of Nocturne, see that page
** review of The Voice Unmasked, see that page
* Gossip (news of the cast) (16)
* Here, I Have a Note... (fan letters) (17)
* Ads (26)
==Issue 11==
Beneath the Mask 11 was published in Winter 1995/1996 and contains 28 pages.
It contains a small illo by Sonja Blank.
It includes a results from the second fan survey by Carrie Hernandez. The first one was offered in #4, and the results printed in #5.
The fiction zine, "Whispers from Box Five" is on indefinite hold.
* Editorial (3)
* Reviews (various stage shows, Terry Pratchett's book "Maskerade") (5)
* Questions & Answers (8)
* Far East Phantom - Erik in Hong Kong, review by Paul Day Clemens (9)
* The Phantom in the U.S. - Three Production Reviews by Carrie Hernandez (New York), Carolyn Rogoff (San Diego), and Karin Willison (San Francisco) (11)
* Interview with Ciaran Sheehan in Toronto (13)
* Interview with Laird Mackintosh in Toronto (13)
* Phantom Fanfic Fanzines (descriptions and reviews) ("Although Phantom still lags behind Star Trek in the sheer volume of “unauthorized" fiction created within its universe, there are at present, many anthologies of such works available, featuring stories written by fans which examine every possible (and sometimes impossible) permutation of the storv we've all come to know and love. For those of you interested in examining “What if?" and “How come?". I can guarantee that within the pages of the Fanfiction Anthologies listed below, you will find the answers, not only to these questions, but to some which you probably never even thought to ask.")(14)
** Faded Roses, see that page
** Hard as Lightning, Soft as Candlelight, see that page
** Mask: Tales from the Underground, see that page
** Phantom Magazine, see that page
* An Interview with Josie Walker, by Andrea Stephenson (15)
* Behind the Scenes Part Two - In the Pit (interview with Larry Blank) (15)
* A Phantom Engagement, essay by Kurt William Schulte (description of having the cast of a show help in his proposal to his girlfriend) (17)
* "Look at your face in the mirror, I am there inside!" by Mike Campbell (about the gold embossed crest on brochures) (17)
* Survey Results (Beneath the Mask Fan Survey (1996)) (126 returned surveys which was about half the membership of the club, 68 from the UK, 58 from mostly the US) (18)
* Internet Update (19)
* The Phantom and Andrew Lloyd Webber, article by Carrie Hernandez (20)
* These Things Do Happen... (stage goofs) (21)
* Phantom Profiles (short cast bios) (21)
* Gossip (news on cast members (22)
* Here I Have a Note... (fan letters) (23)
* Ads (28)
==Issue 12==
Beneath the Mask 12 was published in Spring 1996 and contains 24 pages. The cover is by Paul Day Clemens.
It has small illos by Sonja Blank, and J. Lanata.
* Editorial/Anniversary Ideas (3)
* Cast News (4)
* Reviews (music, video, Beauty and the Opera by Suzy McKee Charnas) (5)
* Dating the Phantom, not credited (when did it take place?) (6)
* Interview with Kevin Gray by Frances Pierro (7)
* These Things Do Happen... (stage goofs) (8)
* Interview with Sandra Margolese by Bethany Cap (9)
* Q&A (10)
* Think of Me, More Than a Sum of Its Parts, article by Carrie Hernandez (11)
* Interview with Peter de Smet by Ymke Simonis (12)
* Phantom in Edinburgh Playhouse, article by Mike Campbell (13)
* Fiction and Internet Updates (very small blurbs about zines, info about the Peter Karrie Home Page, about Karin Willison's online mailing list that includes her work-in-progress novel called "Shadows in the Spotlight") (14)
* Interview with Terry Pratchett by Sarah Hopkins (15)
* Gossip (cast news) (16)
* The Fandom of the Opera, article by Carrie Hernandez (about opera fans, discusses the fan survey from a previous issue) (17)
* Here I Have a Note (fan letters) (19)
* Advertisements (24)
==References==
Category:Club Zines
Category:Phantom of the Opera Zines
Category:1993 Zines
Category:1990s Zines