Ah, Raoul. The love interest who spends the entire show trying to rescue a woman who clearly has a thing for the deformed guy in the lair. A good Raoul is charming and earnest, like a Disney prince who gets lost on the way to the ball. A bad Raoul is… well, bland. I’ve seen Raouls who sing “All I Ask of You” like they’re ordering a coffee.
The trick is that Raoul has to hold his own against the Phantom’s intensity. He’s the normal one—but if he’s too boring, you end up rooting for the Phantom, and the story gets weird. Honestly, the best Raouls add a hint of possessiveness, like they’re saying, “She’s mine, you masked creep.” That makes the love triangle pop.
