Joseph Buqet

Joseph Buquet is the chief stagehand at the Opera Populaire.

The 2004 Film
He first appears as the ballerinas are preparing for rehearsal, peeking through newspapers that are blocking the window. He calls down that he had nothing to do with the backdrop falling, because he had neglected to be at his post. He implies that the Phantom had dropped the backdrop on Carlotta. Later, her is seen watching Christine and Meg sing "Angel of Music". He is telling horror stories about the Phantom to the ballerina's after christine vanishes, and Madame Giry grows angry at him, warning him to keep quiet. He is hung during the Il Muto opera, during the Act Three ballet, by Erik. The timing of the incident is in contrast to the earlier timing during the novel. In Leroux's novel, he is hung before the former managers resign, and is found hanging between two scene sets (which were in a private area, hence indicating that he could not have been hung before the large audience seen in the film). Furthermore, the book begins with Buquet dead.