Phantom of the Opera was perfectly successful before that movie entered civilization, lol. I know it's hard for some people to understand, lol, but it really is possible to love POTO. To be honest, with a lot of shows in New York right now, an audience wouldn't get what they pay for. With Phantom, it provides everything today's Bway audience could ask for in an overall kind of way; however, not for everyone. I am also an enormous Sondheim fan as well, but to be honest with you, his shows aren't entirely pleasing to the ear, and that's a big thing with theatre-goers. If most people had that choice of of popping Sweeny Todd or Wicked into their cd players, they're more than likely going to choose Wicked. I know Sondheim's material is fabulously written, but to many people they just aren't fun and often too heavy. I wish one of his shows would enjoy a longer life on Broadway, but at the moment it seems we're going to have an endless parade of jukebox musicals and shows that don't last longer than a few months, lol. I do have to say that I am one of "those Phans", but I can safetly say that the ticket sales for POTO are no lie, lol...It's really as sold out as they say it is, and I say keep it up. The material, no matter how you choose to dispute it, is a little bit higher up on the quality scale than some of the crap that has opened in recent months, lol (i.e. Lennon, All Shook Up, Good Vibrations). Anyhoo, just my two cents!
Later!
Phantom05
------- "We Drink Your Blood And Then We Eat Your Soul, Nothings Gonna Stop Us Let The Bad Times Roll"
-------"Past The Point Of No Return, No Backward Glances, Abandon Thought And Let The Dream Begin"