LOVE NEVER DIES - US Tour- Page 12

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 11:43am

Brian07663NJ said: "The planned 3 hour drive from New Jersey for me turned into just over 5 hours so I arrived 30 minutes into the first act."

Oh my goodness, that's terrible!  Being detained anywhere when you know that your show has already started is such an awful feeling, but glad to hear that you made it there and back safely.

 

 

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 5:18pm

Lot666 said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "Dude, I’m a seasoned theater professional and theater is my friggin LIFE. I think I have an idea of “what live theater is all about.”

In a previous post, you asked "if the production is already filmed for DVD, why would someone pay $150 to see it live?" That question hardly suggests "a seasoned theater professional" for whom "theateris [your] friggin LIFE"."

 

Theater is indeed my life, and my career. I was not attacking you personally so your venom is undeserved. I deeply love TPOTO and have seen it live four times, so I get your obsession. I just don’t like the sequel. Obviously, you do. That is fine. I wasn’t pooping on your love of the show, just expressing my own dislike of it.

[David10086]

Posted: 1/2/18 at 7:57pm

Brian07663NJ said: "I attended the matinee performance of Love Never Dies in Providence, RI on Saturday, December 30, 2017.

The weather was an absolute disaster. The planned 3 hour drive from New Jersey for me turned into just over 5 hours so I arrived 30 minutes into the first act. I was very disappointed but arrived safe in spite of all the accidents I passed along the way. When I left New Jersey a little after 9am nothing was happening and about half way into the trip 'snow happened'. It was light and steady, not entirely alarming."

WOW - you drove from NJ to RI just to see this musical? That's dedication from a fan.

I hope you took advantage of our wonderful restaurants while you were here. 

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 8:07am

The Distinctive Baritone said: "Lot666 said: "The Distinctive Baritone said: "Dude, I’m a seasoned theater professional and theater is my friggin LIFE. I think I have an idea of “what live theater is all about.”

In a previous post, you asked "if the production is already filmed for DVD, why would someone pay $150 to see it live?" That question hardly suggests "a seasoned theater professional" for whom "theateris [your] friggin LIFE"."

Theater is indeed my life, and my career. I was not attacking you personally so your venom is undeserved."

I didn't feel that you were attacking me personally, nor did I feel (or intend) my response to be "venomous". I was simply pointing out that the question you asked ("if the production is already filmed for DVD, why would someone pay $150 to see it live?") doesn't sound like someone who has devoted their life to live theater; rather, it suggests that you don't find anything particularly worthwhile about seeing a show live if you can see it on DVD instead.

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 8:15am

David10086 said: "WOW - you drove from NJ to RI just to see this musical? That's dedication from a fan. I hope you took advantage of our wonderful restaurants while you were here."

Yes I do travel to see productions if they won't be getting close to where I live. I know this tour is swooping closer to me but when it hits Hartford, CT - I will be in Chicago for the week! hahaha Unfortunately, because of the weather I did not stay in Providence. The curtain came down and we immediately left to start the drive back. About half way TO the show I even considered turning around but at that point I was that invested. The weather was really horrible.

BTW - absolutely STUNNING theater. The interior was SO beautiful!

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/3/18 at 5:56pm

"David10086 said: "WOW - you drove from NJ to RI just to see this musical? That's dedication from a fan. I hope you took advantage of our wonderful restaurants while you were here."

Brian07663NJ said: Yes I do travel to see productions if they won't be getting close to where I live."

I know what you mean because I also do this, three times last year (2017) as a matter of fact: once each to Cleveland and Baltimore (about a four hour drive one-way), and Philadelphia (five hours one-way), for “The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night Time”, “The Lion King”, and “The Phantom of the Opera” respectively. Each of the rest of the eleven shows I saw last year where in Pittsburgh, which is just under two hours one-way. 

Updated On: 1/3/18 at 05:56 PM

[David10086]

Posted: 1/4/18 at 7:56pm

Brian07663NJ said:
BTW - absolutely STUNNING theater. The interior was SO beautiful!"

It is indeed, and almost got torn down in the mid-70s. It opened as a Loewe's Theater around the mid-1920s, and was touted as one of the most beautiful movie palaces in the northeast. By the mid-70s, it fell on very hard times (as did many other movie theaters throughout the downtown) as the suburb multi-plex cinemas starting opening with acres of 'free parking'. The theater was being threatened to be torn down, and make way for a parking garage 50 years after it was built, but the community got together to save the theater. It was closed down and remodeled (and has been kept up with renovations every few years) to become a 'performing arts theater' and feature touring musicals. This is their 40th season. (The other theaters became porn movie houses, and lasted about 20 -25 years; most have been morphed into something else since then.)

[theatregeek6]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 11:01am

I saw it in Orlando a few weeks ago to a packed house - however the subscriber base there is very strong and I have never been to anything BUT a packed house.  My personal opinion is that you can't really go by attendance on many of the tour stops because most of the larger venues really have very strong subscriber bases. 

 

The reviews were harsh there as well.  I did not like it (I posted the reasons earlier in this thread).  As we walked out of the theater the conversations I overheard were mixed to negative for the most part.  Completely the opposite of On Your Feet and School of Rock where people couldn't stop talking about how great the show is.

 

 

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/5/18 at 5:51pm

Two days and counting! Low temp Sunday morning in Pittsburgh -8 degrees, so I will be hanging out at the Carnegie Museum of Art for a couple of hours to stay out of the cold before heading for the Benedum Center. Here’s the Post-Gazette review...

http://www.post-gazette.com/ae/theater-dance/2018/01/03/Stage-review-Love-Never-Dies-review-Benedum-Pittsburgh-Andrew-Lloyd-Webber/stories/201801030103

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/7/18 at 12:17pm

At the show now, starts in 40 minutes. This performance has Bronson Norris Murphy as The Phantom and Rachel Anne Moore as Christine Daaé.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/8/18 at 6:03am

Weather almost happened. Woke up to sub-zero temps, and with a full gas tank plowed ahead towards Pittsburgh well before sunrise afraid my gas lines would freeze, although I’m not sure at what temperature that happens. Hit -10° on the way up (not sure what the wind chill is at 70mph) arriving in plenty of time to spend two hours at the Carnegie Museum of Art before the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts doors opened. I had an unobstructed view seat, front row balcony, in the middle of Right Center. 

We had both “alternates” in the main roles as mentioned above in my previous post. Both had stunning, powerful, and beautiful voices. Unfortunately, at two or three times, the orchestra was so loud it drowned out the songs to the point that the lyrics where all but inaudible. This happened, as I recall, during a long stretch of “The Beauty Underneath” sequence and at the very beginning of the show during a portion of “‘Til I Hear You Sing”.

Having listened to the album now for several weeks straight I could pick up quite a few differences in the dialogue, once for instance after their pier side arrival and they’re met by the carriage (not sent by Mr. Y but by Mr. Hammerstein), and another shortly after having to do with “What a Dreadful Town” (a lot of this sequence’s dialogue is different) when Raoul is more argumentative (in the album) with Christine and Gustave, whereas in the show he was a bit more attentive (actually playing with the kid), and (in the album) when Christine says “Please Raoul”, he replies harshly “Please what?!?”, to which she says “Don’t drink anymore” - none of that happened. He didn’t go for some air (as in the album) he went to meet in the hotel lobby with their supposed host that brought them to America, Mr. Hammerstein. 

The three most amazing songs/sequences to me where: “‘Til I Hear You Sing” (despite the overeager orchestra); “Look With Your Heart” (such a beautiful song) with “Beneath a Moonless Sky” (breathtaking) and “Once Upon Another Time”; and the title song “Love Never Dies” (my God, her voice was off the chart!). I also enjoyed “The Bar” scene with “Why Does She Love Me”, where Sean Thompson as Raoul sang very well. Casey Lyons, who plays Gustave, is an amazing talent, and has the voice of a little angel. This kid could belt out some beautiful tidbits too. 

For visuals: “The Lair” (with “The Beauty Underneath) evolved into an impressive revolving nightmarish display; just about anytime the entire Coney Island set was in full blast display and lit up; and the title song “Love Never Dies” with that gorgeous backdrop. 

As for the show itself.

The people sitting next to me (season ticket holders) loved it. The people I talked to at intermission loved it (so far). As I was walking the city block back to the parking garage from the theater I encountered no less than twenty people, and as I passed them up asked them what they thought: and they all loved it. One commented “It wasn’t the ‘Phantom of the Opera’, but it was wonderful”. 

As for me?

It was different. The mindset has to be different going in. There were stretches during the Coney Island sequences where I reminded myself that this was all part of the storyline, where the Phantom now lived and had escaped to from Paris (explained in a song from the album “Giry Confronts The Phantom”, but that conversation now takes place just between Madame Giry and Meg). The show was like watching two different shows blending into one. Some of the Coney Island sequences were wonderful, all lights and crazy music. The “Bathing Beauty” rehearsal in Act 1 and the song in Act 2 were just weird. But I played along, again reminding myself it was all part of the storyline. I guess they had to add that in there to give Meg something to do, make her the ‘star of the show’ and ‘headliner’ until Christine Daaé took over with her aria.

The ending? I knew it was coming having listened to the album. And I still teared up badly, my knees shaking so bad I thought the lady next to me was going to have to call 911. She was crying too.

Listening to the album now as I’ve been writing this I can see it in my memories vividly. I close my eyes and my heart still races, my eyes still tear up, and I’m smiling ear to ear. Did I LOVE every second of the show. No. But, borrowing a phrase someone used in another thread, I truly enjoyed “Love Never Dies”, warts and all. 

And I’m glad I experienced this.



 



 

Updated On: 1/8/18 at 06:03 AM

[Brian07663NJ]

Posted: 1/8/18 at 8:40am

Over the weekend I rewatched the DVD to see how close the touring production is to the recorded version - though I cannot speak for the first 25 minutes - it is nearly identical right down to the sets and costumes.

I loved watching it again on DVD and so wish I could attend the tour production again.

 

[sbflyfan]

Posted: 1/8/18 at 12:47pm

I saw the Sunday evening performance in Pittsburgh.  No understudies or alternates.

I experienced the exact same thing with the vocals - they were totally drowned out by the orchestra/music during key songs and moments.  I was familiar with the Australian production before attending, so I didn't have a problem following along. At intermission, I overheard some conversations around me by people trying to figure out what was happening.

I'm not at all a fan of this new version of "The Beauty Underneath." Only Andrew Lloyd Webber could take the most exciting sequence in his show and ruin it by butchering his own melody.  I can understand what he was trying to do by tying it in with the rest of the score, but I thought the previous version was much more exciting and catchy.  People around me were frequently checking their programs and getting kind of restless during the first act. They seemed to finally perk up and get excited when the rock tempo started, but in its current incarnation, the song fizzles out early and drags on. It also didn't help that there's a lot of character development in the lyrics towards the end of the song that we quite simply could not hear due to the vocals being overwhelmed by the music.

That being said, I did enjoy the production, overall.  I've been really excited for this tour, and it didn't disappoint.

[mikey89]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 2:52am

I was wondering if Gardar and Meghan usually perform the first evening performance of the run? I have tickets for the first evening performance in LA at the Pantages and I really want to see the two of them. Im only asking because I know that this is a tour that so far has had the Phantom and Christine alternates go on a lot. 

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 8:00am

mikey89 said: "I was wondering if Gardar and Meghan usually perform the first evening performance of the run? I have tickets for the first evening performance in LA at the Pantages and I really want to see the two of them. Im only asking because I know that this is a tour that so far has had the Phantom and Christine alternates go on a lot."

During the earlier dates, Bronson Norris Murphy played the Phantom for most performances, with Ms. Picerno as Christine. However, I believe that Mr. Cortes is now doing most shows; Mr. Murphy has announced (via social media) far fewer performance dates for himself, and most of them have been matinees. Anything can happen, but you're much more likely to get Mr. Cortes these days, although I must say that Mr. Murphy did not disappoint (and I'm a demanding critic when it comes to this show).

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 8:55am

I am surprised that no one has given their review about Gardar's performance, especially after his illness.  Although at my performance, Meghan was in for Christine, I did not have Murphy in as the Phantom.  I had his understudy who was fine (was a matinee)  I am curious if I really missed something not seeing Gardar.  Of course, a missed opportunity is a missed opportunity.  I have no plans to see this again.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 8:57am

BTW, dmwnc1959, your review was very well written.  I enjoyed reading it.

[Lot666]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 9:41am

dmwnc1959 said: "The “Bathing Beauty” rehearsal in Act 1 and the song in Act 2 were just weird. But I played along, again reminding myself it was all part of the storyline. I guess they had to add that in there to give Meg something to do, make her the ‘star of the show’ and ‘headliner’ until Christine Daaé took over with her aria."

These scenes don't just give Meg something to do; they are important because they depict what the Phantom feels his genius has been reduced to: cheap burlesque numbers and sideshow acts. In "Till I Hear You Sing", the Phantom laments that he is tired of "wasting my time on smoke and noise", when "in my mind I hear melodies pure and unearthly, but I find I can't give them a voice without [Christine]". Meg's performances are included in the show because they provide a stark contrast to what Christine delivers in the second act, clearly delineating the struggle going on in the Phantom's soul.

Because he is capable of musical genius, the Phantom has become a terribly frustrated artist. He resents and therefore dismisses the Girys (Meg is repeatedly crestfallen to learn that "he wasn't there" every time she performs) because they represent something he doesn't want to be. He feels that he's wasting his potential by creating "entertainment" for the masses that is far beneath the glory of opera, an art form that Christine inspires him to pursue.

Glad you enjoyed the show!

[mozgrrl]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 10:00am

Lot666 said: "dmwnc1959 said: "The “Bathing Beauty” rehearsal in Act 1 and the song in Act 2 were just weird. But I played along, again reminding myself it was all part of the storyline. I guess they had to add that in there to give Meg something to do, make her the ‘star of the show’ and ‘headliner’ until Christine Daaé took over with her aria."

These scenes don't just give Meg something to do; they areimportant because they depict what the Phantom feels his genius has been reduced to: cheap burlesque numbers and sideshow acts. In "Till I Hear You Sing", the Phantom laments that he is tired of "wasting my time on smoke and noise", when "in my mind I hear melodies pure and unearthly, but I find I can't give them a voice without [Christine]".Meg's performances are included in the show because they provide a stark contrast to what Christine delivers in the second act, clearly delineating the struggle going on in the Phantom's soul.

Because heis capable of musical genius, the Phantom hasbecome a terribly frustrated artist. He resents and therefore dismisses the Girys (Meg is repeatedly crestfallen to learn that "he wasn't there" every time she performs) because they represent something he doesn't want to be. He feels that he's wasting his potential by creating "entertainment" for the masses that is far beneath the glory of opera, an art form that Christine inspires him to pursue.

Glad you enjoyed the show!"

GREAT explanation of details! I love how you hit on the inner emotional/soul struggle the Phantom deals with in this show <3.

[massofmen]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 12:25pm

this thing is still touring? I thought the reviews would have killed it. 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 12:30pm

 

Lot666 said: These scenes don't just give Meg something to do..."

 

You’re explanation is brilliant. After posting my initial review I very, very quickly had to go back in and edit that part because it also gave away too much of a spoiler that I thought was unfair to people who hadn’t seen the show, which sort explains why that part of mine sounds “idiotic”.

 

Updated On: 1/11/18 at 12:30 PM

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 12:30pm

ArtMan said: "BTW, dmwnc1959, your review was very well written. I enjoyed reading it."

 

THANK YOU! :)

 

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 8:54pm

ArtMan said: "I am surprised that no one has given their review about Gardar's performance, especially after his illness. Although at my performance, Meghan was in for Christine, I did not have Murphy in as the Phantom. I had his understudy who was fine (was a matinee) I am curious if I really missed something not seeing Gardar. Of course, a missed opportunity is a missed opportunity. I have no plans to see this again."

dmwnc1959 said: "At the show now, starts in 40 minutes. This performance has Bronson Norris Murphy as The Phantom and Rachel Anne Moore as Christine Daaé."

I remember standing in the lobby of the Benedum Center for the Performing Arts quickly typing that out, slightly disappointed that we weren’t getting Gardar Thor Cortes as “The Phantom”. Then I realized that there where literally tens of thousands before me that had heard Bronson Norris Murphy, who had also never heard Mr. Cortes because he was out sick, and it made me realize that it would be just fine. Secretly, just a little bit, I too wonder if I missed “something” not seeing the “headliner”, but to all those who were never given the chance the alternate and his understudy “had to do”. Even with Mr. Murphy at the helm I enjoyed the show enough to look into a quick roadtrip to Cleveland to see it again. The ONLY thing stopping me is the atrocious Friday weather forecast leading into this weekend. 

 

Updated On: 1/11/18 at 08:54 PM

[ArtMan]

Posted: 1/11/18 at 9:07pm

dmwnc1959, After reading your review, I was reminded that the current tour is using different artwork than when I saw it in London.  I actually have a framed leaflet with the original artwork ( black n white with the face), which I like alot better.  The current artwork is kind of generic to me and my framing /mat came out really good with that spooky face.

[dmwnc1959]

Posted: 1/12/18 at 5:30am

ArtMan said: "dmwnc1959, After reading your review, I was reminded that the current tour is using different artwork than when I saw it in London. I actually have a framed leaflet with the original artwork ( black n whitewith the face), which I like alot better. The current artwork is kind of generic to me and my framing /mat came out really good with that spooky face."

 

Not just different art work, but a different tag line: from “The Story Continues...” to “The Phantom Returns”. 

I like the newer artwork as the familiarity of it ties the two shows together. I also like the “newer” mask, although I’m not sure the reason behind it being diamond (?)  studded. The bed of rose petals is beautiful. 

 

Updated On: 1/12/18 at 05:30 AM