Posted: 10/10/17 at 4:05pm
I think this could do well on Broadway if it tours well. The tourist crowd would be all over the "phantom sequel" are there plans to move to Broadway after the tour?
Posted: 10/10/17 at 4:31pm
chernjam said: "Here's the german revised "Beauty underneath":https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yw1ymiFT3YQ"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zsB-Tkkc-HY Here is audio from Utica
Posted: 10/10/17 at 4:38pm
I asked the merch guy if they are trying to get to Broadway and he said "that's the plan"...I hope it makes it there.
broadwayboy223 said: "I think this could do well on Broadway if it tours well. The tourist crowd would be all over the "phantom sequel" are there plans to move to Broadway after the tour?"
Posted: 10/10/17 at 9:09pm
I could say anything and people would purposefully stick their hands in their ears and sing "lalala" simply because people don't like that what I mainly talk about is what I dislike in Phantom and Love (Needs to) Die. Fine. I wish the show all the best, I know I won't be going.
Posted: 10/10/17 at 9:53pm
While I agree the show is really far-fetched and fanfiction esque you have to admit the score is really beautiful and probably Lloyd Webber's best work in recent years.
Posted: 10/10/17 at 10:18pm
I saw the Sunday matinee performance and totally enjoyed the show. During the phantom's first solo there was cheering throughout. I also saw the understudy Bronson Norris Murphy who was fine but from the second row I noticed he was either sweating profusely or was spitting when he sang. It was hard to tell with the mask on. I was totally impressed with Meghan Picerno as Christine. Her voice was mesmerizing. As Meg, Mary Michael Patterson was perfection and a true beauty. She reminded me of a young Jane Krakowski. I found I appreciated Maria Mercedes from the Australian production more than Karen Mason but that's a matter of nitpicking. Mason was fine. The young boy playing Gustave was Casey J. Lyons and the audience loved him. The usher told me the house was sold out with most seats selling for $200. And since everyone now gives almost every show a standing ovation, the loud cheering and bravos that accompanied it were a sure sign it was a success. I believe opening night is in Detroit at the end of the month since the Baltimore run was billed as a preview engagement. I think it will do very well with this cast wherever it plays. I'd love to see it on Broadway at the same time that Phantom is playing.
Posted: 10/10/17 at 11:30pm
Thanks for sharing these Baltimore reviews... I'm in Northern NJ and really wanted to go down to see it - just crazy busy this week. Fingers crossed that the tour is successful and that it makes it to NY
Posted: 10/11/17 at 1:10pm
I'm a bit bummed out by some of the set changes, but its understandable since it is a tour and they probably want to keep it to a minimum, I just love when shows have FOH elements, and they seem to have cut them out here. Hoping that if it does make it to NYC they will put them back in.
Posted: 10/11/17 at 2:11pm
Justin D said: "I'm a bit bummed out by some of the set changes, but its understandable since it is a tour and they probably want to keep it to a minimum, I just love when shows have FOH elements, and they seem to have cut them out here. Hoping that if it does make it to NYC they will put them back in."
Justin - I would imagine that if they do an open-end engagement in NY that they will have a fuller set design that will not be the tour set. Particularly for this show. They would not want to come to NY after the shows history and have people saying "the set looks cheap". My guess is that they're doing the tour to gauge audience reaction and see if word of mouth justifies a Broadway production.
Posted: 10/14/17 at 11:43am
So I know that this week is when Love Never Dies "officially" opens in Detroit. Anyone know what day and is anyone planning on going this week?
Posted: 10/14/17 at 1:11pm
I am seeing it on Halloween so excited to see it
Posted: 10/14/17 at 2:09pm
Not this coming week, but I'll be going on the 27th toward the end of the Detroit stop!
Posted: 10/20/17 at 12:35am
So some of the press are breaking the embargo and reviewing the show early... and it's positive (3 out of 4 stars) http://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/arts/2017/10/19/love-never-dies-theater-review-fisher-theatre-detroit/777048001/
Posted: 10/20/17 at 8:31am
I did get to see this in Baltimore and am very hopeful for it's future. After having been extremely underwhelmed by the Phantom Tour reboot that played the Kennedy Center last season, my expectations were not high. This is a very visually engaging production of a musical who's story, if a bit far fetched is exciting to follow, with the emotional impact of the finale validating the character development that ALW's shows often lack.
Performance wise, it's hard to say as I saw both covers for Phantom and Christine. The Phantom's voice was beautiful, but he read a bit young in his physical choices. Christine, who played the role in Germany, again had a beautiful voice, but was very regal and proper throughout...almost unapproachable, even with Meg and her son. Not a trace of the chorus girl she once was. Talking to others, I have heard that the other actress brings more energy, levels, and more of a motherly vibe to the role. The Phantom's trio of circus freaks/henchmen often steal the show, in a good way. I'm sure much of what they do serves as filler for scene and costume changes, but they are so much fun to watch that it doesn't matter... And fun fact: The female in the trio was the twerking little person who performed with Miley Cyrus.
I ran into one of the actors after the performance at a bar around the corner and got some inside scoop. Lloyd Webber is joining them in Detroit, where they will preview for another week of previews before officially opening. Lloyd Webber is bringing in all of his folks from the Really Useful Group and loads of NY producers to decide it's future. There is talk of both Broadway and touring internationally, but he had been given the impression that they would have a good idea by the time they leave Detroit.
Posted: 10/20/17 at 9:31am
that review was a huge pan but still gave it 3-4 stars? i think there is something wrong there
Posted: 10/20/17 at 10:05am
whatacharacter said: "I did get to see this in Baltimore and am very hopeful for it's future. After having been extremely underwhelmed by the Phantom Tour reboot that played the Kennedy Center last season, my expectations were not high. This is a very visually engaging production of a musical who's story, if a bit far fetched is exciting to follow, with the emotional impact of the finale validating the character development that ALW's shows often lack.
Performance wise, it's hard to say as I saw both covers for Phantom and Christine. The Phantom's voice was beautiful, but he read a bit young in his physical choices. Christine, who played the role in Germany, again had a beautiful voice, but was very regal and proper throughout...almost unapproachable, even with Meg and her son. Not a trace of the chorus girl she once was. Talking to others, I have heard that the other actress brings more energy, levels, and more of a motherly vibe to the role. The Phantom's trio of circus freaks/henchmen often steal the show, in agood way. I'm sure much of what they do serves as filler for scene and costume changes, but they are so much fun to watch that it doesn't matter... And fun fact: The female in the trio was the twerking little person who performed with Miley Cyrus.
I ran into one of the actors after the performance at a bar around the corner and got some inside scoop. Lloyd Webber is joining them in Detroit, where they will preview for another week of previews before officially opening. Lloyd Webber is bringing in all of his folks from the Really Useful Group and loads of NY producers to decide it's future. There is talk of both Broadway and touring internationally, but he had been given the impression that they would have a good idea by the time they leave Detroit."
Thanks for sharing that... It does seem that the extraordinary preview period for this tour means ALW is approaching it very cautiously before they leap ahead and announce a NY production. I have to imagine that if they do want to go ahead with that, the Phantom's 30th coming up in January might be a good time to announce, plan, market something.
Jumping ahead, I wonder if that does happen if Sierra and Ramin would take the roles here. I remember reading Sierra saying she'd love to bring it here and it would be a way for ALW to come full circle with this show that obviously means a great deal to him that had a rough initial outing
Posted: 10/20/17 at 5:36pm
ladypresent said: "that review was a huge pan but still gave it 3-4 stars? i think there is something wrong there"
Yes, the words "damning with faint praise" come to mind . . .
Posted: 10/22/17 at 10:05am
Saw it last night.
Beautiful sets, costumes, and production. The actors were fantastic. I definitely got a Ramin Karimloo vibe from the way Gadar Thor Cortes performed—especially Til I see You again .
The book is so so bad though. Worse then I thought it would be and I apologize if I doubted anyone. Lol. ALW must think we are all fools to not remember the events of Phantom. It was really unsettling (dare I say in light of recent events) to see the phantom chasing christine around the hotel room and threatening to harm her child if she didn’t sing, then to act like the logical progression is that she falls in love with him and complains of him ‘leaving her’ for 10 years. That isn’t at all how I remember Phantom ending.
As as far as the changes to the show, I had listened to part of the recording and it seemed like strange choice to open the show with Til I See You Again. It’s probably the most moving song in the show but it seems strange to have it as the opener. The audience seemed to enjoy the show, except for the lady next to me who audibly groaned throughout the entire show. I wanted to suggest to her that she leave if the show caused this painful of a reaction. Lol
no idea if there were ovations, as we left immediately at curtain to avoid traffic. From the sounds, I suspect there were.
Updated On: 10/22/17 at 10:05 AM
Posted: 10/22/17 at 1:39pm
Also here is the set list. Not Sure why they removed or amended the first few numbers as they did that gave background as to what had been happening. It did make the first half of the show kind of confusing.
https://imgur.com/a/jNQxX
Posted: 10/22/17 at 2:28pm
Babe_Williams said: "The book is so so bad though. Worse then I thought it would be and I apologize if I doubted anyone. Lol. ALW must think we are all fools to not remember the events of Phantom. It was really unsettling (dare I say in light of recent events) to see the phantom chasing christine around the hotel room and threatening to harm her child if she didn’t sing, then to act like the logical progression is that she falls in love with him and complains of him ‘leaving her’ for 10 years."
Bingo.
To accept Love Never Dies, you have to accept that at the end of Phantom, everyone basically yelled "DO OVER," undid everything that happened in the Phantom conclusion, and underwent a complete change of character and personality. And not only that, but that they then go on to do massively stupid things. If audiences can accept that, then the original story and characters never mattered much to them to begin with. Which is their prerogative. I'm not saying the original story is Shakespeare, after all. I'm very fond of it and always have been, but it's melodrama pure and simple.
But let's face it, those of us who did like the characters, who thought the end of Phantom meant something, and who like a little consistency are not going to like the idea behind LND. They can refurbish and rearrange numbers and sets and costumes and story elements till the cows come home and that's not going to change. The problem is in the premise.
Updated On: 10/22/17 at 02:28 PM
Posted: 10/22/17 at 2:56pm
Have not seen this production, but did watch most of the Australian version on PBS. This show is not only completely misguided (for the reasons stated above), but, quite honestly, a colossal bore. Characters behave in completely unbelievable manner (even if you disregard what happen in Phantom of the Opera), plus the ending is completely ridiculous.
I can't image paying a penny to see this. All of the "creatives" involved with this should be publicly shamed for the rest of their lives.
I know there are plenty of people that seem to enjoy the show and want to see it, but I can't image that anything would induce me to spend my time (let alone my money) to see this turkey.
Posted: 10/22/17 at 3:26pm
Babe_Williams said: "Saw it last night.
As as far as the changes to the show,I had listened to part of the recording and it seemed like strange choice to open the show with Til I See You Again. It’s probably the most moving song in the show but it seems strange to have it as the opener. The audience seemed to enjoy the show, except for the lady next to me who audibly groaned throughout the entire show. I wanted to suggest to her that she leave if the show causedthis painful of a reaction. Lol
"
They moved "Till I hear you sing" when they did the first round of revisions about 9 months into the show. I think a lot had to do with originally ALW and the creative team wanted this to be a "continuation" but were being insistent that it wasnt a sequel. Meaning you didn't have to see the original in order for this to be a stand alone story/show. Which was quite ridiculous and never was going to placate some oddly obsessed super "Phans" who had major difficulties with any sequel being made.
Moving that to the beginning clearly connects the original to the sequel. All in all listening and watching stuff online I like the improvements -and do see them as improvements. The revisions made the show move a lot tighter and cohesive. But there was something to the original with the prologue that I really enjoyed. the gradual coming to life of Coney Island as they go back in time into the full coney island waltz was pretty cool. And I think having the Phantom's big opening number a little later into Act I rather than right at the start would've given it more time to be appreciated as a worthy successor to "The Music of the Night". But hopefully I'll get the chance to see this on Broadway to decide for myself. I'm sure with all the subsequent productions and time for the new creative team to work with it that they feel much more confident than they did with the World Premiere. And it seems to be getting much better responses (Critically and audience wise) as well
Posted: 10/23/17 at 7:53am
chernjam said: "...I wonder if that does happen if Sierra and Ramin would take the roles here. I remember reading Sierra saying she'd love to bring it here and it would be a way for ALW to come full circle with this show that obviously means a great deal to him that had a rough initial outing"
I've been following this show and the original principals since day one in London. Having heard/read innumerable interviews on the subject since then, I believe there is a slight possibility that Ms. Boggess would return to the role for a limited run on Broadway if asked by ALW, but I don't think that Mr. Karimloo will go anywhere near it, other than to wish it well.
Posted: 10/23/17 at 7:56am
chernjam said: "... there was something to the original with the prologue that I really enjoyed. the gradual coming to life of Coney Island as they go back in time into the full coney island waltz was pretty cool. And I think having the Phantom's big opening number a little later into Act I rather than right at the start would've given it more time to be appreciated as a worthy successor to "The Music of the Night"."
I really miss the original London Prologue/Coney Island Waltz opening; it was surreal, enchanting, and spectacular. And I agree that positioning "Till I Hear You Sing" as the opening number is too much, too soon. This song is the "Music of the Night" equivalent here, and it comes and goes too quickly.
Updated On: 10/23/17 at 07:56 AM
