LOVE NEVER DIES - US Tour- Page 6

[mozgrrl]

Posted: 10/25/17 at 10:02am

Justin D said: "Thanks for the info, I must say that I am not a fan of the mask to be honest, the pics of Gardar look somewhat ok but I have seen Bronson's photos on his Instagram and it just looks way too big and ill fitting.

side note, always thought that in this production it would have been cool if he changed his mask from time to time to match different outfits, lol"

 

Changing the mask would have been really cool! I do like the LND mask...for some reason I like the point on the forehead. When I saw LND in Baltimore I got to see Bronson. I think it looks big on him because he seems to have such a thin face, but he looked really handsome in it, IMHO...lol

I HATED Ramin's mask for the 25th anniversary. The dude is really good looking, but for some reason does NOT look good in a Phantom mask....but maybe because I disliked his particular mask.  I'm sure a ton of people will disagree.

The current Broadway mask is pretty cool, but my all time favorite is Michael Crawford's original. To me, it looks more "ghostly" with the grayish paint. There's a guy on ebay that makes really great replicas. I grabbed one and it's amazing.

Updated On: 10/25/17 at 10:02 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/25/17 at 11:55am

I'm in this thread because I love Phantom and want to protect the work of the late Steve Barton.

That makes no sense.  This thread has nothing to do with his performance as Raoul in Phantom of the Opera.  I love Steve Barton's work, especially in Tanz der Vampire, but nobody is attacking it or him in any way.  That's such a bizarre statement to make.

If I can convince anyone to not see this bottom of the barrel piece of #$%#, I'll be happy. And if anyone responds with "Well, now I'm going to spend $200 to see a musical I wouldn't have otherwise to spite you" that's pretty pathetic, coming from me, who most of you despise.

Lordy, Lordy, Lordy!  Sounds like your smear campaign against Love Never Dies is more about you than anything else.  If people want to see it, then they should.  There are people who love this show, just as you love Phantom of the Opera.  There are people who hate Phantom of the Opera, just as you hate this show.  And it's all perfectly okay.  If you don't think that's okay, that's your problem, not Steve Barton's or Andrew Lloyd Webber's or anybody else's.  Considering nobody has said they are spending $200 just to spite YOU, and there's no evidence that most of us despise YOU, your weird statement to that effect is pretty pathetic, not to mention very narcissistic.

[Justin D]

Posted: 10/25/17 at 12:01pm

Yea I just ordered a copy of the current NYC style which is my fave.

I do like Crawford's also, that style however only works on some people.

I really hate the London masks which started around John Owen Jones first run where the eyebrow goes all the way back to the temple, and the cheek/jaw section looks too plump, but I think that is because the London prosthetic is rather fat around the cheek/jaw section. Before then London has some really nice looking masks, with Ethan Freeman taking his to Toronto and The Basel production having London style masks at the time. The redesign for the 25th just makes no sense to me. I get also redoing the makeup to be more subtle for filming but its all coming off in the back and just looks terrible. end of rant, lol

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/25/17 at 12:59pm

You have such a shallow understanding of the events of Phantom. 

You clearly didn't pay attention to what I was saying.  

Why are you even in this thread if you don't even like Phantom?

Who said I didn't like Phantom?  And how is liking Phantom a prerequisite to posting in ANY thread?

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/25/17 at 9:52pm

North American Production Opening Night tonight!  Post reviews as you find them!

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/26/17 at 8:07pm

Sounds like the National tour is going to evolve into a Broadway production:  http://nypost.com/2017/10/26/the-andrew-lloyd-webber-show-that-flopped-is-back-from-the-dead/

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 10/27/17 at 6:55am

Justin D said: "Odd question for someone who has seen the show (from close) is there a deformity? is there makeup? You see nothing except the bald cap on the DVD and was wondering if they are using anything at all."

Yes, there was some type of makeup. He took off the mask and wig during the number before intermission.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/27/17 at 8:53am

chernjam said: "Sounds like the National tour is going to evolve into a Broadway production:http://nypost.com/2017/10/26/the-andrew-lloyd-webber-show-that-flopped-is-back-from-the-dead/"

I hate that no critic can ever talk about this show without trotting out that tired "paint" reference. Give it a rest.

Updated On: 10/27/17 at 08:53 AM

[johannabarker]

Posted: 10/27/17 at 4:13pm

Lot666, in your eyes, what would be valid criticism of this show? Or can no one insult it?

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/27/17 at 5:13pm

I hate that no critic can ever talk about this show without trotting out that tired "paint" reference. Give it a rest.

To be fair, Riedel is NOT a critic.  He's just a paid gossip and sadist.  He's being surprisingly kind, posting positive notices from the Detroit opening, which means he probably wants to champion the show for no other reason than to irk the Broadway community.  If there's one thing he hates, it's a popular show and he'll say or do anything to tear one down, even if it means backing the wrong horse (i.e. Bullets Over Broadway).

Lot666, in your eyes, what would be valid criticism of this show? Or can no one insult it?

[pattilupwned]

Posted: 10/27/17 at 11:15pm

Just getting out of the evening show in Detroit. I will preface by saying that I have only seen the London and Australian productions through videos, so I know my opinions don't hold as much weight as those who have seen the physical productions.

The "mask" arch that flies in got stuck 3/4 of the way through Act 2 and the show had to stop. There was a horrid screeching as it came in during Devil Takes The Hindmost (Quartet), and my partner and I immediately knew something was wrong. The stage manager came on to say there was a set problem that needed corrected and we watched the tech team try to figure out what happened. The show was probably stopped for about 15 minutes.

Overall, I think the show is in great shape. I'll admit some of the music is a guilty pleasure of mine, and I think the changes they've made to Beauty Underneath are really fantastic. The ending seemed so much more emotional than the Australian recording; that may have been due to changes (there are some subtle ones and a brief reprise of Love Never Dies that I didn't recall), or just the intimacy of seeing it live.

The book is still kind of all over the place, but it's at least improved on this third iteration.

Sets seem to be a combination of some London effects with the Australian revisions - definitely leaning more toward the Australian side, though. They make great use of a turn table throughout without it being super obnoxious.

Bronson Norris Murphy was on tonight as the understudy Phantom. Holy moly can that man sing. He and Meghan Picerno had great chemistry, which I think only strengthened the ending. Picerno hits those high notes effortlessly - breathtaking!

Is it an amazing show? No, but that's no fault of the cast and crew, who are working their asses off. I enjoyed it for what it was, and would not be surprised if this iteration shows up on Broadway at some point.

[mikey89]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 3:05am

I have a question for anyone in the know,

 

It seems like Gardar Thor  Cortes has been missing from the show since Utica. Has he left the show? It seems like Bronson Norris Murphy has taken over since the preview tech last month in Utica. It seems like Murphy has done all the performances since then. 

 

Anyone know more?

Updated On: 10/29/17 at 03:05 AM

[acm8468]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 5:13am

I asked on my second night at the show.  The first Saturday evening performance in Detroit. Was told by a person with the production back at the sound/light booth that he was sick. Interestingly though they make no announcement that Cortes is out and Murphy is on. No insert in the playbill either. It's only on the board in the lobby. I thought per equity that they have to do two of the three ways to announce an understudy?  I have been three nights so far...going back for my fourth tonight and each time it's been the same. No announcement, no insert. Just the notice on the board. Doesn't matter to me as I think Murphy is amazing in the role but listening to conversations during intermission....people think they are seeing Cortes as they don't look at the board coming in. 

[pattilupwned]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 11:50am

I, too, thought it was odd there was no insert in the Playbill mentioning Bronson was in as the u/s. He's amazing in the role, though, so I'm certainly happy for him that he's had the chance to go on.

I'm also curious as to whether Gardar has left the show. Bronson seems to have been in some of the more recent press images, but I am certainly not in the know about what might be going on behind the scenes.

[chernjam]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 2:52pm

it seemed weird to me that they had u/s going on for the Phantom and Christine as much as they did.  Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed since the tour started the U/s were going on at least a few times each week.  

[pattilupwned]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 6:27pm

chernjam said: "it seemed weird to me that they had u/s going on for the Phantom and Christine as much as they did. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed since the tour started the U/s were going on at least a few times each week."

Yes, I've noticed that too. There's obviously been no official announcement, and I'm certainly not in the know, but it appears to me that Bronson is simply cast in the role at this point. His IG mentioned being swung out of the show today.

And Rachel Anne Moore appears to have gone on today as Christine as well.

I can't imagine either of the lead roles are particularly easy to sing, so I wouldn't be surprised if an informal alternate schedule is setup that gives them an extra day of rest. The show closed this afternoon in Detroit, and they open in North Carolina on Halloween, so I'd imagine they don't really get much of a traditional Monday off with that type of travel schedule.

Updated On: 10/29/17 at 06:27 PM

[Willie4316]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 7:10pm

pattilupwned said: "chernjam said: "it seemed weird to me that they had u/s going on for the Phantom and Christine as much as they did. Someone can correct me if I'm wrong, but it seemed since the tour started the U/s were going on at least a few times each week."

Yes, I've noticed that too. There's obviously been no official announcement, and I'm certainly not in the know, but it appears to me that Bronson is simply cast in the role at this point. His IG mentioned being swung out of the show today.

And Rachel Anne Moore appears to have gone on today as Christine as well.

I can't imagine either of the lead roles are particularly easy to sing, so I wouldn't be surprised if an informal alternate schedule is setup that gives them an extra day of rest. The show closed this afternoonin Detroit, and they open in North Carolina on Halloween, so I'd imagine they don't really get much of a traditional Monday off with that type of travel schedule."

I think that might be the case once Gardar recovers since he did alternate when playing in Hamburg

[mikey89]

Posted: 10/29/17 at 9:47pm

So is Cortes just sick for the last month? And also does anyone know the alternate schedule?

[whatacharacter]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 9:18am

I actually saw Cortes' last first act (Bronson did the second act) in Baltimore.  He was obviously under the weather and terribly flat.  Having spoken to a friend in the cast, Cortes was hand picked by Lloyd Weber, so they may be waiting it out.  Bronson has now done over 20 performances between Baltimore and Detroit.  Aside from reading a bit young in his physicalities, I thought he did wonderful in the role.  

Christine is on a scheduled 6/2 alternate schedule due to the vocal demands of the show.  The role of the Phantom is supposed to be as well.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 10:47am

pattilupwned said: "Sets seem to be a combination of some London effects with the Australian revisions"

What set pieces/effects are being used from the London version?

"Bronson Norris Murphy was on tonight as the understudy Phantom. Holy moly can that man sing."

I haven't heard Mr. Murphy sing yet, but it does seem that many of the male swings in Phantom Broadway have sadly underused vocal talents. Have you ever seen/heard Jeremy Stolle in the title role? He's amazing.

[Lot666]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 10:49am

pattilupwned said: "I can't imagine either of the lead roles are particularly easy to sing, so I wouldn't be surprised if an informal alternate schedule is setup that gives them an extra day of rest."

The two leads are vocally demanding, but I don't seem to recall Mr. Karimloo and Ms. Boggess performing limited schedules in London.

[johannabarker]

Posted: 10/30/17 at 12:30pm

Coming in with some information and not criticism for once.

Ramin had an alternate/standby who went on once a week for LND London, Tam Mutu (who was also a Raoul understudy, I think). When he was Phantom in London, he also had his standby going on at least once a week.

[4getmenot]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 8:25pm

It's opening night here in Durham. Curtain was scheduled for 7:30, got pushed back to 8 a couple hours before and one of the producers just came out for the second time to announce that they still haven't sorted out the sets yet. Sounds like they should not have scheduled the tour with only a one day turnaround between Detroit and the next stop.

[pattilupwned]

Posted: 10/31/17 at 8:37pm

Interesting they're still having set issues. As I mentioned, the night I went, the set broke toward the end Act 2 and they had to stop the show completely to fix it.

In terms of sets, some of the lighting effects being used to simulate Coney Island reminded me of some of the London sets off the top of my head, but I could be completely wrong. It definitely leaned toward more of what I remember the Australian production using, though, scaled down a bit for a tour environment.

As expected, Bronson is still on as the Phantom: https://instagram.com/p/Ba7q6okFkBZ/

[Lot666]

Posted: 11/1/17 at 8:42am

mikey89 said: "I have a question for anyone in the know,

It seems like Gardar Thor Cortes has been missing from the show since Utica. Has he left the show? It seems like Bronson Norris Murphy has taken over since the preview tech last month in Utica. It seems like Murphy has done all the performances since then.

Anyone know more?"

Mr. Murphy has recently stated that Mr. Cortes has not left the show and he (Mr. Murphy) has not taken over the lead role.