LOVE NEVER DIES eyeing Broadway; Completely new ending?

[TheGingerBreadMan]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 6:31pm

Thoughts?

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 6:37pm

As I said on Facebook, what it needs is a new plot. Graft some of the better elements from the Forsyth novel in there (like his involvement with Hammerstein I, which is way more likely than Erik starting a freak show), lose what didn't work, and for Christ's sake hire a better lyricist.

[The Scorpion]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 6:42pm

No plot will make this show work because it's redundant. Either the Phantom gets the girl (thereby ruining the whole point of the original, which is a tale about unrequited love) or he doesn't (redundant story).

The cheap and predictable plot, the bad lyrics, the nonsensical characterisations...the ending is hardly the most pressing issue.

And how many times now has ALW said this is going to Broadway? Seriously...even dead horses get better treatment than this.

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 06:42 PM

[thebeautyis3]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 6:44pm

If this happens, and I doubt it will, I sincerely hope Boggess is not involved. The girl needs to get herself away from Andrew Lloyd Webber and musicals that she waits around for and then end up not happening. Although she seems to be of the crowd that thinks Love Never Dies is the best show ever written, so I would assume she would be on board (potentially with her fiancé, since Rebecca didn't work out for them?).

[BrerBear]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:03pm

As soon as I found out that...

**SPOILER**
the Phantom is Christine's baby daddy
**SPOILER**

I knew I would never give this show a chance. That just wrecks the first show on every level. Yuck.

[evic]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:17pm

Whoopeee!!!! Poor ALW- he is hangng on by his fingertips-Sir- you are irrelevant now...haven't had a hit since Phantom...just retire with your art collection and residuals from your first 4 shows. GO AWAY. The show can be seen on youtube- laughable and ridiculous.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:24pm

Can they take out Meg as a character? Maybe make some other crazy girl who's obsessed with Erik?

Edit: Then again, you could make that suggestion for the other characters. Just make them all new characters!

Updated On: 3/14/14 at 07:24 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 7:25pm

Some things just aren't meant to be. Love Never Dies is one of them.

[Simon Damon]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 8:08pm

Please can't this just die this is such a bad iidea

[Borstalboy]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:06pm

Hasn't this been "eyeing Broadway" for the better part of a decade, now?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:14pm

I'll admit to having an odd affection for some of the score, but ultimately the show just plays like bad fan-fiction, and there is no way to make that plot ever play as anything but that.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:19pm

Gosh, no. The show is just so horrendous. Why would ALW trash his biggest hit like that? The last thing it needs is to be on Broadway. Even though, i admit:

*SPOILER*

I'd be more okay with the Phantom dying than Christine. It makes more sense for him to die since he's a tragic character. Christine's death is just plain stupid.

*END OF SPOILER*

[TheBatBoy]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:25pm

It also probably goes on record as the longest death of any character I've seen on stage. It was so long that I was like, hrm, instead of singing she could have been off in the hospital getting herself repaired. Instead we're treated to a lengthy music session, with Meg all of a sudden feklempt at her decision.

Love the music, but the show is a huge stretch. The Australian version is at least slightly better than the moronic London version.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:26pm

What's the difference?

[Musical Master]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:29pm

I'm sort of meh on the whole show but if the Phantom dies, I wouldn't mind.

[TheBatBoy]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 9:40pm

I'm trying to remember off of the top of my head, but I believe it was still being tinkered with whilst still in London. The changes were fully in effect when Australia rolled around. I do remember that Til I Hear You Sing was moved to start the entire show which changed its retrospective approach.

Here's an article that highlights the changes:


Love Never Dies: I'm Not Completely Convinced

[justincharacter]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:18pm

The issue I have with this show is that the Phantom (Erik) doesn't seem mysterious or "immortal" anymore. No character seems to be allured to him or even frightened at the least. The ending is not the only part that needs to be re-written to improve this show. There needs to be some major changes in the plot and the main characters. Sir Raoul's new "douchey" personality needs to go, use the gorgeous staging from the Australian production, and make significant changes to the story. Does anyone know where the heck Stilgoe was during this process...no? ...No one? Ok.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:26pm

The best ending for this show would be if they gave everyone their money back at the end.

[ABB2357]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:26pm

double post Updated On: 3/14/14 at 10:26 PM

[Kad]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 10:32pm

How about a sequel in which the Phantom is caught and thrown into an asylum because he's a murderous psychopath?

[AHLiebross]

Posted: 3/14/14 at 11:15pm

The music for LND is incredibly beautiful. The Australian version (the one that came out on video) restores the Phantom's manipulative personality; from what I've read about the London version, the Phantom was too toned-down. Also, it doesn't make sense that Mme. Giry and Meg would turn into maniacs, and turn against Christine. Raoul, on the other hand, could probably become an alcoholic, although I don't think he'd mistreat the child. Also, what's the deal with "ten years old?" Gustave should be nine-and-a-half if you-know-who fathered him, rather than Raoul. (BTW, Susan Kay's novel, which is MUCH better than Leroux's, in my opinion, also has Christine going back to the Phantom right before her wedding to Raoul, and giving birth to the Phantom's son).

Instead of turning the whole show into a soap opera, how about having Raoul and Christine be happy together, and not broke? Raoul has gotten even richer making movies, some of which star Christine. The Phantom has gotten wind of Gustave, whom Raoul has promised to be in films as soon as he turns 12, and wants to steal both Christine and Gustave from Raoul; he's appalled that she's doing something so shallow as acting in movies rather than singing and he doesn't want Gustave (whom he's sure is his son) doing something that involves his looks. The Phantom kidnaps Gustave and Christine and Raoul try to rescue him. Meg sneaks in and shoots the Phantom while he threatens to kill Raoul unless Gustave stays. As the Phantom is dying, he sings to Christine of his love, while Meg confesses her love for the Phantom (foreshadowed in the last seconds of POTO, when she picks up the mask). Christine and Gustave forgive him and sail back to Paris with Raoul after the Phantom dies. Gustave can say something maudlin about the two fathers he loves. Cue the tears.

[Sally]

Posted: 3/15/14 at 1:52am

QUOTE: "Some things just aren't meant to be. Love Never Dies is one of them."

--------------------------------------------------------------

That says it most succinctly.

Updated On: 3/15/14 at 01:52 AM

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 3/15/14 at 10:57am

AHLiebross just wrote the best plot line this show will ever have, and the shame is it may not be used. Someone hire them to sketch out your next libretto!

[Evita@theBroadway]

Posted: 3/15/14 at 11:23am

I saw LND just a few performances after its London opening.

SPOILERS AHEAD!!!!!

When the ending happened, and Christine died, you could literally hear chuckles and laughter throughout the audience. The ending came off as a joke. And those who love the original Phantom were livid. Im convinced this show should not see the light of day again. Why ruin the original Phantom, especially since it means soooo much to so many theatergoers.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 3/15/14 at 1:54pm

I sometimes wonder if anyone liked this poor sap of a show.