Love Never Dies

Do we know when an announcement is expected? If "The Lord" wants to open this in November he needs to get his skates on!! Last thing I heard, it was due to go into the Adelphi after Derren Brown, but it seems an odd choice. Surely he would want to go into a theatre with a higher seating capacity?

I don't know about a theatre, etc - but they've been in the studio recording songs recently. So things are moving along.

---

I know some of the people who've been involved in the recordings but I'm not able to say at the moment.

---

And I suppose one would guess at Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess being involved. And that would be fine by me. But there are a few I hope they are steering away from.

Thanks anyway. It's interesting anyhow! I might be alone, but I am rather looking forward to whatever materialises!

I agree with Phantom being one of the best shows in London at the mo, the current cast is SO strong, better than the original id say. BUT it could do with a set update. Christines dressing room and the stairs for Masquerade are very noisey, and the graveyard scene effects could do with a boost.

auditions for the show have already happened and call backs are on Monday. I know a girl who has a call back and she has to fly out of her current UK tour for her call back on monday.

mamma is the first set of auditions actually happened. I wasnt sure if the girl who got the call back was telling the truth or just name dropping.

I really can't believe that this is going to happen. I just can't. I feel sorry for the theatregorers of the cities of London and Toronto.

---

Lets atleast give the show a chance. It hasn't even announced an opening date yet.

No one would expect the sequel to be as successful as the first show, even if it turned out to be musically superior. Least of all Andrew Lloyd Webber himself. But, for whatever reason, he obviously wanted/needed to write it, and he is perfectly entitled to do that. How it is received in practice is another question. But I do think there is a market for it in the West End at least, financial upheaval allowing, where his star is still riding high after all the television exposure. What surprises me is the supposed simultaneous Broadway staging, when I would have thought it stood a much better chance there at a later stage if it had already given itself a reasonably solid footing in London. In American there is still a bit of an awful downer on everything to do with him. I don't know how the land lies in Toronto, because I don't know how well the reality casting thing went down there, but ALW wasn't the pivot of their show in the same way, so I would guess it will fall somewhere in the middle. A curious one!

But the references above to what could possibly be the recording of a concept album or individual songs at least (would they really be making the original cast recording already?) fits with what I thought they would do. It was the obvious way to go to light the way for the new show again, especially if the music is really as good as what little info has emerged suggests. And "IF" there is some promotional CD (it is late already), how that is received could be the best indicator for how the show is going to go. But effectively just railing at the moon because it is going to exist, is just pointless now!

He was speaking about the production last night on Jonathan Ross's chat show, which he was on with the UK Eurovision act, and he spoke of it as being extremely emotional and 'harrowing'. He claims it is the most personal project he has ever written, which is a huge statement, considering his personal history with the original Phantom. He confirmed that he has been recording the show, and in particular, mentioned that Niamh, of I'd Do Anything fame was involved in the recording. He made no comment on opening night, cast, venue etc, other than it was yet to be finalised. I hear that May 7th will bring the official announcement.

ALW had the "audacity" to compare another of his own shows to Phantom!!! Sacrilege! He so obviously shouldn't be allowed to talk about his own work as he thinks fit!

But I have seen the references to reported 7th May announcements too. Not long to go now, if it is true. And am quite excited myself! I am really looking forward to "Love never Dies" now! But I will believe the announcement(s) will happen, as purportedly scheduled, when they have actually happened. Jonathan Ross will be a trifle chagrined to have had those questions answered so soon after ALW fobbed him off. But it might be an opportunity to have him back, of course, with Ramin possibly, to talk abot that exclusively.

But the "harrowing" comment surprised me too! "Harrowing" is a very strong word! But it always had to be something very powerful to truly stand a chance of making an appropriate statememt as the sequel. But is has potential! Pandering to fan preferences, and presumptions that it was only ever about chasing a cash cow (never believed that, myself), was certainly never the way to go with integrity. Something that could actually be described as harrowing is a difficult creative road to go down though, for all concerned. A bit of a knife edge, especially in difficult times when feel good things might be preferred. But this was always a brave option, and ALW was always at his best in years gone by when "brave" was what he did.

Updated On: 5/3/09 at 04:06 PM