Love Never Dies -Adelphi Theatre, London 2010 — Page 12

I'm here in the states - had pre-ordered the CD from Really Useful... which hasn't yet arrived and couldnt wait. So I downloaded it today (will give the CD's as a gift) and am really happy that I did...

The way people have maligned this score and the show overall I was really setting myself up to be disappointed - figuring there'd be a couple of good tunes and that was it. But honestly, the score is up there with some of ALW's finest. I don't think it's fair to rank it on first hearing... a lot of this is new (well of course with some ALW callbacks definitely heard a few strains of The Likes of Us - Woman in white) But honestly - as I listen to it again - there's some real beautiful work here:

I had already heard Till I hear you sing (which I think is one of ALW's finest tunes in recent years) as well as Love Never Dies (well I guess all of us had heard that song before :) ) But the score is filled with some real excellent stand out songs- Look with your heart; Beneath a moonless sky, Once Upon another Time, Devil Take the Hindmost... As opposed to ALW's last work WIW - where "I Believe my heart" and "Evermore without you" (neither of which really are my all time favorites) and All For Laura - which was incredible live, but again, I rarely listen to - This score will definitely be staying with people long after they leave the theatre.

I think some of the negativity is simply people angry at how the story finishes, which is understandable. The Phantom, Christine, Raoul have been around longer than any other musical characters (in the sense that the original productions still are playing to sell out crowds around the world) So yes, it was kind of weird imagining things playing out this way... but musically I think ALW more than delivered. And the story, while not ending with the happy note you want (and let me just say, those who say "there's not been standing ovations" after that emotional ending, I would imagine it hard to jump and cheer - YAY CHRISTINE IS DEAD - YAY!!! ) it definitely is dramatic.

For those of us who aren't "phans" and live in the real world - we know that life doesn't end like Wicked where everyone gets a sort of happy ending. Life can be tragic, sad - even to people we love and don't think deserve tragic ends... I applaud ALW for the maturity of this piece, and hope he retains the integrity of this intentions and doesn't feel bullied to changing the ending (ala Woman in White) so some people will be happier leaving.

In a way I am glad that people have been so negative about this. It meant that I really didn't have any expectations - and am really suprised by how good it is. I was never a big fan of the original and thought it too camp. The characters seem more developed - though Raoul is still a drip. Musically it very cleverly and subtly develops themes from the original and makes them more interesting. I love ALW stuff as you can alway spot melodies plundered from lesser successes (he has done this though since JCS). The singing is terrific and the arrangements imaginative and lush.

I still find it refreshing that whilst we have a sequel it has new material and a brand new story. I far prefer that to any juke-box show that removes any element of risk or innovation.

I am now more interested in seeing this on April 17th. If it is badely staged, at least I know I can still enjoy the music.

"For those of us who aren't "phans" and live in the real world - we know that life doesn't end like Wicked where everyone gets a sort of happy ending. Life can be tragic, sad - even to people we love and don't think deserve tragic ends... I applaud ALW for the maturity of this piece, and hope he retains the integrity of this intentions and doesn't feel bullied to changing the ending (ala Woman in White) so some people will be happier leaving. "
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Haven't the phans and fans as well as other theater-goers been for years quite satisfied with the tragic ending of the original show (Phantom is devastated by loss of Christine and disappears, maybe dies)? I haven't gotten the impression that a lack of a happy ending to LND is what any of the fans have complained about (I have read fan boards as well as theater boards).

It was announced today that Ben Brantley, the critic for the New York Times, is in London to review the show for the Times. Which means, after the obviously horrible review it will receive, no one is going to invest money in it to bring it to New York where it will just get another bad review and close quicker than "Woman in White" did. So YAY in that America will be spared its musical evil staining our shores...

Who gets the last bow, the Phantom or Christine?

Phantom gets the final bow if I recall. Same as the original.

Is it true Baz Luhrman was there last night? Anybody go last night to confirm this? Thanks

Well ive kept an eye on this thread as well as many others and you have inspired me.

My article this week for What's on Stage
http://www.whatsonstage.com/blog/theatre/northwest/E8831268502635/The+%27Phans%27+Never+Lie.html

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Thanks Phantom

Yeah its my 4th one i think, i get confused because of posting reviews for them as well lol

To be honest i dont think UK critics have had much pull over a shows success or failiure in a long time now

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still waiting on my cd from the damned LND site.

Do you remember that anti-sequel facebook group LOVE SHOULD DIE that has been such a burr under ALW and RUG's blanket? No more. The group has disappeared and not, it looks, willingly.

The owner got his start replying to the silly RUG tweets (some in Latin) supposedly from the Phantom before the press roll-out by replying in kind as "the real Phantom."

He's now tweeted a French phrase that translates to "The fire that appears extinguished often sleeps in the ashes," which I take to mean he plans on returning in some way.

Some of you might say "good riddance." I'm not crazy about some of the things the LSD group did, but I am more POd at RUG's (could it be anyone else) eliminating their collective voice.

"A confident Writer, Producer or Director would have nothing to worry about, if you have a tight show that is playing well then the early buzz from preview audiences is going to do you a huge favour and add money on to your box office. ...It seems the only people who are unhappy with the shows receiving word of mouth through message boards, Twitter etc. are the ones who know they have a bad show on their hands. "

The Previews are over but the disappearance of LSD says something about the Love Never Dies people, I think.

Finally got the damn recording! Haha it took them long enough... and we wait longer than others... and we don't even get SHRINK WRAP? Is all the money saving from the shrink wrap going towards the show?!?!?!?!

I was kind of sad that none of the anti-LND people who were writing as Erik signed their notes as "O.G."

And apparently RUG is claiming copyright infringement is the reason for the group getting shut down. What's interesting is they don't seem to care when the pro-LND groups post snippets of the cast recording etc.

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