I've read the novel twice and listened to the recording...erm...a bunch of times. Actually, I think the show's better than the book. Makes more sense, it flows better, and it's not as rushed as the book was.
Which is saying a lot coming from me. I HATE adaptions 90% of the time, mostly when I've read the book. Of course, Les Miz and Phantom are also a lot a better than their original novels, if you ask me.
"During this performance, please feel free to let your cell phones and pagers ring willy-nilly. However, do remember that there are heavily-armed knights on stage and you might well be dragged up and impaled."
(Pre-curtain announcement at the new Broadway musical Monty Python's Spamalot)