Love Never Dies - all views allowed

Australian version of Love Never Dies possibly headed for DVD release.

Broadway.com Article

https://youtu.be/PZ9NTgP0ilA <--- Some great footage from the Melbourne show that likely demonstrates what the DVD release will look like. The YT account also has more footage from other numbers.

I have to admit, I really do enjoy the set/costume designs of the Melbourne version a lot more than the London version. The mirrored-room in 'Beautiful' is really quite spectacular. The huge portrait of Christine in her Angel of Music attire in the Phantom's chambers is a nice nod to the original show as well.

That being said, I imagine all the things I hate about the plot - and Lord knows there are many - haven't changed. Pity.

~Madame~

Madame Giry wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ9NTgP0ilA&feature=player_embedded#at=259 <--- Some great footage from the Melbourne show that likely demonstrates what the DVD release will look like. The YT account also has more footage from other numbers.

I have to admit, I really do enjoy the set/costume designs of the Melbourne version a lot more than the London version. The mirrored-room in 'Beautiful' is really quite spectacular. The huge portrait of Christine in her Angel of Music attire in the Phantom's chambers is a nice nod to the original show as well.

That being said, I imagine all the things I hate about the plot - and Lord knows there are many - haven't changed. Pity.

Agreed, the Melbourne design with a much improved story - one that took the libretto seriously - would have made a pretty nifty musical. As it is now there's lots of spectacle over a hollow frame. But definitely better than London, where the libretto at the opening was a complete mess, and with a too stylistic set design to cover up for it.

Blaming costume/set designer Bob Crowley for the London failure, though, as many have done, is just too unfair. His design could have worked well on a musical with a good basis. Original (or even current LND) is far from a good basis.

Whatever the case, even the Melbourne version won't survive on Broadway. The lyrics and storyline still screams "Please butcher me!".

[quote="operafantomet"]

Madame Giry wrote:https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PZ9NTgP0ilA&feature=player_embedded#at=259 <---
Whatever the case, even the Melbourne version won't survive on Broadway. The lyrics and storyline still screams "Please butcher me!".

--Or sink me full fathoms five!

I'm blaming LND...or, at least, the press around it for part of a dream I had last night.

Most of it involved a family reunion cook-out I'm going to this week, but at some point in the dream, I walked into a store. I guess it was a cross between a theatre gift shop, a jewelry store, and a Target.

One aisle had a couple of shelves of Phantom knick-knacks and such...I remember explaining to my partner that he needs to buy me a new bottle of Phantom perfume.

Anyhow, they had these rather nice photo frames. They were smooth black 8 x10 frames with rows of little white masks around the edges and a rose at the lower right corner. And there was a button. I figured that it was some sort of music box so I pushed it. Instead of playing music, a video of ALW appeared where the photo should go. It looked like ALW circa 1986 (judging from the hair and clothing on Sara Brightman and others in the background), but he was talking about how "Love Never Dies" was the "real true way that Phantom is supposed to end" and how malicious people "sabotaged" the sequel.

I woke up thinking it was a nasty marketing ploy...embedding the video in a nice Phantom knick-knack.

Crud, didn't realize I had linked to only the tail end of the LND promo video earlier. I've gone back an edited the link so it should take you to the beginning of the vid.

Just try to ignore Andrew's commentary.

And Paula, I am so sorry for your nightmare, lol.

~Madame~

So the London production is now officially closed.

operafantomet wrote:So the London production is now officially closed.

Yep. And you know what's strange? I walked past the tkts booth on Leicester Square last week and was surprised to see that there were plenty of half-price tickets available for LND. I'd have thought that for the final week of a show, tickets would all be sold out. *shrugs*

Josephine wrote:

operafantomet wrote:So the London production is now officially closed.

Yep. And you know what's strange? I walked past the tkts booth on Leicester Square last week and was surprised to see that there were plenty of half-price tickets available for LND. I'd have thought that for the final week of a show, tickets would all be sold out. *shrugs*

For a moment I thought you said, "I walked past the ticket booth and they were still selling tickets".

I can't believe that Cameron Macintosh showed up for the closing night. LOL.

I am happy that there will come a DVD from Melbourne.

Thought it wasn't possible to dislike Love Never Dies more than you might do at the moment?

Think again. Read this post by Bricabrac on the poto.com forums: http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=680078#forumpost680078

I know they don't often live up to their name, but for Really Useful to SHUT DOWN the cash cow that is London Phantom of the Opera and simply put it on tour had Love Never Dies been successful...that is surely idiocy? The original has been selling well this year, and certainly much better than LND. Why would you do that? To stop people from choosing to see the better one so they could forget about the contradictions?

I am completely bamboozled by this idea, and consequently incredibly grateful LND was a flop.

Speechless. Angry. And confirming all my suspicions.

Scorp wrote:Thought it wasn't possible to dislike Love Never Dies more than you might do at the moment?

Think again. Read this post by Bricabrac on the poto.com forums: http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=680078#forumpost680078

I know they don't often live up to their name, but for Really Useful to SHUT DOWN the cash cow that is London Phantom of the Opera and simply put it on tour had Love Never Dies been successful...that is surely idiocy? The original has been selling well this year, and certainly much better than LND. Why would you do that? To stop people from choosing to see the better one so they could forget about the contradictions?

I am completely bamboozled by this idea, and consequently incredibly grateful LND was a flop.

I honestly have no words. WHAT? WHAT ...

Scorp wrote:Thought it wasn't possible to dislike Love Never Dies more than you might do at the moment?

Think again. Read this post by Bricabrac on the poto.com forums: http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=680078#forumpost680078

I know they don't often live up to their name, but for Really Useful to SHUT DOWN the cash cow that is London Phantom of the Opera and simply put it on tour had Love Never Dies been successful...that is surely idiocy? The original has been selling well this year, and certainly much better than LND. Why would you do that? To stop people from choosing to see the better one so they could forget about the contradictions?

I am completely bamboozled by this idea, and consequently incredibly grateful LND was a flop.

I remember hearing rumors a few years ago about how if the movie had been successful, they were going to close the Broadway production. To me it is utterly stupid to even think about doing such a thing when THE SHOW IS STILL MAKING AN EXCELLENT PROFIT.

It would seem that the plan was to install a NEW cash cow, and put the old one out to pasture and still make money by touring it.

Blessedly, LND has move to Australia, and POTO is still playing at Her Majesty's.

Scorp wrote:Thought it wasn't possible to dislike Love Never Dies more than you might do at the moment?

Think again. Read this post by Bricabrac on the poto.com forums: http://www.phantomoftheopera.com/modules/newbb/viewtopic.php?post_id=680078#forumpost680078

I know they don't often live up to their name, but for Really Useful to SHUT DOWN the cash cow that is London Phantom of the Opera and simply put it on tour had Love Never Dies been successful...that is surely idiocy? The original has been selling well this year, and certainly much better than LND. Why would you do that? To stop people from choosing to see the better one so they could forget about the contradictions?

The closing of the original would also garner HUGE amounts of publicity, and LND would "conveniently" be caught in its blast radius.

It's exactly what I'd imagined they'd do.

TAFKaR

It seems like the filming of the Melbourne production of Love Never Dies is underway, according to an article at Broadwayworld.com: http://broadwayworld.com/article/STAGE-TUBE-Andrew-Lloyd-Webber-Visits-LOVE-NEVER-DIES-Filming-20110926

There's a link to a video made on handycam of ALW chatting about the show. He does lavish the complimentary adjectives on it, but interestingly says "I do hope however that everybody is going to want to watch this thing when it's finished."

There's some footage of the filming process - multiple cameras are being used, it seems, so that they can pick and choose the best angles during the editing process. I think they used the same approach when filming JCS in 2000 or so.

I'm not familiar with the whole book of LND, but there's some interesting dialogue between Christine and the Phantom at the very end of the video. Not sure if that was part of the London production or not.

Anyhow, hey Andy, while we're at it, can you please film an ORIGINAL Phantom production? Like London? Or New York? Pretty please?

~Madame~

Madame Giry wrote:I'm not familiar with the whole book of LND, but there's some interesting dialogue between Christine and the Phantom at the very end of the video. Not sure if that was part of the London production or not.

The only line from that bit that was included in the last London version of the show was: “A man as hideous as this, believe me, is capable of everything… “

Really don't like the whole "I am dying Christine... suffocating here in the dark..." thing. A bit too much, even for the Phantom...

Miss von Krolock wrote:Really don't like the whole "I am dying Christine... suffocating here in the dark..." thing. A bit too much, even for the Phantom...

LND!Phantom and Darth Vader should really collaborate on a book of love prose.

TAFKaR

Raphael wrote:

Miss von Krolock wrote:Really don't like the whole "I am dying Christine... suffocating here in the dark..." thing. A bit too much, even for the Phantom...

LND!Phantom and Darth Vader should really collaborate on a book of love prose.

TAFKaR

At least LND!Phantom doesn't deliver his lines like a whiny emo brat.

~Madame~

Madame Giry wrote:
At least LND!Phantom doesn't deliver his lines like a whiny emo brat.

~Madame~

He doesn't? Wow, could've fooled me

TAFKaR

Raphael wrote:

Madame Giry wrote:
At least LND!Phantom doesn't deliver his lines like a whiny emo brat.

~Madame~

He doesn't? Wow, could've fooled me

TAFKaR

*considers*

Crap. Alright, you have me there.

~Madame~

Wow. That Peter Karrie quote is spooky.

Bric wrote:It would seem that the plan was to install a NEW cash cow, and put the old one out to pasture and still make money by touring it.

Blessedly, LND has move to Australia, and POTO is still playing at Her Majesty's.

But there's still the threat of this happening. ALW has said he'd LOVE to bring the Australian version to London/Broadway and beyond. If this thing is successful on DVD, and continues to play in Australia for a while then there is STILL a good chance POTO will close on B'Way/London. Heck. The US tour closed, and that seemed pretty successful, packing them in at every performance I saw.

Granted, POTO will close some day...I just don't want it to go, yet...

ETA:
On the whole, I don't mind LND -the Australian one. Not the London one- I liked elements of what I heard, and from the pics I saw. But if it were to replace POTO anywhere I think I'd actually hate it. I mean REALLY hate it. Hate that I haven't had since the POTO movie.

An ex-West End Marius who shall not be named on LND:

"I've never been so bored at the theatre. The music was dull, the story pointless and the acting dreadful. I so wanted it to be good as well, but alas, it wasn't to be."

Interesting to hear the same thoughts coming from actual performers...

The Melbourne Love Never Dies trailer from the RAH Dvd has surfaced on Youtube.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UD0Mhcg2-88

I, like others, think that the Melbourne version is superior to the West End version, despite my longstanding misgivings about the entire concept of the sequel.

Favorite part in the trailer, about 33 seconds in, "Phantom's gotta choke a ..." (oh wait, family friendly board, right.) Also, shirtsleeves action does not hurt.

Interesting that at the end they say it's going to be release on DVD/Blu-Ray/Cinema. So, he plans for this to be shown in movie theaters? Hm.

~Madame~

As a visual aide to my above post...



Nuff said.

~Madame~

Nice visual aide there.

I am actually looking forward to seeing this DVD next year.

Thanks for posting that trailer. I still have some major misgivings with parts of the plot but visually I think the Australian production looks stunning and I like what I've heard of the cast.

I think its pretty. I just wished that Andrew Lloyd Webber created some sort of musical based off the circus atmosphere and didn't link it to Phantom. Its such a muck.

I thought you folks would appreciate this LA Times piece criticizing JK Rowling for revealing more information about the Potter world:
http://www.latimes.com/news/opinion/commentary/la-oe-meyers-pottermore-20111205,0,7249306.story