Last weekend I went up to Brigham City to see Box Elder High School's production of The Phantom of the Opera, which my little brother, Nathan, had a part in. Overall it was a pretty good performance, though the wireless mics kept going out.[1] Truth be told, though, I don't think anyone—not even Gerard Butler—can top Michael Crawford as the Phantom.[2]I recently learned that Andrew Lloyd Webber wrote a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, entitled Love Never Dies. It is set several years later and Christine and Raoul have come to New York to perform at Coney Island. It is the Phantom who has secretly invited them with the intent to win back Christine. There is also a subplot questioning the paternity of Christine's son Gustave.[3]
So I listened to the soundtrack.[4] Honestly, I found the plot rather banal and predictable. The lyrics were pedestrian and lacked the snappiness of the first production. And the music was generally insipid and uninspiring, though there were some strictly instrumental pieces which transcended the rest of the musical. "The Coney Island Waltz" and the "Entr'acte" were both enjoyable, though the former has a predictable "haunted circus" sound to it.
Verdict: I recommend that you don't waste your time on Love Never Dies.
Notes:
[1] Probably because Ashley didn't turn off her phone, like she was asked to.
[2] Though if this video were remade with James Earl Jones, then Michael Crawford would fade into oblivion.
[3] For a fuller synopsis, see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Phantom_of_the_Opera_%281986_musical%29#Synopsis.
[4] I listened to it on Grooveshark (see here).
Image attributions:
Phantom is by Howie Muzika, available at http://www.flickr.com/photos/howiemuzika/3775810359/.
:P Not even close to being a legit reason!
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