Riedel: Karimloo "wooden", Boggess "vapid"

[tazber]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 5:50am

So say his sources
but money is no issue

[jennafan]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 6:09am

This is the froot loop who said Spider-Man isn't coming and then tried to cover his @ss my saying BONO came in to save it.

Riedel has crappy sources and when he's wrong about stuff, he will cover it up by making up a new story.

HATE him.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 6:12am

I've always disliked this guy!

[tazber]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 6:17am

I'm definitely going to reserve all judgment on this until I have a chance to see a lot more.

Sequels (to me at least) can have merit, but most lack creativity by nature. And they do seem more appropriate for a more disposable medium than theater. That is, a medium where they don't need to play/sell for a very long time to recoup (books, film).

But of all the theatrical sequels, Phantom is the only one still playing when the sequel actually comes out (I think), so the dynamic is certainly different for this show. Plus, Phantom *is* a cultural event given its popularity and staying power.

So, while skeptical at first, I am now curious. And hoping that it is as amazing and singular an achievement as ALW used to provide.

Updated On: 10/9/09 at 06:17 AM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 6:42am

Should he really be admitting to having the vocal score given that it's probably an illegal copy? Surly he could get in trouble. I can't believe he printed that.

[tazber]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 7:10am

I don't think it's illegal. He didn't try to sell it or anything.

[ladybegood]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 8:05am

What a strange article to have written! The only thing he actually says that is from his own first hand experience is that the music (having been given the score presumably) is "epic, romantic, lush and melodic". And that is hardly bad!

The other comments are only hearsay from that incredibly limited presentation yesterday, which is a laughably inadequate basis.

[Princeton2]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 8:14am

Anybody who has seen Ramin as the Phantom in London would know how amazing he is, and he far outperforms (and sings) Michael Crawford. To call him wooden is mad

[husk_charmer]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 8:46am

I was gonna say, everyone I know who's seen Ramin Karimloo has just raved about his performance.

Boggess, on the other hand, I agree...she's pretty vapid.

Either way, after hearing both songs, I think it could be a hit.

[Play Esq.]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 9:02am

I would have titled this thread: "Don't close the casting department yet, Andrew!"

Chuckles...he kills me!

[JasonM12480]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 9:24am

Strange article, indeed.

For anyone with intelligence, if you watch the press launch, the clip of Ramin singing his Phantom song is very obviously pre-recorded, and was filmed in an empty theater, probably for promotional use. I'm not sure what actually happened at the press event itself, if they showed a video or if he sang live, but in the clip, he's not wearing a microphone, and there's smoke on the stage - when they take their bow, he has a mic on his head, and the smoke has magically disappeared. Odd indeed.

Sierra looks vapid just because she sits there. LOL - no blocking or choreography. Just sit there. Good Sierra. Sit. Stay. Of course she'll come off as vapid, Mr. Ridel. LOL

[Cape Twirl of Doom]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 10:16am

People were shocked, however, that, when he sang his big song, "Till I Hear You Sing Once More," he seemed to be lip-syncing to a prerecorded track.

Bwa? The video of him singing was a pre-recorded promotional video. It wasn't done live.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 10:24am

Anybody who has seen Ramin as the Phantom in London would know how amazing he is, and he far outperforms (and sings) Michael Crawford. To call him wooden is mad


I've seen him, and I absolutely agree. He's my personal favorite Phantom. He pours his heart and soul into his performance.

And he gave a great performance in the video. He looked like he was about to cry at the end, and the last bit of the song almost made me cry.

[Marquise]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 10:26am

After hearing two songs some of you are predicting a hit? Really? Based on just two songs? C'mon two songs do not a show make. Get a grip guys.

I agree the songs presented were impressive but let's reserve the predictions until all the pieces are finally put together and the curtain rises on some actual performances.

[ThankstoPhantom]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 11:11am

He sang the song live at the event...they just inserted the pre-recorded version for the Internet release.

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 11:21am

I knew it was pre-recorded in some way. Around the line "I'll always feel no more than halfway real", the track jumps around a bit.

Either way, I've seen Ramin live in Phantom 1, and he is absolutely phenomenal.

Not to mention that even though the online video was pre-recorded, he still gave a spectacular performance in it. Like I said, he looks like he's about to burst into tears at the end. Lip-syncing or no, that's some great physical acting.


And "the gay vote"? I dunno. Sure he's pretty, but Ramin's also very straight, married, has a kid, and is a very religious Christian. Does that type of thing appeal to gay men? (I'm really asking. I'm a woman, so it's a different situation.) Updated On: 10/9/09 at 11:21 AM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 11:46am

Sequels (to me at least) can have merit, but most lack creativity by nature.

The exception in musical theatre, of course, being Falsettos. The two sequels added up to being genius and totally surpassing their predecessor, In Trousers, which has been almost entirely forgotten.

While sequels have found some tentative footing in plays, it will be a huge challenge to pull this one off. I'm pretty confident, based on what I've heard so far, that the music will be sumptuous, though the usual suspects will turn up their noses simply because Lloyd Webber's name is attached. But I'm highly skeptical about the book (though it's not like the book to Phantom of the Opera is particularly strong), as it doesn't have the advantage of featuring a classic or beloved story. It's solely riding on the coattails of his last successful musical written over twenty years ago, using an entirely different creative staff other than himself as composer. If he really wants this show to be a continuation of his last, he needs a LOT more to tie them together, starting with the artwork, which is not getting the job done.

[rockfenris2005]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 11:48am

So...what was the real performance like then?

[tazber]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 12:41pm

Ah yes, Falsettos. Good call matt!

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:02pm

Honestly, I think the story would be much more intriguing if it were a standalone, not a sequel. The main problem I have with what we know of the plot is that it's horribly 'un-Phantom'. The tone, characters, setting, and even the time period are just completely different from the first musical. (1881 + 10 = 1907? Phanty is a business mogul? It takes place at a theme park? ROBO-CHRISTINE??)

I wouldn't mind a musical about a disfigured businessman who builds himself up and then lures the love of his life, whom he lost years ago, back to him. But as a Phantom sequel? No.

If you just changed the names of the characters, I'm sure it would be a wonderfully fascinating and dark standalone show with pretty music and cool sets.

Updated On: 10/9/09 at 01:02 PM

[tazber]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:06pm

Good point Holly.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:10pm

I think Falsettos works as a sequel because In Trousers leaves you wanting to know more about Marvin and his life journey. There is a reason for the two sequels. The end of March of the Falsettos leaves Marvin and Whizzer's relationship in limbo. We need Falsettoland to wrap it all up.

In contrast, most of the sequels that have flopped were simply unnecessary. Why should we care what happened to Conrad after he got on that train with Mae? (And just a side question- What went wrong in Pumpkin Falls, Iowa that Rosie and Albert spent the last twenty years in Queens?) Annie was wrapped up so nicely...does Miss Hannigan need to have a revenge? Did we really need to find out what happened to Nora after she walked out on her husband?

Phantom 2 falls in this latter catagory. Why do we need to know what happened to these characters? Wasn't everything satisfyingly explained at the end of the original?

Updated On: 10/9/09 at 01:10 PM

[yeomansden]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:22pm

^ This.

I really don't care. Webber talks about how Christine goes off with the "boring guy". I wholeheartly agree with that, and it makes sense since Christine has the depth of a kiddie pool. I have no desire to know what happens to them after. I might be more interested in seeing what happens to the Phantom, but can't he move on?

[HollyGolightly2]

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:26pm

We need to know what happened to the Phantom because ALW's pockets are looking a little thin.

I actually think the ending is sort of open for a sequel, but only on the Phantom's part. We know Christine goes off with Raoul and eventually marries him, but we don't know what happens to the Phantom.

It certainly doesn't make the audience scream, "HOLY BANANAS!! I HAVE TO KNOW WHAT HAPPENS NEXT BY SPENDING EVEN MORE MONEY ON SEEING AN ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER MUSICAL!!" however.





OH. And Riedel spelled 'Raoul' wrong. Shows how insightful and knowledgeable he is. Updated On: 10/9/09 at 01:26 PM

Posted: 10/9/09 at 1:35pm

Was Falsettos really a sequel? I think Finn always intended three shows but just worked very very slowly.