Good word of mouth for Love Never Dies in Melbourne

[brettystar]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 12:36am

I have not seen this yet, however a few people I know in the industry saw it last night and have all raved about it saying that it is very good.
Simon Phillips has been receiving accolades for turning it into something very special.
I was not expecting this to be honest.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 2:05am

Don't believe anyone until I see it in July.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 2:22am

Yay! I really hope this production turns out to be something great. From the previews and interviews, this show definitely seems to have the wow factor (visually speaking) that the original lacks.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 2:54am

Brand new set, rewritten book, with more changes to come if needed during the Australiasian run.

Sydney and Brisbane have been booked, show will also tour Asia

[Sally]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:14am

Brand new set for sure, but I haven't read anything about a re-written book. How much of the book could they change without making it a completely different show?

The Phantom is still longing for Christine. She is not-very-happily married to Raoul and has a son who turns out to be the Phantom's. Phantom and Raoul compete for Christine. Christine dies. Along the way, the audience finds out the Girys have been involved in some of the above matters. What could they change?

The lyrics, now, there is a field where some re-writing could be in order and probably possible.

[chewy5000]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:51am

It seems to me, from what I've read, that they are using the already rewritten book that is currently used in London, as opposed to what it opened with.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 4:07am

Sally, PLEASE tell people that your post contains spoilers!

[mallardo]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 5:20am

There have been so many detailed discussions of this thing that I can't imagine anyone here doesn't know the plot by now.

[Sally]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 10:39am

Exactly.

[Matt2]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:11am

"Brand new set, rewritten book, with more changes to come if needed during the Australiasian run."

Now if they could just get a completely new score, they might have a decent show on their hands...

[Jordan4]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:14am

I was at the show tonight (1st preview) and it was magnificent! The show was just breathtaking, the music inspiring, the performances just wonderful. I have been to see many productions and this would have to rate as one of the best Australia has seen in a long time.

[Jordan4]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:15am

I was at the show tonight (1st preview) and it was magnificent! The show was just breathtaking, the music inspiring, the performances just wonderful. I have been to see many productions and this would have to rate as one of the best Australia has seen in a long time.

[massofmen]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:04pm

i think australia was the same country that loved Priscilla.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:17pm

Australia also gave us Vegemite.

(But in my mind, this is a plus.)

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:18pm

When I saw the show in London, the sets were actually quite impressive, for the first half hour, then as the show and score dragged on, I just didn't care about anything. Jumping on board the boards and claiming it is magnificent is not gonna convince me. I was hoping that someone other than Chrissie would die at the end.

[bk]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 3:37pm

"I was at the show tonight (1st preview) and it was magnificent! The show was just breathtaking, the music inspiring, the performances just wonderful. I have been to see many productions and this would have to rate as one of the best Australia has seen in a long time."

The last time someone said "I have been to see many productions" it transpired that the person saying it was fourteen-years-old.

[Khashoggi]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:01pm

I'm seeing the second preview this evening, quite looking forward to it I must say.
My understanding is that they are using the recently altered book from the London production.

[Urban]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:35pm

I had some friends who saw it last night.

They dubbed it "Paint Never Dries".

I think I'll avoid it.

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 9:35pm

Could someone post a curtain picture and share, or either PM me, the changes that have been made to the story? Thanks.

[chernjam]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 10:51pm

Urban, it sounds like your friends saw it 15 months ago, or are unoriginal

[Urban]

Posted: 5/21/11 at 11:53pm

Nope, saw it last night. Though I can't profess to any originality on their behalf.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:11am

He came, he saw and his verdict: "absolutely extraordinary".

That was Lord Andrew Lloyd Webber's first impression of the Melbourne set for his stage musical Love Never Dies when he visited the set on Friday.

The much-anticipated sequel to The Phantom of the Opera premieres in Melbourne on May 28 at The Regent Theatre.

The world's most successful musical theatre composer is spending the week in Melbourne overseeing its final preparations.

Lord Lloyd Webber appeared on the stage to inspect one of the sets that depicts Coney Island - this is illuminated with about 9000 light bulbs to depict a fun fair, with a roller coaster another stage feature.

His appearance for the media was brief, only about four minutes, but his words to his director, producer and set designer, who appeared on the stage with him, were positive.

"You have been very busy," he told them.

"It's completely different to everything in London. It's absolutely extraordinary."

Director Simon Phillips took questions from the media and admitted feeling nerves over having the renowned musical composer in the house.

"When the lord visits it's always unsettling," Mr Phillips joked.

Another unsettling experience occurred when a pyrotechnics malfunction at the theatre on Thursday caused a small explosion and saw someone taken to hospital.

Mr Phillips said the theatre was filled with smoke for 30 minutes.

"There was someone in the vicinity who got some superficial burns which was awful, but she's fine," he said.

Love Never Dies made its world premiere in London in March last year to mixed reviews and failed to realise the same success as Phantom.

Lord Lloyd Webber chose Melbourne as the next city for the show ahead of New York's Broadway, Shanghai and other cities.

"We have tried to look at Phantom as inspiration rather than something to cower our spirits," Mr Phillips said.

"Of course it's the most successful piece of entertainment of all time so you know you're not going to top it, but you hope you're going to realise a similar journey for people."

The Phantom of the Opera opened in Melbourne in 1990. It went on to be seen by almost four million Australians and New Zealanders in a season that lasted almost eight years.

Love Never Dies premieres in Melbourne on May 28 at The Regent Theatre.

AAP

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:15am

http://www.theage.com.au/entertainment/musicals/lloyd-webber-in-melbourne-for-phantom-sequel-20110520-1ew3d.html


Click the above link for a video of the finished set and ALW interview

[alterego]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:32am

Just had a couple of phone calls from people who were there last night, said it looked wonderful but the show is dull.

[chernjam]

Posted: 5/22/11 at 1:34am

rosscoe - Thanks for posting. The set really does look amazing! And with a score that I was already fond of, perhaps this show will finally take off.

If it does, then perhaps ALW will learn that he needs to allow some of his creative people work without him over their shoulders 24/7. Whoever suggested Australia made a brilliant move in getting the show away from the Lords obsessive eyes. I can understand his reluctance to do so, but he's been far-less successful since taking on producers duties.

Can't wait to hear and see more