Is "Love Never Dies" worth seeing?

[markypoo]

I'm a novice when it comes to this show: never heard any of the music, and know little or nothing else about it.
But it's up and running here in Chicago now, and I'm seeking comments and opinions.
Bring 'em on, por favor!

[bwayphreak234]

Many people have weighed in on the tour on this thread

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101591#5012576

[jimmycurry01]

Buy the DVD and watch it. If you don't find the story insulting to your intelligence, and you can get a reasonably priced ticket, check it out. At least you can have the thrill of seeing a live show, and hearing a pretty good score performed (mostly) live.

[HunterK]

I saw it last week in Boston and I truly sat there screaming (well mouthing) back to the stage "Why?" "Nooo!" "WTF?" "Why are they there??" "Why is he making him sing a hit E??" "WTF?" "Really?" "The sets are pretty" "WTF?" "Thank god I won the lotto for this." 

 

Agreed watch the DVD unless you get a good price on a ticket. The show drags on. Even the amazing Karen Mason looked helpless on stage. She tried so hard too! 

[ermengarde]

Based on the DVD and being a long time Phantom fan, it's only fun if you're playing a drinking game or if you can ignore the gaping plot holes, trite lyrics, and frankly terrible libretto.

[carolinaguy]

I thought it was laughably bad. The lyrics are, at points, shockingly amateurish. The singers are mostly first-rate, but they are fighting an uphill battle against the contrived story, which has none of the gauzy romantic fantasy Hal Prince brought to the original.

[John Adams]

A few of the songs are worth listening to (some of the melodies are pretty) but seeing? No.

[Lot666]

bwayphreak234 said: "Many people have weighed in on the tour on this thread

https://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.php?thread=1101591#5012576"

You can peruse a broader sampling of opinions in the above thread.

[Sertzo19]

I just saw it in Chicago last week, got tickets for half-price. It was definitely worth the price I paid. If I had paid top dollar... not so much. The story is melodramatic beyond belief (even more than Phantom) and the second act kind of drags. I thought the first act was entertaining as can be and I actually liked the direction the characters were taken into after Phantom. I will say, If you LOVE Phantom, this may not be the show for you. The characters are pretty different and their story arcs in LND ruin a lot of what Phantom set up. I enjoy Phantom but I'm not a die-hard, so I think that helped me enjoy LND a bit more than most. 

Also, I thought the sets and costumes were fantastic. If you can find cheap tickets and have nothing else to do, can put up with a ridiculously dramatic story and are not a Phantom purist, I think you will find something (at least one thing) to appreciate. Also I went into the show expecting the worst after the DVD but I actually thought the small tweaks they made to it improved the show. 

[rebeccmam31]

My answer to this was no.  It was part of our touring season this year, and I have season tickets. I opted to sell my Love Never Dies tickets on Stub Hub. I do not regret it.

[Demitri2]

I enjoyed the show and it appeared the Baltimore audience I saw it with did too. Granted the story isn't the greatest but the performances, scenery and special effects were worth the price of the ticket. As others have noted, it's all there on the DVD so I'd recommend either purchasing, renting or checking it out at your local library if possible. It was definitely one of the most lavish productions I've seen in a long time, especially for a touring show.  

[Sertzo19]

Is anyone seeing this while it's still in Chicago or in the near future? I didn't buy the recording they were selling because I thought it was the original recording with a new image slapped on it, but now that I know it's a recording closer that what's been touring I'm kicking myself. If anyone is seeing it soon, I would LOVE a copy of the album, obviously I would pay the price of the album and shipping. The album is not available anywhere online and who knows when, if ever, it will be released to retailers. 

[Babe_Williams]

Only if the tickets are cheap. I posted my review in the other thread but even the great actors and beautiful sets and costumes can't save the dreadful book.

[EllieRose2]