Thoughts on Love Never Dies

[cen]

I know there are an awful lot of mixed feelings about Love Never Dies. abounding on the internet. I'm just curious about what people think about the show.

Has anyone here seen it? Listened to the soundtrack? What was your first reaction when you heard there was going to be a 'sequel' to Phantom of the Opera?

[Deleted]

Musically, I quite enjoy the show, though I haven't seen it. There are some great songs, and the music is quite nice through out(with a few exceptions).
But the plot for the show could most definetly have been worked on more. A lot of things in the plot are just plain stupid to me, and I have no idea why they ever felt doing things that way. Some things would never happen, certainly not if I was in charge of writing the story.

All in all, the show is fine if you are really, really into Phantom I guess. It sure has it's flaws, but it's not as bad as I first thought it would when I heard there was going to be a sequel.

[cen]

I also haven't been able to see the show yet, but I adore the soundtrack. Granted, some of the songs really aren't as good as they could be *coughs* Heaven by the Sea/Reprise *coughs* And there are definitely some plot snags.... but overall I love this show to pieces.

Last month the show was put on a few day hiatus so some plot changes could be made. The reviews I've read for the updated version have been glowing. Now if only they'd release an updated soundtrack for those of us who can't go see the changes that have been made...

If you were writing the sequel, what would you have done differently? Hope that doesn't come across as rude, I'm just genuinely curious. There are so many possibilities for this show!

[Deleted]

I wouldn't have Christine go back to the Phantom at all. I don't think she would after what he has done to her and Raoul, no matter what she may have felt for him before, love or just compassion and pity. So therefore, her son would also be Raoul's son.
I am not to fond of how Raoul was treated either. To make him a drunken gambler was just too easy if you wanted the love story between Christine and the Phantom to stand out. It's not true to Raoul from Phantom, and I just don't like it. Or perhaps that's because I am a R/C-fan, so...
As for Meg and her mom. Oh, dear, I don't really know what to say. A part of me think's it's all right, but again, I don't really think Meg, Christine's best friend, would do as she does in LND. Neither would her mom, who may consider Christine as her a second daughter.

[Havanah]

As someone who tried not to hear about the plot until she saw it but failed (thank you Tom) I must ask, what happens with Meg and her mum?

[cen]

In a nutshell, Meg and her Mum helped spirit the Phantom out of France. They followed him to America and stayed with him, helping him start a new life and build up from nothing. Now Madame Giry wants what she believes to be hers- a share in the success and triumph she has helped him to reach. Meg just wants his approval/attention/affection. They both want him to acknowledge all that they've done for him, but he can't get over Christine. This makes the Girys feel really jealous... And then Meg goes over the deep end because of all the pressure she's been under.

[cen]

I never really saw Meg as being Christine's best friend. Certainly they were close, but Meg didn't feature enough for me to regard her as being really important. Interviews I've seen with the cast also seem to stress that Meg is actually meant to be a bit younger than Christine. Given this information, the way Meg behaves makes sense to me.

I also feel that Madame Giry's jealousy was justified. Overhearing what the Phantom said at the end of "The Phantom Confronts Christine' must have felt like such a betrayal. I believe she didn't go out of her way to hurt Christine because she does view her as a daughter. She was just opposed to Christine's presence on Coney Island. Perhaps she was so vehement, not only because she wanted what was hers, but also because she knew nothing good could come of the Phantom and Christine reuniting? With Christine back, the chances of all three of her "children" being hurt becomes more of a guarantee.

Barring the Leroux novel, I am not an R/C shipper, so I had no problem with the way Raoul was treated. To me it seemed like a natural progression for his character. I totally believe this is how he would have ended up. I actually like him better this way, broken and slowly growing up- even though he behaves so poorly, I sympathize with him more in LND than I did in PotO.

I wish they would release an updated soundtrack! I want to hear all of the new changes that have been made to the show. Wonder how different it is now...

[Havanah]

I don't know about how I thought Raoul would be because he always was a bit of a nothingness character for me.

However, I think the end of Phantom does set up for Meg to follow him and certainly her affection. Also, I think Mme Giry's character would suit that.

I would like to read the book to see a bit more of the original characters' character so we could have more of an idea of what the original characters (rather than the musical's interpretation) might have done.

[cen]

In the ALW film Raoul annoyed me. When I saw the show live for the first time I began to appreciate his character... but he still came across as a bit of a jerk (in my opinion). Only when I read the original novel and then the sequel (one of many) by Susan Kay did I really understand the ways in which Raoul could be viewed and what it is Christine might see in him. So, outside of the musical I'm open to the possibility of being a Raoul/Christine fan... However, the way ALW has interpreted the story leaves little room for any non- E/C outcome.

@havanah when you've finished reading 'Rebecca' I heartily recommend you check out the original PotO. It is quite different from the musical, but I think once you have that background information you look at and appreciate all other interpretations in a different way. That and it's a really good little read

[Deleted]

Dec 20, 2010 4:17:29 GMT cen said:

@havanah when you've finished reading 'Rebecca' I heartily recommend you check out the original PotO. It is quite different from the musical, but I think once you have that background information you look at and appreciate all other interpretations in a different way. That and it's a really good little read

I second that recommendation!

[Mrs.Camui]

-sigh- I never seen, 'Love Never Dies' but I do have the soundtrack and really I find the music less than enchanting. Since I read the the book in which the production was based on I had low expectations. -_- There were interesting moments like: "'Til I Hear You Sing" and "Beautiful"---but the plot was quite thin and well, like a bad soap opera.

[cen]

Since I read the the book in which the production was based on I had low expectations. -_-

Ah, I've read 'Phantom of Manhattan' too. Wasn't that book dreadful? I don't loathe it as much as some people do, but it could have been so much better...

[WennIchTanzenWill]

oh dear god. phantom of Manhattan... just ugh...

[cen]

oh dear god. phantom of Manhattan... just ugh...

I didn't hate it, but it was such a letdown. And that introduction! *shudders*

[germaine]

Jan 21, 2011 17:24:48 GMT cen said:

oh dear god. phantom of Manhattan... just ugh...

I didn't hate it, but it was such a letdown. And that introduction! *shudders*

Leroux had it all wrong... which is odd, since he created the characters in the first place. The book does have its moments, but they are few and far in between.