QUOTE(theaterfan14 @ Oct 28 2009, 08:19 PM)

stephen is amazing and personally feel that if they have got an amazing phantom understudy whats the point in getting someone else but i wont judge david untill he joins.
David was announced as the next Phantom quite a long time ago, well before Stephen first went on, so they're not exactly just "getting someone else" in, it would have been arranged months ago. I'm sure the producers must have had good reasons for casting them as lead and understudy respectively, perhaps partly due to CVs i.e. David's successfully lead the cast of Les Mis so has a proven track record as a West End leading man. Personally, having seen Stephen as the Phantom I thought he did a great job & would be very happy to see him again but I'm also looking forward to seeing David as I really liked his Valjean.
Anyone know where Nigel Richards is? Off sick? On holiday? One would expect him to be covering the majority of Ramin's absences but it seems he's only done a couple of shows & Stephen the rest.