1896 replies to this topic

[Misplaced]

Thought we might as well start a new thread since press night is tonight and the preview/spoiler thread is 86 pages.

Over in that other thread, appropriately spoilerized since the premiere is a few hours away (though I don't expect that matters now), a guest wrote:

I  think some of the negativity is simply people angry at how the story  finishes, which is understandable. The Phantom, Christine, Raoul have  been around longer than any other musical characters (in the sense that  the original productions still are playing to sell out crowds around  the world) So yes, it was kind of weird imagining things playing out  this way... but musically I think ALW more than delivered.

Spoiler

And the  story, while not ending with the happy note you want (and let me just  say, those who say "there's not been standing ovations" after that  emotional ending, I would imagine it hard to jump and cheer - YAY  CHRISTINE IS DEAD - YAY!!! ) it definitely is dramatic.

Ah but see I *don't* think the ending is dramatic.  I think the ending is a bunch of people standing around onstage in the musical equivalent of twiddling their thumbs.  The pacing is all wrong and it just drags.  This isn't helped by the non-dramatic "plotline".  I almost jumped up and cheered "yay!" simply because the scene finally ENDED.  

I do love the music though, and as I've said elsewhere the cast is just outstanding.  

Anyway looking forward to the reviews.  Bets being taken on the Spoiler thread -- are we up to 3.5 stars?  I'm thinking 3.

[Misplaced]

Also, I think these are the online reviews / blogs that were posted a while back:

(Polly1 @ Mar 3 2010, 11:14 AM)Very interesting blog by Mark Shenton
http://blogs.thestage.co.uk/shenton/2010/0...oise/index.html

and review by the West End Whingers  http://westendwhingers.wordpress.com/2010/...atre/#more-5943

which he refers to - both mention this thread (now up to 56 pages!)

[mjr]

Some reviewers has the option to attend from saturdays shows, so there may be some reviews waiting to be put online after tonights show.

[ogk]

I do love the music though, and as I've said elsewhere the cast is just outstanding.  

Anyway looking forward to the reviews.  Bets being taken on the Spoiler thread -- are we up to 3.5 stars?  I'm thinking 3.

I'm currently playing POTO and LND tracks back to back. Overture then Coney Island Waltz, Entr'acte then Entr'acte (LND). It makes for an interesting combination.

I'm thinking 2.5. If it's a 3 it will be because of the music and cast. I can't get my head around the lyrics seriously, nor the plot. Actually I'd be fine with the plot if the libretto were better, because everyone becoming obsessed in all the wrong ways can be perfectly believable. George Lucas made a space opera work. Sondhiem made a musical with no redeemable characters, with blood and gore and lots of barber shaving foam. Sound of Music has kids and nuns and nazis in it. By all rights, what we have in LND is normal.  

I must have double standards, since I can enjoy 'There! Right! There!' from Legally Blonde, but blanch at some of the cliches ridden through the songs... like BAMS (I love saying that, BAMS. It fits just about as well as PONR does). But Devil Takes the Hindmost, both the duet and quartet, and Dear Old Friend are currently my faves.

[Misplaced]

Quoting from the other LND thread:

Another Whatsonstage quote in this one (not sure if it has been linked here before):

http://artsbeat.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/03/...for-his-return/

Wow. Three people quoted now. And at least there's a kind of balance to this article too. And they link to your profiles? Okay that's just freaky now, that is. Should've linked to the post instead.

Totally psyched to have been quoted!!  but yeah, a little freaky to have a link to my profile (which is chock-full of ... no information at all).  

Anyway glad to see a *bit* more balance in these reports.

[Langmarkusnyc]

Thought we might as well start a new thread since press night is tonight and the preview/spoiler thread is 86 pages.

Over in that other thread, appropriately spoilerized since the premiere is a few hours away (though I don't expect that matters now), a guest wrote:



Ah but see I *don't* think the ending is dramatic. I think the ending is a bunch of people standing around onstage in the musical equivalent of twiddling their thumbs. The pacing is all wrong and it just drags. This isn't helped by the non-dramatic "plotline". I almost jumped up and cheered "yay!" simply because the scene finally ENDED.

I do love the music though, and as I've said elsewhere the cast is just outstanding.

Anyway looking forward to the reviews. Bets being taken on the Spoiler thread -- are we up to 3.5 stars? I'm thinking 3.

Why Love Never Dies deserves its bad internet reviews (and why ALW needs to read them) http://tinyurl.com/yg6bnax

[ogk]

Why Love Never Dies deserves its bad internet reviews (and why ALW needs to read them) http://tinyurl.com/yg6bnax

If ALW had ever paid attention to his audience, that movie in 2004 would not have been cast the way it was... or just generally, been the way it was. At that point it wasn't even about 'Cast Crawford', more of 'Cast someone who can sing, and doesn't look 25, kthanxbai'. And if they wanted star-casting, they could've gone with Hugh Jackman, who CAN sing. I could've lived with that very well.

I loved that review btw, it was hilarious. One wonders, is he planning to turn THIS into a movie?

[Steve10086]

Dear ALW & RUG

So you think I was wrong to judge LND in previews, and should have waited until it's settled.  When you consider it fully ready why not send me a pair of tickets and I'll reevaluate my opinion, objectively and fairly.

Just a thought :-)