Love Never Dies...Or Does It?
Let me say, for the record, that I am a HUGE fan of attending the theater. I go as often as I can. It is an experience reminiscent to more elegant times when ladies put on their best dresses, gentlemen wore a suit and tie, and everyone enjoyed a civilized and social evening of culture, music, and art. Today, the equivalent of "fancy dress" is a pair of jeans without holes, a shirt that covers your belly, and your cleanest sneakers. However, the allure of the theater, the nostalgia that the luxurious and opulent environment produces is still prevalent and I for one will answer that siren call as often as I can.
Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber has done it again! After more than 30 years, fans of the original Broadway production, The Phantom of the Opera, will now have all their quandaries and musings satisfied. What happened to the Phantom? Did Christine marry Raul? Will Meg Cherie ever be a star? All the questions you’ve pondered and some you never thought to ask are answered as we embark once more into the mysteriously beautiful and haunting world of the Phantom of the Opera. Not to worry, no spoilers ahead! This twisted tale, set in a macabre Coney Island freak show takes place in 1908, ten years after the events in the original story, The Phantom of the Opera. It is the turn of the century and my how things have changed!
I took in a matinee performance over Spring Break and it was AMAZING! The touring company of Love Never Dies brings to life the dark and enigmatic world of beloved characters from the original Phantom of the Opera, by Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber. It was decadent, disarming, and a poetically perfect ending to a timeless tale of music, love, and loss. The real highlight for me came in the form of a young actor named Casey Lyons playing the role of Gustave. His animation and expression blended seamlessly with the more seasoned performers onstage and even, at times, outshined them. He has the voice of an angel, with crystal clear strong tones that filled the space beautifully. His professionalism was exceptional and it was evident that he enjoys this unique life experience as a member of this touring company.
The opening of the show introduces a trio of performers from the Phantom’s freak show, Mister Y’s Phantasma, to serve as your hosts and welcome you to Coney Island, nestled on the shore of a bustling and busy New York City. This is the surprising setting for the much-anticipated reunion of not only the Phantom and his long-lost protégé Christine (Daae) De Chagney, but also Madame and Meg Cherie, Raul (Christine’s now husband) and a surprise no one was expecting; Gustave, Christine’s son.
This surprising setting shows just how far the Phantom has fallen. Presumed dead at the end of the original story, it appears that Madame Cherie was once again his savior and together with her daughter Meg travelled from the elegant and cultured city of Paris to the dirty and less refined safe harbor of New York, New York. Here the Phantom is free to continue composing music, and producing shows, and where a final performance…for some… will be given.
This tale quickly spirals from the expected to the bizarre in this labyrinth of a storyline with more plot twists and turns than a roller coaster on Coney Island. Madame and Meg Cherie become major players in this dark tale as patience wears thin and jealousy, passion, and deceit take center stage. Lies have left many in the dark for the past ten years and in a not so strange twist of fate, these characters once again find themselves the stars in a performance much bigger than the one night, one song show Christine is slated to star in.
Overall, I wish there had been more memorable music. The original Phantom has songs that are so familiar and current even in pop culture today. Love Never Dies had one great operatic performance, but it came at the end. I found myself on the edge of my seat craving the intense and enigmatic performances that were a hallmark of the original. As all the players return once more to star in one of the Phantom’s epic drama’s there is just one question left to be answered… Does love never die? You be the judge.
