ALW creates "Phantom of the Opera" sequel!

[Kathryn]

OMG!!!! This is the first I've heard of this! Andrew Lloyd Weber has created a "sequel" (which he views as a "stand-alone piece") to "Phantom of the Opera"

Below is the link to the full article and here is an excerpt:
The new musical will be called "Love Never Dies." It is due to open in London in March. It x will be staged also in New York beginning in November 2010 and will open in Australia in 2011.

The musical picks up a decade after the original's conclusion, and has the Phantom trading his customary hideout beneath the Paris opera house for Coney Island, the iconic Brooklyn amusement park known for its roller coasters and "Nathan's Famous" hot dogs.

Lloyd Weber said he wanted to produce a sequel because the original's ending, which sees Christine leave the brooding Phantom for his rival, Raoul, was unsatisfactory.

"Christine goes off with this boring guy, the Phantom disappears," Lloyd Weber said. He said he wanted to set the piece at Coney Island because, at its turn-of-the-century heyday, it was "the eighth wonder of the world."

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20091008/a...

WHAT DO YOU GUYS THINK!?!?!? On one hand, it is exciting to think of a new ALW musical but, then again, I am nervous about the idea of tampering with "Phantom" and Broadway sequels tend to be terrible. Still, I want to hope for the best! :-)

[Annie]

I think it has potential, aspecially as a stand alone, but you wouldn't want it to be a geriatrics broadway of the phantom which was my first thought. I think in the book the phantom was in his 30's at least so this would put him in 40's or 50's... maybe ALW & Mel Brooks are teaming up. JK!

[El]

I read this article earlier too, but my first impression was it's like what George Lucas did with the Star Wars movies. Sometimes it's just like beating a dead horse. Maybe I'm a traditionalist but I tend to feel if it ain't broke, don't fix it.

[DJ]

El wrote: "I read this article earlier too, but my first impression was it's like what George Lucas did with the Star Wars movies. Sometimes it's just like beating a dead horse. Maybe I'm a traditionalist b..."

Yours in accord!!

[pianogal]

I can see it now, "Love Never Dies: The Phantom rides the Cyclone." Oh, ALW, why do you frighten me so?

[Ann]

I'm not entirely sure what to think! I'm excited, because, if it's good, then there will be another "staple" Broadway show to add to the list. But, it could be a bad idea to tamper with something already so classic... I guess I'm a bit wary, but I *hope* it will be good. :)

[Dottie]

My own reaction is -- not a sequel. BUT -- there are so many, many versions which have been done of the Phantom story. Can one more really damage the best of them?

Secondarily -- immediately I was thinking of the comparison which might be made between the Coney Island Phantom and the quirky film Phantom of the Paradise. Have any of you seen that version? It's the phantom tale mixed with Faustian elements and is absolutely wonderful in my opinion.

[Kathryn]

I have not seen "Phantom of Paradise" but it sounds quite neat! Thanks, Dottie.

[Katri]

I'm not too happy about this... I don't think musicals should have sequels unless it was originally planned that way for some good reason; I don't usually like movie sequels and musicals are even worse suited for that. Also, I've heard nothing but bad things about the book the musical is supposed to be based on. Supposedly it's an absolutely horrid piece of trash, and I've avoided it by several recommendations. Besides, while the musical leaves the matter open to interpretation, in the original Gaston Leroux book the Phantom dies in the end, meaning it's rather stupid to write a sequel.

I think ALW has just ran out of ideas and figures he can do better by using the fame of his original big hit rather.

[Kathryn]

I am sorry to say that I rather agree with you, Katri. I mean, I HOPE it will be good and that ALW felt truly passionate about the project, but this just feels like something marvelous (the original version) that he shouldn't mess with! I kind of liked the open-ended ending and now the new musical will spoil a lot of people's perceptions of what happens... (Assuming, of course, that they actually go see it, haha!)

[Jessica]

I am a little to confused as how he can create a sequal, especially when the main charcaters are either old or dead at the end of Phantom of the Opera. I have read the book as well and I just don't know. There is not much information given to you about Eric's (the phantom) history. It just does not seem to be enough back story to do a whole show.

I agree that it feels like it is going to be like George Lucas making the three that came before the trilogy. Only difference is that Star Wars was a world created by George Lucas. It's easy to create a seques or prequel when it's your world and your charcaters. Not so easy when you are using a book book written a long time ago.