I wrote that I said bye to Jennifer and packed my bags for the UK. I made it back to London (my third trip now) and have to say that one is never short of things to see in London. Highlights this time included eating at The Texas Embassy (slightly disappointing I have to say, burritos were square, chicken quesadillas were a little dry, and the concept of bottomless chips and salsa hasn’t made it across the pond yet, BUT the Baylor University flag is hanging upstairs, and my name is now scribbled across one of the ceiling joists), we also headed to Sherlock Holmes’ museum at 221B Baker street (I really need to read these stories). However, the highest of the highlights came on Tuesday night when I got to see a musical I’ve been dreaming of since my first visit in May.
In March, Andrew Lloyd Weber premiered his new musical, “Love Never Dies.” Have you heard of it? Well, it is actually a sequal to “The Phantom of the Opera.” Now, I had some very mixed feelings about this when I first heard about it, but there was no way whatsoever I could be in London with this musical and not go see it, especially when I wasn’t sure if it would even make it to Broadway (but the jokes on me because it’s apparently coming over next spring!) First of all, I have to say that it’s amazing to me that I got to see a musical only 5 months after if first premiered in the West End with the original cast and everything. Most of what I’ve seen until now are either classics by the time I get (like “Cats” or “Sweeney Todd”) to them or they're critically acclaimed (“Wicked”). Ok, so aside from this I'm sure you chopping at the bit to know what I think about it. Here goes...I have no idea! That's said with certainty, right? Honestly it's taken me days to round out my thoughts. I knew going into the story that it was set on Coney Island which sounds like the worst idea ever, and I by no means was expecting something as good as The Phantom, however, I think I was expecting something thematically similar in musical style (um...alot of organ/electric guitar, large company numbers, and a smattering of more subdued pieces with strings and brass), in theatrical style (what's more of a wow factor than a giant chandelier crashing to stage? I should have thought this through more) and in plot (after seeing Phantom again in May I remembered how very dark the storyline actually is blending murder and kidnapping into the story not to mention the ever presence of a ghost story). In this I don't believe the musical succeeded much ( but then again this was what I was expecting, not necessarily what Webber was attempting).
Also, I have to say that being an huge, huge, HUGE, "Phantom" fan (seriously, when I
saw it the first time at age 11 I was planning on being a Broadway singer) I was slightly horrified at the storyline. The characters did not match their younger counter parts at all. They're either too aggressive or too pacifist and they do things that I'm not sure is unrealistic for the time. I mean yes the characters have surely changed in 10 years, but I think I'd rather see a play about those changes than a play about their results. (I will say no more than this, because some of you may actually want to see the play and I don't want to give everything away).Well then, have you noticed that everything I have criticized this play about has been in relation to the original, "The Phantom of the Opera?" Me too, that's why I'm completely clueless as to how I actually feel because the more I settle on it, the move I adore this musical as a stand alone! Forget you already know the characters and that they're all acting like their in "Invasion of the Body Snatchers," forget that the awesome organ playing the chromatic scale is not there and that nothing massive crashes onto the stage at the end of act 1. The music is absolutely breath taking. I've been listening to it for 3 days now and am constantly singing my own little medley. The singers themselves are amazing especially the Phantom (melt my heart, holy cow) and the little boy that play's Christine's son, Gustav. There is one part where the boy is singing one of three songs that's happening at the same time. I'd never stay on pitch if it were up to me! The story as a stand alone is beautiful and the lyrics portray that as well as other things. There are still kinks to be worked out, the pacing is a bit like a driver's ed student, jostling between too fast and then too slow. But again, I can't tell you how wonderful the music is! (I would post a link to some songs if I could!)So essentially, now that I know what's happening, I would love to see it again to get a better appreciation for it (especially after all the tweeks get worked out)
So there you are, a blog post, and I've written far too much about... a play. Sorry it's not any more interesting for you! I hope to write another one before I leave Ireland tomorrow night to get you caught up on all the Jolly Greeness I'm experiencing over here.
