Lee Mead Forum

I was sure we had a thread for this somewhere, but couldn't find it!

Anyway, in case anyone is planning to go and see Love Never Dies, I have just found out that they are doing a special Charity Gala performance on Tuesday 16th March with all proceeds going to the GOSH Theatres for Theatres appeal. As GOSh is currently our chosen charity, I thought a few LoveLees may be interested in going.

This is a link to the GOSH website with more details .... LINKY THING

LOL
Claire

Ok, so I decided to do a Review of LND, I have tried not to 'spoil' too much but be warned if you decide to read on



I saw the show (Saturday Matinee 27th Feb) and thought it was fabulous. I’m a fan of the original – I’m a sucker for a good love story and the soundtrack can have me in tears! – and having read a couple of negative reviews decided to go along with an open mind and decide for myself.

I loved it! I liked the references to the original story, such as starting when everything was all over then watching time go backwards to see the full story. Plus the musical references from POTO such as the tune from the musical box, the ominous notes when we first see the Phantom and he’s ‘obsessing’ over Christine and some bars from AIAOU when Raoul is begging Christine not to sing!

As I expected tho the music was absolutely new, it had to be it’s set 10 years after the original and written 20 odd years after the original. I loved the ‘rock’ sound produced by the 'gorilla' and the songs Til I Hear You Sing, Look With Your Heart, Devil Take The Hindmost and Love Never Dies especially.

The characters have matured, after all they are 10 years on from the original. Christine was still under the spell of the Phantom even tho she wasnt aware of it until she was in his presence again. Raoul was no suprise, how many men stay attentive & loving? Happy ever after does not exist! and as usual realises what he’s lost when its too late The Phantom had been able to forge a more ‘normal’ – at least for him – life on Coney Island. After all it was the place to be for freaks & oddities so he was able to move about more freely and create a place for himself.

The emotion that was in the theatre on Saturday was so thick you could have sliced it with a knife, a pin dropping would have been heard at times during the performance as even the usual ‘rustlers’ (you know who you are!) must have held their breathes as the story unfolded. Ok, you can almost anticipate how its going to pan out but come on, we’re not there to watch a complicated story with a multitude of side stories to try & keep up with – you can get the box set of Lost for that!!- but are there for an amazing performance from a superb cast, with fab sets and great music.

The Standing Ovation – at least from the Stalls and the Dress Circle where I was sitting – was thoroughly deserved!

Glad you enjoyed it Ange. will have my own take on it after Saturday

Interesting Ange.

On Wed. there was certainly no standing ovation. Well, about 6 people stood up. It seems that there have proably been a few changes since then. I was told that they were altering things day by day. I must admit that the theatre was very quiet with no rustling or whispering. I did have reservations about certain aspects of the show, but it is certainly mesmerising.



Ramin and Sierra after the performance on Wed. 24th. Feb..................Maiden Lane, of course.

Ooh would love to hear your thoughts too Tricia

I don't imagine for one minute that everyone's going to like it as we're all different and not all going to like the same thing. What I have found astonishing on reading review sites about LND is the amount of negative responses from many people who haven't even been to see the show and saying that having heard about it will certainly not be seeing it!
It's impossible to have an opinion about the show when you've not seen it. Yes, you can have thoughts about what you may have read or heard, as I did, but surely the only way to form your own opinion is to witness it for yourself?

Anyhoo, for me at least, it was worth the ticket money - tho being a tight wad I deliberately booked the 'redistricted view' seats in DC row C and saved a few bob

Great pic Sal

Well I saw the show on Monday and I must say I thoroughly enjoyed the music and the effects.

Ramin was still off ill, so we had Tam as Phantom and I absolutely loved his voice and acting. Very, very strong. I actually preferred him over Ramin, which I didn't think I would! It also meant Johnny was on as swing, bonus!

I loved the few themes reminiscent of the original Phantom, but more than that I adored the new music too. Most especially the songs Phantom sang, from 'Till I hear you sing once more' to his duets with Raoul (yay, Joseph Millson!) and Gustave. I loved the special effects, and I loved the three freaks. I liked title song 'Love never dies', though it wasn't a show stopper it was hauntingly beautiful.

As for the story... It's been said that Love Never Dies is it's own worst spoiler. I guess that's true. And in general I had major, and I mean MAJOR, issues with the story. I don't expect outstanding literature, I don't mind plot holes, but neither did I expect to be staring at the stage in disbelief. Repeatedly. Characterization and plot were, imho, both completely non-existent, and the story pained me as much as I loved the music.

Which left me in a bit of a dilemma in the interval. I knew it would be a love/hate show, I just expected that to be love OR hate, not love AND hate By the end of the show, nothing much had changed. Except Tam as Phantom, Joseph as Raoul and ickle Gustave won me over. So I joined in in the standing ovation, and I will even happily go and see the show again (when Tam's on). Just don't ask me to recommend it, because I still don't really know what to make of the whole thing!

I absolutely loved LND when I saw it a couple of weeks ago. I thought the story was great, had no problems with following it, and thought Ramin was fantastic. I thought Love Never Dies was a total showstopper, which sent shivers down my spine - each to their own I guess.

I can't wait to go again - but with Wicked and Lee's concerts, I think I'll be waiting some time!

It's great to hear different thoughts on this 'Marmite' show


It's certainly a show I'd go see again given the opportunity and its the music, main characters and the staging that do it for me, this means that -for me - the 'plot' is less significant

Marieke, it seems as though you felt much the same way as I did. Very mixed feelings ...... love AND hate. I really didn't know how to feel.

Since then I have bought the CD and played it a lot. I find most of the numbers amazing. Now I know the plot, I think I will see the show quite differently. I had some pre-conceptions that got in the way. Also, I believe there have been a few changes since I went (the 3rd preview).

Anyway, I'm going again this Thurs. and will report back.

I thought I had said what I thought of LND's on here but obviously failed to.
Its a while since i went March 6th to be exact.
I loved the set thought it was so well done. We had great seats I think F in the stallls.
There was an announcement at the begining that Ramin was feeling unwell but didn't wan to disappoint so would be on. Phew was so glad. he started off a bit subdued but to be honest as he warmed up he was brilliant. he has a perfect vouce for the Phantom. My only criticism was the mask and hair which i felt needed adjust ment as they made his head look odd.Am just being picky.
Sierra Borge made a really good Christina and Joseph milson a very convincing Raoul.and Summer strallen was extremely good as Meg Giry.
A great supporting cast. The story i suppose is a bit light but hey its a musical not grand opera.
I love ALW stuff so may be a bit biased. This was one of the last preliminaries so i am looking forward to going to see it later in the run once they've all got into their stride.

Great to see more reviews on this. Will be interested to see what you guys think when you've seen it again

Marmite show, I like that!

I guess it is a case of each to their own, and fortunately so! How boring would it be if we would all like the same things

I can actually add my comments here since I saw the show last Monday. Now I very much was looking forward to this so if anything I was in the want to love it category. Unfortunately I did not love it. I saw it with Tam who was absolutely fine and did a great job. The show itself has amazing effects. My problem was I didn't like the story. And those 3 characters from Rocky Horror Show have no place. For me the music was not memorable and two minutes after they finished I could not remember them. At the interval there were many people talking about how disappointed they were. But the greatest sign for me that I didn't like it was that I started yawning thru the Phantom's and Raoul's duet. And I did not like the ending. I was so disappointed. I am in the not love category.

Awww thats a shame Graziella
however, as Marieke said, we can't all like the same thing as how boring would that be?

Thank for your review

(First, I know its a RIDICULOUSLY long time since I posted here - sorry, I sort of got distracted with Twitter and other forums so never really got round to logging back in - I just wanted to read your views on Lee in Wicked )

Love Never Dies... I've seen it twice - once in previews, once after opening night. And although I have some MAJOR issues with some of it (The Beauty Underneath should never have been written, let alone staged. A vile piece of theatre) there are some beautiful songs (I love Once Upon Another Time and Devil Take The Hindmost) so I have very mixed views.
I will just say that the major talent of the show in my eyes is the lovely Joseph Millson as Raoul. He is the only character I actually felt sympathy for. Much as he plays an abusive alcoholic, the poor guy only ever wanted Christine's love, and he always had to settle for being second best. Joseph is a fantastic actor, a great singer, and all round lovely guy. Ramin is obviously very passionate about this show and plays the Phantom very well.

Don't worry about not having posted for a while Nic, everyone's welcome to dip in & out at will

I did quite like Beauty Underneath tho

Hey ho, the world would be a boring place if we all thought the same things

Totally agree with about Raoul, poor guy I think he always knew Christine loved the Phantom more she knew it herself!

Joseph was absolutely amazing! I absolutely adored Devil Take The Hindmost! And he made me dislike him, which, considering I mostly knew him as Maria's dad in the Sarah Jane Adventures, was quite a feat! It pitied him, too, in a "tragic fool" kind of way.

I'm not quite sure about The Beauty Underneath yet! I really liked the song, I did have issues with the staging, especially the latter half. I tend to skip that part when I listen to the soundtrack. The only song I did have real problems with was "Beneath a Moonless Sky". It just sends me into fits of giggles.