Love Should Have Died
I finally listened to Andrew Lloyd Webber's Love Never Dies, sequel to POTO. Let me play devil's advocate for a brief moment by saying that there are a few good things in this show including some gorgeous music, but sadly, this is just an awful show with terrible lyrics, a bad plot, and a horrible presentation of the characters we POTO fans have come to love.
First of all, let me just say that Ramin Karimloo is amazing. Seriously a wonderful singer whose rendition of "Til I Hear You Sing" brought me nearly to tears. The man has a voice and not only that, he's a wonderful storyteller; he's not just a Lloyd-Webber "doll" who just sings and has nothing else behind the voice. (More on that later).
I really liked some of the orchestrations, including "The Aerie" which I thought sounded beautiful, yet haunting. It was one of the few songs that lacked that awful synth sound that some of the other songs had (can you say "Beautiful Underneath" anyone? Seriously, what was with that song? I felt like I was in JC Superstar).
Then there's Meg. It makes me sad that (1) she's played by someone who has an annoying voice, (2) she's become the villain in the story, (3) she is in love(?) with the Phantom, yet she was scared of him in POTO, (4) she does a topless number in the show, (5) she's been raped and or whored herself out, (6) she's an "Ooh La La" girl, (7) her character is basically completely different. And about those "Ooh La La" girls? Don't get me started on the lyrics, but the style of their numbers are all wrong! The show is supposed to take place in 1907, yet these girls are singing songs closer in style to 1940s-1950s (did anyone think they sounded like the Hot Box girls!?). Turn of the century music is vaudeville, ragtime and some jazz influences. OH yeah, and then there's the wonky timeline. I should mention that. POTO takes place in 1881, the sequel in 1907...yet Lloyd-Webber is saying the events take place 10 years after POTO ended. Ummm...did he forget how to count here? *sigh*
Fleck sounds like OBC Eponine. 'Nuff said there.
Poor, poor Raoul. What happened to him? Why is he so angry!? Why make him a gambler and terrible father? Good grief. This musical makes him out to be a bad guy and that does a disservice to his original character.
"Look With Your Heart" reminded me of a song and sentiment that belongs in Carousel.
And then there's the retcon song. Where do I begin with this? I listened to it twice so I could really hear these awful lyrics.
"Cloaked under the night/With nothing to supress/A woman and a man/No more and yet no less"
I mean really? Also, she says that she went to find him after he hid, so does this "Beneath a Moonless Sky" crap happen after the events of POTO? If so, why would she find him to tell him goodbye, when she had already done so? This is indeed 7 1/2 minutes of non-sensical exposition and terrible music.
Gustave is annoying. I think I understand why Meg tried to kill him.
I liked "Devil take the Hindmost," but I have a soft spot for male duets. :-P I did, however, have to look up the phrase. I don't know if it's a British thing, but I had never heard that phrase before.
Of course, there are repeats of the POTO score including "Prima Donna" and "Little Lotte." This did not bother me at all because he didn't reuse the entire score, but it was a nice touch to remind you of the music from the first show.
Sierra....oh how I loved you in Mermaid, but seriously what was up with your performance here? Her voice is gorgeous for sure, but her acting ability leaves me wanting. I'm not getting the subtle performance that I got from Ramin in "Til I hear you sing." I think this is an ALW thing because I feel that Sierra has morphed into Sarah Brightman for this role. Not happy.
I think that's all I can manage right now. I was an emotional wreck after listening to the score, and not because of the "tragic" end, but because I was so angry at Lloyd-Webber for putting the fans into this position. He says that the fans have been clamoring for this sequel--who wanted this thing? ALW just wants his money, but I doubt the show is going to make up for his investment.