Love Never Dies Review

Love Never Dies
Andrew Lloyd Webber
Regent Theatre, Melbourne

THE Phantom of the Opera proves love never dies in the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s blockbuster musical that has entertained millions for a quarter of a century.
Australia should be very proud of its production of Love Never Dies which Andrew Lloyd Webber has described as the production he had in mind when he collaborated with Ben Elton to come up with the continuation of the story of the famous Phantom.
So impressed with the local result, Andrew has reworked the London West End production to mirror several of the innovations Aussie director Simon Phillips and Czech immigrant Gabriela Tylesova have come up with for this production that is currently playing at the magnificent Regent in Melbourne.
He also told producer Tim McFarlane that he wants to tour his production to the rest of the world.
This is an extra-ordinary accomplishment considering the resources English live theatre has compared to Australia.
But we have got the runs on the board with internationally recognised local productions of musical theatre’s great works from Cats to Les Miserables.
The script and music for Love Never Dies is a mammoth collaboration which continues the story originally written in the early 1900s by French author Gaston Meroux.Andrew’s music is complemented by Glenn Slater’s lyrics with additions from Charles Hart.
The story comes from a book by Andrew and Ben Elton with credits also going to Glenn Slater and Frederick Forsyth.
The stage play has had a 20 year gestation and Andrew admits it was Ben Elton who convinced him to stick with the original protagonists which ended up overcoming a stumbling block that had held the project back.
Another key to the sequel’s success is the change of location from the Paris Opera House to America’s Coney Island at its heyday at the beginning of the 20th century.
Andrew credits the late Maria Bjornson with helping him workshop the location change in the early 1990s after she had been responsible for the original designs of the London production of Phantom of The Opera.
The melodrama continues 10 years after the Phantom left off with Christine Daae now married to Raoul and an international singing success.
The Phantom has relocated to Coney Island and he connives to bring Christine, Raoul and their son Gustave to visit his amusement park and its physical sensations that attract enormous crowds.
Coney Island gives Tylesova a magnificently colourful canvas to work her set and costume magic.
Intricate lighting by Nick Schlieper completes the eye-catching recreation.
The Australian cast is led by an exceptionally deep and robust performance by Sydney actor Ben Lewis as The Phantom.
Anna O’Byrne puts in a competent effort as Christine.
Well known Maria Mercedes deserves special mention for a gutsy portrayal as Madame Giry.
The ensemble cast, which make up the misfits of Coney Island entertainers, is another of the production’s successes.
Pint sized Emma J Hawkins almost steals the show as Fleck.
While Love Never Dies does not contain a signature tune like the original, the music is powerful.
Unfortunately the title song is almost lost in the build-up to its presentation.
With all its colour and magnificent staging, Love Never Dies will entertain but, as is often the case, not at the same level of the original.
However, this Aussie innovation of the master of musical theatre’s work is worth the trip down to the big smoke.

7 1/2 stars out 0f 10
-        Robert Gibson 

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