The Story of The Phantom of the Opera Continues in Love Never Dies
August 19, 2010
Writing a sequel to what continues to be the most commercially successful show in theatre history cannot have been easy for musical maestro Andrew Lloyd Webber. Indeed, with numerous “phans” of the original Phantom of the Opera protesting the sequel violently, and then slamming it heavily upon its release, the whole thing has been somewhat disheartening. But there is little cause for this, because Love Never Dies holds its own on the theatre scene, and although it may not be exactly what the Phantom was, it’s a masterpiece of visual eccentricity, currently showing at the Adelphi Theatre in London.
The plot is simple enough, as ten years after the events of Phantom the heroine of the piece, Christine Daae, has become a famous singer. She is summoned to perform at the opening of a new amusement park in Coney Island, a perfect setting for the whirling, colourful spectacle already established in Phantom’s ballroom scenes. The mysterious call, of course, comes in fact from the phantom himself. Christine heads to Coney Island, resentful husband Raoul in tow as well as ten year old Gustave, who may or may not be the Phantom’s biological child.
This is a story that combines romance, intrigue and a hint of gothic melodrama. In Christine, audiences have a heroine who is both strong and fragile. We saw her almost consumed by the phantom and rescued by Raoul, but now we see that it wasn’t as simple as we thought. Christine and the deformed composer shared a night of passion in Paris ten years ago, giving her character an added dimension. The phantom himself remains a menacing and yet vulnerable anti-hero, impossible to think of as a black and white villain. The introduction of Gustave, an innocent child who has to meander through a very adult world, further deepens the message of the story. As Phantom considered the all consuming power of love and obsession, Love Never Dies takes this to a new level by suggesting the bonds of family and biological ties.
If you’re looking for tickets online for Love Never Dies then why not visit LondonTheatre.com and take a look at their fantastic offers on tickets.
History of the Palladium Theatre, London
May 20, 2010
The Palladium Theatre is one of many theatres that was designed by the famous Frank Matcham, who designed several famous theatres including the London Coliseum and the Victoria Palace. This area of London is now full of theatres, with the New London Theatre just down the road.
The Palladium was built in 1910 and is grade II listed building, but the facade dates back to the 19th century and was originally that of Argyll House and features six Corinthian columns.
A large mansion originally stood on the site that belonged to the Duke of Argyll but was demolished in 1865 before being replaced by the Corinthian Bazaar, and then occupied by a circus and then an ice skating rink, both of which were failed ventures.
The building became known as the Palladium Theatre from its opening on the 26th December, 1910 and held a variety of performances including ballet, opera, drama and comedy. The Palladium has always been well known for its variety shows and has seen a number of famous faces treading the boards including Bob Hope, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Judy Garland.
When Val Parnell took over management of the Palladium Theatre in 1945 he not only introduced a number of famous acts but also oversaw the use of the theatre for the ITV Variety TV show Sunday Night at the London Palladium.
The Palladium Theatre saw its first musical Golden Boy, starring Sammy Davis. Jr, open in 1968 and ever since the theatre has been home to a number of musical theatrical productions including The King and I, Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and The Sound of Music. The current production is Sister Act the Musical, starring American star Patina Miller and Sheila Hancock. The London Palladium is now owned by Andrew Lloyd Webber’s Really Useful Group and it will show the new Wizard of Oz musical there in the coming year.
