There’s one show in 2010 that will receive a lot of attention when it begins at the Adelphi Theatre, having been planned for 15 years and appearing on the back of a monumentally successful original that has stayed in the West End for 23 years.
The production takes the form of “Love Never Dies”, the highly anticipated follow up to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s “The Phantom of the Opera”, catching up with the famous character a decade after the events in the Paris Opera House. With the original “Phantom” a continuing success story in the West End and the story engraved in popular culture, “Love Never Dies” is likely to be the theatre event of the year.
A decade after he mysteriously disappeared in France, Christine Daaé receives an invitation to perform at Coney Island in New York, a location where numerous colourful and outlandish performers are known to take to the stage. She accepts the offer and along with her husband Raoul and her son Gustave, travels to the location unaware of the events of her past that are about to visit her once more.
The Phantom has never forgotten about Christine and whilst ten years have passed, he still yearns for the heart of his love. This is why he has invited her to Coney Island and why Christine has been lured away from her Paris home.
Featuring all new music and a brand new stand alone story, “Love Never Dies” is the exciting new chapter in the lives of characters such as The Phantom and Christine, as well as Raoul, Madame Girey and Meg. Andrew Lloyd Webber feels reluctant to even call it a sequel, spelling out his intentions at a press conference in October 2009: “I regard this as a completely stand alone piece. When we began to talk about it again, I thought there was unfinished business.”
He goes on to say it would “be boring to just approach this as a sequel”, which is why both fans of the original and those unfamiliar with the show at Her Majesty’s Theatre will enjoy this production.
Portraying The Phantom is Ramin Karimloo, who is already well versed in the character having played him at Her Majesty’s Theatre in “The Phantom of the Opera”. Amongst his credits is Gustave in the 2004 movie version directed by Joel Schumacher and “Les Miserables” at the Queen’s Theatre.
Opposite him, Sierra Boggess will play Christine, making her West End stage debut in a role that she previously filled in a Las Vegas production of the original. She has also appeared in a Broadway version of “The Little Mermaid”.
“Love Never Dies” makes its highly anticipated appearance on the stage of the Adelphi Theatre from Tuesday 9th March 2010 (previews from Saturday 20th February 2010) until Saturday 23rd October 2010.