For some reason, I just didn't "get" Love Never Dies, the much-awaited sequel to Phantom of the Opera. The characters are the same, with Christine, Raoul, the Phantom, and even Christine's childhood friend Meg playing integral roles, but the plot feels contrived and cliche. Gustav (who is Christine and Raoul's son) turns out to be the product of a night of "touching" between the Phantom and Christine…meaning he is the Phantom's son…who would've seen that coming? Yes, apologies for my sarcasm, but nothing felt real or surprising tonight. Another example? Raoul makes a bet with the Phantom (who happens to just "appear" as the bartender at Coney Island's bar) about whether or not Christine will sing for the Phantom's show. If she sings, Raoul must head back to France, leaving Christine and Gustav with the Phantom. If she agrees to leave with Raoul, instead of singing in the show, the couple's debts will be paid and the Phantom will leave them alone. This scene left me wondering who makes bets of this caliber, or keeps their bet once they've sobered up - it just seems so unnatural not to fight for your loved ones...but apparently Raoul keeps his end. When Christine starts singing, Raoul is crestfallen and departs for France, without considering that Christine is singing because it is her passion and not because she is making a conscious choice between the two men. Raoul leaves no goodbye to Gustav, the boy he believes is his son.
The play falters on to its dramatic and weird finish. The moment Raoul leaves for good, the Phantom and Christine realize that Gustav has disappeared…dun dun dun dun. Who has him? Why, Meg, of course, who's jealous about the attention the Phantom gives to Christine, and who's slept with pretty much every guy that side of the pond. (This is about the time I want to start smacking myself in the head.) What's Meg doing? Trying to kill Gustav? What? We watch as Christine and the Phantom come upon Meg, singing a song about drowning to the young boy. Christine grabs her child, and Meg pulls out a gun. (A GUN?!) She aims at the Phantom, then at herself, then shoots Christine. As Christine lies dying, shot by her former friend, she kisses the Phantom for the first time, pretty much ignoring her son who sits with his head down.
If one overlooks the plot, the theatrics of the play were fantastic. The rotating stage, the 3-D imagery, and the circus scenes were visually stunning, and helped breathe some life into what I thought was a very lackluster show.
--
Melanie Gin
UCLA
This is very interesting and you make worthwhile comments, especially about the lack of cohesion in the narrative. I'm really pleased that you can analyse all those aspects of the performance that did not work for you, without ignoring those you do like. Well considered. Dr Q
ReplyDelete