re: Latest 'Phantom' sequel article

[Not Barker, Todd.]

"See, I'm usually the first person to insist people keep an open mind. I try so hard to live by the life motto "don't knock it until you've tried it". And not even *I* have any hope for this project. Ultimate trainwreck. XP"

Weez, I am so there with you man. We shall give great hope to the spider man, whilst the second phantom will receive only our boos and jeers.

[winston89]

I have no problem saying that I like Phantom. But, I would rather get my nuts chopped off then have to watch this show. I love the ending to Phantom. How the Phantom slips away and you just see his maks. It leaves a bit of mystery as to where he went and how.

But, I just can't see this being any good. Why does he have to even tinker with this.

I know his original idea of this show changed a little bit. He was going to have it open in NYC because the original title at the time was going to be Phantom Of Manhatten. But, I wonder if he is going to keep the other part of his original plan. And that was to have the two Phantom shows running at the same time. He thinks that by people seeing that there is a sequel it will make people want to see the original and then see the sequel. Or if there are people who have seen the original then to rush to the sequel.

I would rather watch a donkey show then this to be honest with you.

[rosscoe(au)]

Which role do you think Patti will play?

[songanddanceman2]

The show will play the Adelphi theatre which is not that big of a theatre so i cant see the staging been as big as the original.

[achangeinme]

I'm considering kidnapping Webber and not releasing him until he swears under oath to change his mind. The man is officially off his rocker! The more I think about this, the more frustrated I get. Is HE the only one who doesn't see that this is a huge flop in the making?

[SDav 10495]

The show will play the Adelphi theatre which is not that big of a theatre so i cant see the staging been as big as the original.

Terrific, so they're not even trying to keep the grand staging--one of the best aspects of the original--on the same scale. This sounds like a steaming pile of awesome.

[songanddanceman2]

It will have to rely on its book...........oh dear

[MCfan2]

"I'm considering kidnapping Webber and not releasing him until he swears under oath to change his mind. The man is officially off his rocker!"

I'm in! You knock him down and I'll throw the net over him.

[SDav 10495]

Poster just released:

[Urban]

Of course now ALW will have to answer questions like 'Did the Phantom rape Christine during her hypnotesised state?'

[jimmycurry01]

I am a huge Phantom Phan. It was my first show and started my love for this crazy business we call theatre, but I have to say I think this is a bad idea. I read the novel The Phantom of Manhattan back when that was the planned synopsis, was that novel, and the story wasn't a bad story if you pretended it had nothing to do with The Phantom of the Opera at all, but it would make an awful musical. I would also think Webber would notice that A) Musical Sequels have always been flops in the past B) Broadway doesn't seem to like any new Andrew Lloyd Webber material, or even new stagings of his old stuff for that matter, and C) Musical Sequels have always been flops. On the plus side though, the reviews will be a hoot to read.

[into_the_woods2]

i almost feel bad...the most pre-destined joke in broadway history.

i actually really really like phantom, but sequel? come on.

[amalou]

ALW may be going through a mid-life crisis but why do we all have to suffer the consequences? There's really no other explanation.

[PitPro2004]

Why is it that someone successful like ALW has to hop on the current gravy train of reality show crap? Love him or hate him, that's really lowering yourself if you ask me.

Love that poster...Carnival Boogaloo...I squealed so hard, think I just peed a little!

[EganFan2]

This is disheartening. Why can't he just be happy with the fact that he has created one of the most successful musicals of all time, one that is considered a classic (whether it's truly "great" or not)?

[skb2010]

Nice photoshopping SDav

[Sally]

Yes, nice Photoshopping

Here's my contribution.

I despise the whole idea of this sequel. The original show ends wonderfully with the Phantom having realized that he can't force or lure Christine into loving him. He gives her up and at great cost to himself, he lets her go off with Raoul.

With a sequel, his sudden understanding of what real love is and his sacrifice are negated. He's back to trying to lure Christine again. By the way, in the Forsyth book, he has built an opera house and wants her to sing his new opera in it--not do a concert.

I think that the summary of the sequel's story is mostly guess work on the part of the writer of the article. I would guess that at this point only ALW and his collaborators know what the story will be and how much of Forsyth's book he uses.

About the title, there is a book of fairy tales for children with the title ONCE UPON ANOTHER TIME-ANOTHER PLACE and a Spanish film from 2000 with the title ONCE UPON A TIME.

[songanddanceman2]

Is this even going to NY?

I know it's opening here in the UK but ive not heard anything about NY

[devonian.t]

The Adelphi was the home of the original Sunset Boulevard production. It is not quite as deep, but wider than Her Majesty's, so there is no problem with scale.

However, please don't say ALW is going through a mid-life crisis: he's 60, and I can't bear another 60 years of his nonsense!

[jasonf]

Question - has there EVER been a successful sequel to a musical? I know we had Annie Warbucks (not good) and Bring Back Birdie (not good) and in the movies Grease 2 (not good) -- has this EVER worked?

I sincerely hope this show turns out amazing. I really do. I don't think it stands a Cats chance on this message board, but I hope it succeeds...

[kylestefanie]

I'm hoping this is all a joke.
Honestly this sounds worse then Shrek and almost as bad as Spiderman.

I really hope this is just a big late April fools joke.

[Not Barker, Todd.]

I was under the impression that Annie Warbucks was actually decent, but that Annie 2 was a complete trainwreck.

[*brina-doll*]

Though this is just a rumor, I am praying (for the sake of Mr. Butler and all else involved) that this DOES NOT HAPPEN:

http://www.gerardbutler.net/news/news_main.php?Action=Full&NewsID=3355

[SporkGoddess]

I love that they're making a musical out of a novel that their dedicated, loyal fans pretty much universally despise.

And, yeah, I heard that news about Gerard. Yikes.

[*brina-doll*]

I'm a big fan of Gerard's, but it's like COME ON. He couldn't sing the role in the first place, why embarrass him even more by putting him on stage?

[Roscoe]

Butler's participation would be the icing on the disaster cake. That wounded-moose bellowing that he subjected us to in the movie, man oh man oh man.

How would they get him to take off his shirt? That's about his only redeeming quality these days.