Dear god...

[ebonlock]

Please someone tell me this is a fucking joke:

In early March of 2007, in his website's video blog, Andrew Lloyd Webber announced that he would officially be moving forward in the production of a Phantom sequel. He wasn't ready to release all the details yet (most of them probably yet unwritten), but was able to divulge that it would be set in New York City. From that, it wasn't difficult for everyone to infer that he was in fact writing Phantom of Manhattan as a musical.

[...]

In July 2008, the first act of Phantom: Love Never Dies was performed at Lloyd Webber's annual Sydmonton Festival. From the plot summary provided by attendants of this preview, it seems to be quite similar to the Phantom of Manhattan novel, with the largest apparent difference being that, rather than an amusement park designer, Erik becomes a freakshow proprietor after he reached New York. In the preview, the Phantom was played by Ramin Karimloo, while Raoul was played by Alistair Robbins.

I made the mistake of reading The Phantom of Manhattan a while ago, against my better judgment and though I remember doing so I can't really tell you what happened. I think I've blocked it almost as effectively as I have the events of Star Wars: Episode 3. I can, however, tell you that to this day the very title is enough to make me shudder and head for a corner to rock rhythmically in.

If there's one thing I can't stand it's when people decide to take a classic novel, film, whatever and decide that they should tell the rest of the story. It's not only a terrible idea (which is always, always is), but it's also pretty fucking conceited. I've never understood the thinking and I never will.

On the other hand, apparently John Barrowman is in the running for playing Erik and I know he's got a damn good voice so that would be a relief. But Jesus, "Phantom: Love Never Dies"? The title alone is enough to make me want to retch violently.

Comments

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

Oh, UGH...

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

ALW truly is the George Lucas of the stage...

[rexluscus.livejournal.com]

Seriously.

[ririum.livejournal.com]

D8

B-but I like Episode III.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

And you're certainly entitled to, I have no problem agreeing to disagree on that...so long as we both agree that Phantom 2: Electric Boogaloo is a wretched, wretched atrocity that should never be inflicted upon a viewing audience.

Although now that I'm thinking about the book I seem to recall something about Erik having a Christine femmebot which could certainly be a novel addition to a stage production...

[ririum.livejournal.com]

I agree with you on that. XD

[windrose.livejournal.com]

*curls up in a little ball and keens softly*

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

All I'm going to say here is "Christine sexbot", I do recall that much from the novel. I think I may have to go see the show again while it's here in town...and before ALW decides to yank it out of theaters in favor of his sequel.

[windrose.livejournal.com]

...

Words fail.

[elo-sf.livejournal.com]

Ack!

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

If there's one thing I can't stand it's when people decide to take a classic novel, film, whatever and decide that they should tell the rest of the story.

I dunno. I liked the first "Wicked". And "Rosencrantz and Guildenstern".
I think I can totally understand the thinking.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

As I recall Wicked retold the Oz story from the witch's perspective. It didn't pick up after the whole bucket of water incident to tell us how she survived it and then moved to Manhattan and started running a carnival, etc., etc. It's kind of like that dreadful sequel that was written by a different author many years after Gone with the Wind came out. On the other hand I had no problem at all with "Wide Sargasso Sea" that told the story before Jane Eyre, indeed I quite liked it.

[cyranocyrano.livejournal.com]

That's definitely different. More like the non-Lovecraft stories, or epilogue fanfic, you're right.

[cordeliadelayne]

I had heard this was in the works. *is disturbed*

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

I have to believe Barrowman will be too smart to get himself mixed up in this mess. No matter how much money ALW throws at him.

[eilonwey.livejournal.com]

Just think how much fun this would be to heckle.

But seriously, this is an abomination.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

IT'LL BE LIKE IF SOMEONE BROUGHT TWILIGHT TO BROADWAY! Part of me wants to see this happen, just so I can attend the single performance it'll run for, and laugh my fucking ass off.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

IT'LL BE LIKE IF SOMEONE BROUGHT TWILIGHT TO BROADWAY! Part of me wants to see this happen, just so I can attend the single performance it'll run for, and laugh my fucking ass off.

My own masochism goes only so far, like paying to see the POTO movie. Oh god, I still have flashbacks of those "Point of No Return" back up dancers...

And thanks ever so for putting the idea of a Twilight musical out in the world. If it happens now I'm totally blaming you ;)

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks EVER so much for reminding me of the backup dancers -- I'd nearly managed to block them out! GRRRRR.

And come on, you KNOW someone's going to do a Twilight musical eventually. Heh.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Oh, thanks EVER so much for reminding me of the backup dancers -- I'd nearly managed to block them out! GRRRRR.

Sorry, but I could've mentioned the gold painted club kids in Masquerade instead...

And come on, you KNOW someone's going to do a Twilight musical eventually. Heh.

If they do it'll make all the atheists happy for it will prove once and for all that no benevolent higher power exists.

[thunderemerald.livejournal.com]

Thanks SO much. You just made me snarf my tea.

[ebonlock.livejournal.com]

Thanks SO much. You just made me snarf my tea.

Ah, then my work here is done :)