By Kimberly Harper
“Love Never Dies,” the sequel to Andrew Lloyd Webber’s smash hit “The Phantom of the Opera,” is at PPAC this week and if the idea of an author abandoning all canon, character traits and concept of narrative doesn’t make you want to run screaming, there’s also the fact that it’s set on Coney Island.
Set 10 years after the Phantom disappeared in the bowels of the Opera House, he’s somehow ferried himself across the Atlantic to set up shop building a freak show for Coney Island. He’s aided by the original show’s Madame Giry and her daughter, Meg, except now they’re vengeful and mad at Christine for stealing Meg’s chance at stardom (never mind the plot holes there that you could drive a truck through), and pretty much the worst thing they could image would be Christine arriving in America. Which of course, she does, along with her deadbeat husband and son who’s just about as old as the time jump, and, well, guess where that’s going? No, it doesn’t make any sense whatsoever with the original story, but so little of this maddening example of “theater” does that it’s better not to think too hard.
So anyway, the Phantom is still pining for Christine and still stalking her, but he gets her to sing for him by basically threatening the life of her son. She seems eager to recount their one wild night of passion (what? When?) but afraid to disappoint her husband (why?) and eventually reluctantly sings for him. The aria, by the way, is completely over the top, base, and cheesy. And that mad passion they supposedly have for each other? The actors do a decent job but it’s killed by the music.
This is melodrama at its worst and, even worse, the melodrama doesn’t even make sense. It’s one overwrought musical number after another with very little cohesion and the best thing I can say about it is at least it’s under three hours.
I seriously feel sorry for the actors, because they are all talented, and incredible vocalists. I’d love to see them as Christine, or the Phantom, or Raoul, etc.…in the original production. Gardar Thor Cortes (the Phantom) and Meghan Picerno (Christine) are both wonderful operatic singers. Jake Heston Miller as the young Gustave is an extremely adept actor and singer, especially given his age. They’re a joy to listen to,, but as it is their talents are wasted in this dog of a show that’s really just proof that Sir Webber has surrounded himself with too many people afraid to tell him no. Don’t go. Take a page from the original musical and “turn your face away.” There’s nothing good here besides the actors and some nice set and lighting concepts, and unfortunately, nothing can redeem this.
“Love Never Dies” runs through Dec. 31 at the Providence Performing Arts Center, 220 Weybosset St., Providence. Tickets can be obtained at the box office, by calling 401-421-2787, or online at www.ppacri.org
