Love Never Dies Us Tour Reviews Ft Myers

The Phantom, information technology seems, survived that Paris Opera Firm inferno. X years later, the masked genius lives on Coney Island and runs a vaudeville theater called Mister Y'southward Phantasma.

But some things never change. The Phantom is nonetheless kinda basics and still obsessed over the lovely soprano Christine — now an internationally known opera star. So he lures Christine and her husband Raoul to the States under false pretenses to have her sing for him once over again.

Thus begins "Love Never Dies," the sequel to ane of the most popular musicals of all time. And and then what if it doesn't quite reach the emotional highs or comprise as many unforgettable songs as "The Phantom of the Opera"?

It's still a powerful show packed with swelling emotions, beautiful tunes from Andrew Lloyd Webber, spectacular costumes and sets, a nifty spinning phase, and a new story of love, redemption and, yes, obsession.

The outset U.S. tour of "Beloved Never Dies" plays this week at Barbara B. Mann Performing Arts Hall, and it's well worth seeing — despite an opening dark technical glitch that stopped the show for five minutes in the middle of Human activity ii and ruined some of its momentum.

MORE: 'Phantom of the Opera' sequel swoops into Fort Myers' Isle of mann Hall, function of kickoff U.S. tour

For Tuesday's show, The Phantom was played past understudy Bronson Norris White potato instead of the usual Gardar Thor Cortes.  And while I had some issues with Irish potato'southward acting — I wanted him to be scarier, more passionate and generally accept a bigger phase presence — he rallied in Act ii with a touching, nuanced performance that brought tears to my optics.

The rest of the cast is rock-solid with chill-worthy singing and emotional performances. Meghan Picerno has the necessary beauty and pipes for Christine, but her graphic symbol is stronger and more world-wise now. Sean Thompson plays Raoul, the hero from "The Phantom of the Opera," now kind of a jerk whose gambling has left his family unit in debt. Then at that place's Jake Heston Miller as their son Gustave, a talented pianist and composer with an angelic singing vocalisation (Hmmm, I wonder where that might lead… ).

And while there'due south no atypical moment like "Phantom's" famous crashing chandelier, the visuals in "Dear Never Dies" are nevertheless stunning: Bright and colorful carnival performers wearing bear costumes and walking on stilts; a spooky wagon that picks upward Christine and her family at the pier; a skeletal roller coaster swooping overhead; and specially the hypnotic number "The Dazzler Underneath," with The Phantom trying to get Gustave nether his sway as the stage spins, the fog swirls and creepy beings writhe within a circumvolve of alpine glass pyramids.

MORE:Theater season in SWFL: Your guide to all the plays and musicals in 2017-2018

The pop-opera and vaudeville tunes are practiced too, of course. This is Webber we're talking nigh. Naught will stick in your head quite like the original's "The Phantom of the Opera," "Recall of Me," "The Music of the Night" or "Angel of Music." But "The Beauty Underneath," the beautiful (if slightly cheesy) championship song "Love Never Dies" and the rousing duet "Devil Take the Hindmost" come actually close.

Information technology's hard to top the simple beauty of "The Phantom of the Opera" and its focused story of dearest and obsession. By comparison, "Dearest Never Dies" seems overly complicated — probably a witting choice, though, since life gets progressively more complicated equally the years go by.

"Love Never Dies" has a few other issues, likewise, including occasional scenes that ring simulated. When Christine showtime reunites with The Phantom, for instance, everything feels rushed without enough time for Christine to transition from a faint (yeah, she still does that) to full-on acrimony.

None of my complaints are deal breakers, all the same, and I constitute myself entranced from offset to finish with "Beloved Never Dies." This ii ½ hr show flew by in a dizzy rush of eye candy, soaring music and hanky-worthy emotions.

"Honey Never Dies" tin't outshine the original, true. Just here's the adept news: The music of the night still lives in this worthy sequel.

Connect with this reporter: Charles Runnells (Facebook), @charlesrunnells (Twitter), @crunnells1 (Instagram)

If you go

What: Andrew Lloyd Webber'south "Dear Never Dies"

When: seven:thirty p.m. Th, 8 p.chiliad. Friday and Saturday, and vi:thirty p.m. Sunday. Matinees are 2 p.m. Sat and 1 p.one thousand. Sunday.

Where: Barbara B Mann Performing Arts Hall, 13350 FSW Parkway, south Fort Myers

Tickets: $52-$105 (excluding applicable taxes and fees, prices subject to change)

Info:481-4849 or bbmannpah.com

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Source: https://www.news-press.com/story/entertainment/2017/12/07/review-phantom-opera-sequel-mann-hall/930759001/

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