"I really loved 'Phantom' itself and I felt it resolved itself. That was the end of the story. When I saw there was going to be a sequel, I couldn't quite imagine him resurrecting himself in the way they showed." Nice to get an official seal of disapproval from the original stage Phantom for the abomination that is "Love Never Dies". Along with that, this was a wonderful interview. Michael is an extremely kind, talented person. Thanks for posting.
I met Michael Crawford at a signing in Brisbane about 10 years ago and he was very gracious and one of the nicest people I've ever met.He told me that he based some of Frank Spencer's D.I.Y disasters, like his inability to build a chook house without it collapsing, on his own attempts at doing things around the house and having them go wrong. Hard to believe the man who plays the hopelessly inept Frank is so talented in real life.
Michael seems like a very charming, funny, humble, and friendly man! I wish I could have a conversation with him! He is so interesting and down-to- earth; with so many stories to share! I could listen to him talk for hours and hours :-)
Long time fan of Michael's...saw him live in LA at the PBS special (which was awesome) & got to meet him briefly...I still greatly enjoy listening to him!! and always will. very very nice & talented guy
I'm not surprised that he feels Phantom resolved itself in the end, and that was the end of the story. He couldn't quite imagine the Phantom "resurrecting himself in the way they had in mind." The fact that he did not go see it (He was in London while it was still running) IS a statement. He rarely or never disparages professional colleagues or their work, and if he never sees it, he doesn't have to answer in any more detail than he does here about what he thinks of it. When the Phantom, a character he had a large part in creating and still loves, sings, "It's over now, the music of the night," it should have been over.
+Sally Scheef The story absolutely resolved itself. LND just didn't make sense. It's like the Phantom hadn't learned anything. In the original, he's supposed to be a hot mess of a ruined (unloved) person who at least gets the chance to do something good and right for the person he loves, sacrificing his (likely unattainable) needs for her happiness and wellbeing after she gives him that moment of physical connection...that's the beauty of it. The end. Not continuing to stalk and manipulate her and start it all over again. Eh, ALW just wanted to cash in on his previous success. At least some of the songs are nice.
He seems so sweet and charming and funny. And cute as ever. I also am glad he voiced his opinion on that mess that is LND, allthough he did it as graciously as one could, considering ALW is a friend.
Michael Crawford - an amazing compassionate talent. Arguably the best Phantom taking into account his vast repertoire and abilities. Mind you Anthony Warlow is hard to beat on the musical side and was a great feature in the Phantom’s 25th anniversary. Pity Michael’s role was not more prominent… after all he was the quintessential Phantom.
LND, by itself, isn't a bad idea. If Andrew had changed the characters' names, he might have very well had a somewhat decent original show. But it's not a stand-alone show; it's tied to PotO. Erik goes from being traumatized in a freakshow as a child to running one himself? Christine screws her soon-to-be-husband's rival the night before her wedding? Raoul changes from a kind aristocrat who was ready to die for the woman he loves to an alcoholic, wife-neglecting jerk? (CONT)
@Blair Bart II Its not cannon. ALW said it should be considered a stand alone play. Of course he was covering his tracks and was very much milking the POTO tit anyway, but he explicatly said it should be considered stand alone
@Blair Bart II ""I don't regard this as a sequel; it's a standalone piece," Lloyd Webber said. www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/andrew-lloyd-webber-sets-phantom-89815
he aged well he was on a talent show actually on itv with Freddie Flintoff xmas eve last year so happy too happy he thought Rebecca front could sing but he helped corrie star lucy fallon be winner !😙
As for me, no, I haven't seen LND (I live in the States), but I know the plot and have watched reviews on it and so seeing the show on DVD or live wouldn't change my mind. I admit, some of the sets and costumes are very impressive, and even some of the music is nice (though not as good as the original), and again, that's why it's such a disappointment--it could have been good or even great if they ditched the "making it a 'Phantom' sequel" thing and creating original characters.
I don't have a problem with Andrew writing a sequel. I'm not crazy about the idea, but if he wanted to do it, fine, that's his business. But what I don't like is how arrogant he was about it (calling fans opposed to it "sad and pathetic" when we're the ones who kept his original "Phantom" onstage for 20+ years) and the awful source material of "Phantom of Manhattan" (Really? There weren't better story ideas out there?) (CONT)
I love him he is so funny he makes me laugh I wish that there could do something like that again they have tried to but they tend to swear a lot and will be violent and I don't like those two in comedy and Some Mother's Do Have them they're never swear or had to use violence to make you laugh it was just good entertainment like Kath and Kim they were excellent you just got a have it like on the buses to that's British ..😊😁💖
Does anyone else besides me think it was ironic that not too long after this, One Direction came out w/ a song actually called "The Story of My Life"? Coincidence? I'm not so sure.
At the end of the day, Andrew Lloyd Webber is an artist. Despite Phantom being based on an (awful) novel, the musical of Phantom is undeniably Webber's. He felt an artistic inclination to continue the story and he followed that instinct. As is his right to do. Have you even actually seen the musical? Admittedly the London version was unfinished and in need of a good edit, (which it all got for the Melbourne version, a far superior production)CONT
But to try to sabotage it and call a beautiful piece of art an “abomination” is just so wrong on so many levels. I am sick of petty, artistically backwards idiots bad-mouthing LND because they have some weird sense that they own the musical and have any right to either Phantom or LND.
Things like that make LND a cheap cash-in and it insults not only Andrew's original musical, but the original novel by Gaston Leroux. Yes, Andrew can do what he wants with his incarnation of the story, but he seems to forget that "Phantom" was a novel and several films before his version ever came about, and when he struts around acting like he owns the story and not even listening to the fans who helped put his original show where it is today, it makes him look like an ungrateful, ass. (CONT)
