Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Love Never Dies Plot (Contains Spoilers!!!)

If you are planning to watch Love Never Dies and don't want the ending ruined for you, then read no further. If you are like me, anyhow, who is not planning on traveling to the West End to see it, or to go to New York when it opens in the USA next year, and yet you are dying to know the story, then this post is for you.

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The following is from the Love Never Dies musical page on Wikipedia:

Act I

In a brief prelude, Madame Giry walks along an abandoned pier recalling Phantasma, Coney Island's 'City of Wonders' ("Prologue"). She is then confronted by Fleck, a freak who once worked with her there, who reminds her of 'the good old days' and blames her for 'what happened.' The audience is transported back in time through "The Coney Island Waltz."

It is now ten years after the events at the Paris Opera House, and the setting is at Phantasma on Coney Island in New York. An excited group of vacationers arrive overwhelmed at everything that Phantasma has to offer, and speculate about its reclusive, masked owner - known only as Mr. Y ("Heaven by the Sea"). Meg Giry, Christine Daae's friend from the Opera, is now a headlining performer at Phantasma with Madame Giry, her mother and the Opera's ballet mistress, at her side.

As Meg prepares for her performance, she wonders what the boss will think and states she will be performing "Only for Him." She wins the crowd over with her performance of "Only for You," and learns afterward that Madame Giry has arranged for her to "meet" an important client.

In "The Aerie," it is confirmed that the Phantom is Mr. Y, the mysterious creator and owner of Phantasma. In a dark, private lair in a tower high above the park, he interacts with an automaton that resembles Christine. In spite of the ten years that have passed and his many successes, he still longs to be reunited with her ("Til I Hear You Sing"). Meg intrudes and presses the Phantom to give feedback on her performance, but he dismisses her as an annoyance.

Madame Giry is irritated that the Phantom is still longing to be with Christine after all the help she has given him over the years ("Giry Confronts the Phantom/Til I Hear You Sing - Reprise"). She reveals that she and Meg helped smuggle him out of Paris and to a ship departing from Calais, where he made his escape to America. Ignoring Giry, the Phantom summons Fleck, who appears with two other freaks, Squelch and Gangle. The Phantom has them send a letter to Christine inviting her to come and perform at Phantasma.

Three months later, Christine, Raoul and their son, Gustave, arrive in New York to crowds of paparazzi ("Christine Disembarks"). It is revealed that Christine is no longer performing and that Raoul has spent much of their fortune on drinking and gambling. They are greeted by the freaks who arrive by a strange mechanical horse and carriage and take them to Coney Island ("Arrival of the Trio/Are You Ready to Begin?").

Raoul is angry at the way they have been greeted by the freaks and upsets Gustave by not playing with him ("What a Dreadful Town!"). In spite of Christine's pleas, Raoul leaves to go drinking as Christine tells Gustave to "Look With Your Heart" to try and help him understand his father’s behavior.

After Gustave leaves to go to bed, the Phantom enters and reveals that it was he who summoned her to sing at Phantasma. In "Beneath a Moonless Sky," the Phantom and Christine recall the night of passion they shared the day before her wedding. Early the next morning, Christine awoke prepared to abandon Raoul for the Phantom, but found that the Phantom had left her. He admits that he left because he was too afraid of being rejected by her again.

They recall that "Once Upon Another Time," they thought their love had a chance of succeeding, although current situations prevent that from happening. Gustave wakes up screaming from a nightmare and meets the Phantom for the first time as Mr. Y ("Mother Please, I'm Scared!"). The Phantom promises to show Gustave more of Phantasma the next day.

In the rehearsal studio for Phantasma, Meg unexpectedly reunites with Christine, and is surprised and jealous to learn she will be singing there. Raoul runs into Madame Giry and discovers it is the Phantom who has invited Christine to sing there ("Dear Old Friend"). Christine becomes concerned when Gustave goes missing. The freaks bring Gustave to the Aerie where he is greeted by the Phantom.

Gustave plays a haunting melody on the piano, which leads the Phantom to have a revelation that he could be Gustave's father ("Beautiful"). The Phantom questions Gustave about his feelings and musical abilities, finding that they are kindred spirits. He unmasks himself, believing Gustave will accept him ("The Beauty Underneath"). Gustave is horrified and screams.

Christine enters to comfort a terrified Gustave. When the Phantom presses her about Gustave, Christine confesses to the Phantom that Gustave is his son ("The Phantom Confronts Christine"). The Phantom declares that everything he owns will go to him. A furious Madame Giry overhears this and fears all of her work over the years for the Phantom has been for nothing.
[edit] Act II

Following the ("Entr'acte") we see Raoul sitting alone in a bar contemplating his relationship with Christine ("Why Does She Love Me?"). He is joined by Meg who suggests that he should leave that night with Christine and Gustave.

Raoul refuses, saying he is not afraid of the Phantom, who has since appeared behind the bar. The Phantom makes a bet with a drunken Raoul: if Christine sings Raoul must leave alone; if she doesn't then all their debts will be wiped away. He also makes Raoul question his paternity of Gustave ("Devil Take The Hindmost").

At the beach, it is the last day of the season and the holiday makers are enjoying the experience ("Heaven By The Sea - Reprise"). A balloon then lands on the beach and the freaks advertise that night's performance ("Ladies...Gents!/The Coney Island Waltz - Reprise"). That night, they present Meg, who performs a strip-tease routine about her choice of swimming costume ("Bathing Beauty").

Backstage, Madame Giry tells Meg that the Phantom had not been there to watch the performance, and it had all been for nothing ("Mother, Did You Watch?").

("Before the Performance"), Raoul asks Christine to reconsider her decision to sing, asks her to leave at once if she loves him. As Raoul leaves, the Phantom enters and tells Christine that Raoul knows his love is not enough and that she must sing for him once more.

Alone in her dressing room, Christine recalls the Paris Opera House where she had to make the difficult decision between Raoul and the Phantom. Backstage, Madame Giry, Raoul and the Phantom are wondering whether or not Christine will sing and who will win the bet.

As Christine prepares to perform, Meg makes a hurried exit ("Devil Take The Hindmost - Reprise"). Christine then walks on stage and performs an aria for the crowd ("Love Never Dies") while Raoul and the Phantom watch from the wings.

The Phantom greets an overwhelmed Christine following her triumphant performance. Christine finds a letter from Raoul stating that he has left for good. Christine realizes that Gustave is missing and becomes worried. Fleck reveals she had discovered Meg's dressing room smashed up and seen her with a small figure. Madame Giry believes she knows where she has taken him.

On a pier, a distraught Meg is preparing to drown Gustave when she is confronted by the others. She holds up a gun to them so that the Phantom will listen as she reveals the truth: the resources that Madame Giry has afforded him all these years have mainly come from Meg being forced to work secretly as a prostitute to supporters of Phantasma. The Phantom tries to get the gun from her but in the confusion Meg accidentally shoots Christine.

The Phantom rushes to a mortally wounded Christine as Meg watches, horrified by what she has done. Christine reveals to Gustave that the Phantom is his father. Her final words tell the Phantom that her love for him will never die. They have one final kiss, and she dies in his arms. The Phantom hands the body of Christine to Meg and he comforts Gustave who unmasks him as the curtain falls.

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So, for those of you who have actually scrolled all of the way down and are reading this, this is my assignment for you:

If you are a follower and fellow Phan: Comment and tell us your thoughts? What about the show are you excited about, what bothers you or are you disappointed about?

If you are one of this blog's authors: Make a post telling us your impressions! I'm anxious to what you all like and dislike about the Love Never Dies idea. Over the next few days you can expect my post. I just need the time to write it up and assemble my musings... =D



Pitiful creature of darkness,
What kind of life have you known?
God give me courage to show you,
You are not alone...

16 comments:

Nonexistant anymore said...

Well, now I know. I must not watch this. :) It sounds even more immoral than the first, more depressing, and messes up all of the characters' characters. Perhaps if I were already in love with the story and characters then I would automatically like this new thing, but since I only like the movie because it was well done, has beautiful music, and I wanted to like it for the sake of my friends, all I can say about Love Never Dies is that from the storyline it appears very immoral and unchristian with no redemption. It's sad that all this talent isn't used for the glory of God but for glorification of sin.

I'm really sorry if my thoughts offend anyone--I don't mean them that way.

Cassandra said...

Merriette- They don't offend me. I feel the same way...disappointed. It could have been amazing and they ruined it. I will never go and see it. I might listen to one or maybe two of the good songs, but I will never take the story as a whole.

Matthew Ventura said...

As a sequel to The Phantom of the Opera, Love Never Dies fails. I have high hopes for the music (not having heard any of it yet), but the storyline as I know it already makes it not worth seeing. Like you said, it could have been amazing and they've ruined it. I only hope it doesn't become well-known and associated with the real Phantom of the Opera.

Matthew.

Katrina said...

I think it was actually very well planned and i enjoyed everything... But the End when she was shot. That part disappoints me. I mean, when she finally realizes she is in love with Erik, she dies. What kind of an ending is that? Other than that, i loved it.

Unknown said...

Oh, wow. I'm late in getting into this. I love the original Phantom of the Opera. Love Never Dies is almost like a fantasy come true for me, but the ending just had to be tragic, but at least the kid knows who is real father is. I personally like Ramin's singing better, but Ben was pretty good at getting the Phantom's emotions out. Overall, I thought this is an interesting sequel, but it doesn't feel completely like a sequel. More like a tragic romance fanfiction. I'm disappointed at the ending and wish that there was a more alternate ending. Us Christine/Erik fans are basically crying even more now.

Unknown said...

As a sequel of the Phantom of the opera, I'm disappointed! All the characters personalities have changed. The storyline is lousy... But I'm sure the music will be good though!
-Stephanie, a die-hard Phan.

Unknown said...

It connects all of the stories. Christine must die because the ending of the POTO movie shows Raoul visiting a YOUNG Christine in the cemetery. Once, you watched this it will make you appreciate the original more.

Unknown said...

I've watched both, phantom of the opera and love never dies.
I think phantom of the opera is better, from the story and the music. The story seems so live and true. (although I hate the end, If I were christine I would choose phantom. though he's hidious, horrible, murderer.. I love the caracter of Phantom, The genius Eric)

In Love never dies, the character of all figures here seems absurd.
Meg, christine's best friend become a jealousy, Madam Giry too, Raul who success win christine love before being a drunker who full of gambling debts after marry her. What the hell..

My favorite scene in Love never dies is "Beneath a moonless sky"

Phantom is PHANtastic in both film.

*You are my angel of Music.. Let me hear you sing once more..

Anonymous said...

If you look at this from the movie and musicals point of view, it seems possible. But in the novel it would be impossible, seeing as Erik dies three weeks later after Christine's last encounter. And personally as a long running Phan I am pretty disappointed. All the characters are completely different. Raoul is a drunk, and meg and Madame giry are jealous. The one thing I'm completely fine with it's that Gustave is the Phantoms child(I've always dreamed of this). But, WHAT THE HELL! Meg shoots Christine? NO! That is the worst thing they could've done! I refuse to believe that actually happens!


Here is my criticism! Overall, I don't like it. Sorry!
-A disappointed Phan

Anonymous said...

If you look at this from the movie and musicals point of view, it seems possible. But in the novel it would be impossible, seeing as Erik dies three weeks later after Christine's last encounter. And personally as a long running Phan I am pretty disappointed. All the characters are completely different. Raoul is a drunk, and meg and Madame giry are jealous. The one thing I'm completely fine with it's that Gustave is the Phantoms child(I've always dreamed of this). But, WHAT THE HELL! Meg shoots Christine? NO! That is the worst thing they could've done! I refuse to believe that actually happens!


Here is my criticism! Overall, I don't like it. Sorry!
-A disappointed Phan

Phantom Luver1 said...

I personally found Love Never Dies to be a beautiful story with glorious music. A tiny bit irked at alot of the changes to the original Phantom, but all was forgiven for the great performances, & breathtaking music. I loved Till I hear you sing, & the beauty underneath.

Unknown said...

Gerard Butler not in it,that stinks

Unknown said...

Gerard Butler not in it,that stinks

Unknown said...

I think its meh in the most part. Some parts I think are wrong and awful like meg being used as a prostitute. It does connect the stories, but its not the sequel that it should be.

Unknown said...

I think it was actually pretty good! Well, I saw the first movie and now I've finally seen Love never Dies, in my opinion for all the peeps that are saying: "I didn't like it, the personalities are so DIFFERENT!" Well, let 10 years pass and let me know if you have the same personality as before. What I didn't like was the ending, I agree that it was too tragic and poor Christine.. Ohmy. She was again in the same issue, like if somebody was pointing a gun to her head. What I don't have very clear was if Gustave chose to be with Erik or Raoul, (in the version I saw at the ending when Christine dies Raoul is present at that moment).

Unknown said...

I honestly loved it....until the horrible and extremely disappointing ending. Love Never Dies was about to be my new favorite musical/theaterical production until that ending. Why must this story end so sadly? I wish it ended with Christine and Erik living their "happily ever after." However, I definitely see how this seems for like fan service than anything else to some people. What can I say? Us Erik x Christine fans are desperate for the ending we want so bad.

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