Musical composer Andrew Lloyd Webber made Love Never Dies a sequel to The Phantom Of The Opera, one of the most popular musicals ever worldwide. The sequel was received varyingly in England, but a different creative team created a successful production in Australia. This version won three Helpmann Awards; for best costumes, sets and lighting. This DVD features the beautifully filmed Australian
… production, directed by Simon Phillips and starring Ben Lewis as The Phantom and Anna O'Byrne as Christine. Instead of 'fin de siècle' Paris, this story is set in New York, around 1907. The Phantom has built a new life as an agent on the Coney Island peninsula with quirky freaks in an amusement park. He misses Christine and lures the opera singer to America with a mysterious offer. She comes with her husband Raoul and son Gustave: they badly need the money because of Raoul's alcohol and gambling addiction. The setting of Coney Island provides a beautiful visual spectacle. Lloyd Webber's sumptuously romantic score, the thriller-like plot and convincing performances of the players are also compelling. (SvdP)more