Love Never Dies

A musical in 2 acts. Book by Andrew Lloyd Webber and Ben Elton; lyrics by Glenn Slater; music by Andrew Lloyd Webber. It is a sequel to the Andrew Lloyd Webber musical The Phantom of the Opera

Adelphi Theatre, London: opened 9th March, 2010 (previews from 22nd February, 2010)

Synopsis

The musical is set in 1907, a decade after the end of Phantom. Christine Daaé is invited to perform at Phantasma, a new attraction in Coney Island, by an anonymous impresario and, with her husband Raoul and son Gustave in tow, journeys to Brooklyn, unaware that it is the Phantom who has arranged her appearance in the popular beach resort.

Story

Act I

In a brief prelude, Madame Giry walks along an abandoned pier recalling Phantasma, Coney Island's 'City of Wonders'. 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.

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 holiday-makers arrive overwhelmed at everything that Phantasma has to offer, and speculate about its reclusive, masked owner - known only as Mr. Y. 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 Eyrie 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. 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. 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 be greeted by crowds of paparazz. 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.

Raoul is angry at the way they have been greeted by the freaks and upsets Gustave by not playing with him. In spite of Christine's pleas, Raoul leaves to go drinking as Christine tells Gustave to try and help him understand his father’s behaviour.

After Gustave leaves to go to bed, the Phantom enters and reveals that it was he who summoned her to sing at Phantasma. 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 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. 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. Christine becomes concerned when Gustave goes missing. The freaks bring Gustave to the Eyrie 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. The Phantom questions Gustave about his feelings and musical abilities, finding that they are kindred spirits. He unmasks himself, believing Gustave will accept him. 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 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.

Act II

Raoul is sitting alone in a bar contemplating his relationship with Christine. 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.

At the beach, it is the last day of the season and the holiday makers are enjoying the experience. A balloon then lands on the beach and the freaks advertise that night's performance. That night, they present Meg, who performs a strip-tease routine about her choice of swimming costume.

Backstage, Madame Giry tells Meg that the Phantom had not been there to watch the performance, and it had all been for nothing.

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. Christine then walks on stage and performs an aria for the crowd 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 realises 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.

Cast

The Phantom	After being surrounded at the Paris Opera House by an angry mob, The Phantom was aided by Madame Giry and her daughter Meg. He came to Coney Island as a freak but rose up and made Coney Island what it is today. He anonymously invites Christine to sing for him after he longs to "hear her sing once more"
Christine Daaé	Now ten years on, Christine has become a world famous opera singer. Unaware that the invitation has come from The Phantom, she readily agrees to perform at Phantasma, hoping to make her American debut with her husband and son.
Raoul, Vicomte de Chagny	Raoul is a changed man from the original. He has lost his fortune due to becoming an alcoholic and severe gambler. Raoul no longer feels the same passion for Christine as he once did and is a constantly angry man.
Madame Giry	Now the antagonist of the show, she despises Christine after realizing The Phantom favors her over Meg even after everything she did to help him. After the original she saved The Phantom from an angry mob for the second time where she took him to Coney Island.
Meg Giry	Has an extended role in this musical. Now a vaudeville singer, she hopes to become a great singer like Christine and expects The Phantom to do just that, although she is greatly disappointed and resentful of her old friend when Christine comes to sing.
Fleck	One of the freaks of Coney Island
Squelch	One of the freaks of Coney Island
Gangle	One of the freaks of Coney Island
Gustave	The love child of Christine and the Phantom, although the Phantom does not know this at the beginning. Raoul has raised Gustave as his own son. Gustave possesses the same musical skills as his mother and father.

Musical numbers

Act 1

Prologue - Madame Giry, Fleck
The Coney Island Waltz - The Orchestra
"That's The Place That You Ruined, You Fool!" - Madame Giry, Fleck
Heaven By The Sea - Ensemble
Only For Him/ Only For You - Meg Giry, Madame Giry, Ensemble
The Eyrie - The Orchestra
Til I Hear You Sing - The Phantom
Giry Confronts The Phantom/ 'Til I Hear You Sing (Reprise) - Meg Giry, Madame Giry, The Phantom
Christine Disembarks - Raoul, Gustave, Ensemble
Arrival Of The Trio - "Are You Ready To Begin?" - Fleck, Gangle, Squelch, Raoul, Gustave, Ensemble
"What A Dreadful Town!" - Christine Daaé, Raoul, Gustave
Look With Your Heart - Christine Daaé, Gustave
Beneath A Moonless Sky - Christine Daaé, The Phantom
Once Upon Another Time - Christine Daaé, The Phantom
"Mother Please, I'm Scared!" - Gustave, Christine Daaé, The Phantom
Dear Old Friend - Meg Giry, Madame Giry, Christine Daaé, Raoul, Gustave, Ensemble
Beautiful - Gustave, Fleck, Gangle, Squelch, The Phantom
The Beauty Underneath - The Phantom, Gustave
The Phantom Confronts Christine - The Phantom, Christine Daaé, Madame Giry

Act 2

Entr'acte - The Orchestra
Why Does She Love Me? - Raoul, Meg Giry, Ensemble
Devil Take The Hindmost - Raoul, The Phantom
Heaven By The Sea (Reprise) - Ensemble
"Ladies... Gents!"/The Coney Island Waltz (Reprise) - Fleck, Gangle, Squelch, Ensemble
Bathing Beauty - Meg Giry, Fleck, Gangle, Squelch, Ensemble
"Mother, Did You Watch?" - Meg Giry, Madame Giry
Before The Performance - Christine Daaé, Raoul, Gustave, The Phantom
Devil Take The Hindmost (Quartet) - Gustave, Raoul, The Phantom, Madame Giry, Meg Giry, Ensemble
Love Never Dies - Christine Daaé
"Ah Christine!" - The Phantom, Christine Daaé , Raoul
"Gustave! Gustave!" - Christine Daaé, The Phantom, Madame Giry, Fleck, Squelch
"Please Miss Giry, I Want To Go Back" - Meg Giry, Christine Daaé, The Phantom, Madam