There were a couple of really moving, spine tingling songs- the duet between the Phantom and Christine and the ending song ‘Love Never Dies’. The actors that played Phantom and Christine both had phenomenal voices. The set and the lighting affects were very impressive, especially in the opening scene. The ending scene between the Phantom and his son was unexpectedly moving.

Loved the actors who played Christine and the Phantom, they are definitely the main selling point of the show. Following on from the amazing ‘The Phantom of the Opera’ it continues the love story in the new setting of New York. Well worth going to see, if only to see how the story continues.

The story falls short of the epic original, but still an enjoyable show with a great cast who give some outstanding performances.

Not as good as The Phantom, but still worth a visit

Extremely dissapointing - a collossal waste of time and money. London has on offer much better shows for less money. Not recommended (at all).

I'm steel reeling with shock and disbelief after seeing LND yesterday. As a huge Phantom fan, I believe this "sequel" makes a mockery of the original story. All the characters have taken a turn for the worse and have no redeeming features. The only character I felt any compassion for was the poor son.

Yes, the sets and effects are spectacular, and the music pretty good, but how can I enjoy that when the story line and characters are so dreadful?

I was very surprised to read some of the negative reviews of this show. My husband and I saw it last Saturday 3rd July (to celebrate his birthday) and were completely bowled over. The performances of Ramin Karimloo and Sierra Boggess as The Phantom and Christine were fantastic - both have truly amazing voices. All other members of the cast were excellent, and I must commend the young boy who played the part of Gustave. As there are 7 boys listed as covering this role, I don't know who it was on Saturday (Matinee) but if they are all up to his standard you have an incredible team of young actors.
We are looking forward very much to visiting the show again and the CD has been in almost constant use since Saturday!
Thank you.
jandgstaffordshire.

I thought this was not great. I was really annoyed as it cost me quite alot of money. I wouldnt tell anyone else to go and see it. the singers were good but the story was really bad.

I went to see this at the weekend with my boyfriend and another couple and we thought it wasnt very good. we had high hopes but they were dashed! i wouldn't tell anyone to go and see it, especially if they liked the first one, its a rubbish sequel. We all had the same oppinion and heard quite alot of people after the show saying how disapointed they were and how this was Andrew's worst work. I dont like to be down about things but we spent so much money going to see this and it was such a let down. i dont want anyone else to throw their money away like we did! Hope this helps and you take my advise!

I went to see the show tonight and think it was a bit of a waste of money. The people who are raving about it on here must must must be mad! or have not seen a lot of theatre. There are so many other musicals that are better than this. I was really expecting more - especially as the tickets are so expensive and it is the great ALW! but It was not so good. it had some nice songs and singers in it, and some good effects on the stage but it lacked meaning, entertainment, a real plot, and some of the circus tricks were just awful. I would say that this was not the theatrical event of the year but a big fat waste of my time. 1 maybe 2 stars if im generous at the most!

I was really disapointed by this musical. I had heard some bad things about it but thught i'd go along anyway and give it a try. What i'd heard was true. the special effects were goos but the storyline is stupid and I was bored alot of the time. I go to musicals alots and this was really not great. The first one is much much better. I didnt like the cast either. The main singers were good but everyone else was a bit of a mess. It was alittle sloppy too - I could clearly see people changing and exiting and entering. It just wasnt a good production. go and see something else.

Love never dies is definatley the BEST West-End musical on offer at the moment.
I absolutely loved it, the effects were AMAZING, the singing was beautiful, the acting was brilliant and the sets were breath-takingly gorgeous.
I strongly urge anybody reading this to see it, I know it's had many bad reviews but just ignore them. The storyline was evidently incredibly thought out and was amazingly written as was the music. It's the most amazing thing I have ever seen :)

The cast just looked like they were messing around too.

This was a really bad show. Don't waste your money. Very disapointing. My girlfriend wanted to leave in the first half.

We loved the show and especially the talented performers. The spirit of Phantom lives on with the melodramatic, lavish music of Lloyd Webber. Be prepared for something different, yet reassuringly similar (if that makes sense)!

A major disappointment. Embarrassingly bad plot, clunky lyrics, and takes the characters from a beautiful original show, and distorts them beyond recognition. What on earth was Andrew Lloyd Webber thinking??

LOVE NEVER DIES is a completely misguided venture that is a detriment to the story of the original PHANTOM OF THE OPERA novel and musical of the same name and that, contrary to the information being reported by the Really Useful Group and perpetuated by the ill-informed media, is neither in the interest of nor desired by the story's many fans. Virtually everything about the show strikes us as illogical, irrational, offensive and frankly stupid.
PHANTOM NEEDS NO SEQUEL.
LOVE SHOULD DIE
www.LoveShouldDie.com

I have seen this twice and would go again. Webber has out done himself again. Didn't think it would match 'Phantom' but it far outweighed my expectations - it was amazing: music, story, acting. Even my 8 year old was mezmorised. Webber you are a genius. Boggess was as amazing as Christine as she was believable as Little Mermaid. A real treat :)

saw this sat night. i wish id gone to see something else. the person below is totally right. It isnt good. I guess if you really want to see what happens next then you should. but really you could just read what happens on the internet, its more like a soap opera! very laughable. save your money or see something else. there were a couple of good songs though. but thats about it.

very poor. I dont know how anyone could give it 5 stars. It didnt get good reviews in any newspapers and to be honest its just ridiculous. I only went as a friend was desperate to see it. She was really upset at how bad it was - some of the singing was good but on the whole the standard was pretty poor. the person who spins fire in it looks totally ridiculous as well.

I saw this musical at the weekend and was very disapointed. It really wasn't very good. It had some good singing but I wasn't impressed. lots of people in the audience were restless and looking at their watches and I heard alot of negitive comments in the bar and on the way out afterwards. I was really hoping for something better. I really wouldn't bother going to see it.

This is the worst West End musical around. DO NOT WASTE YOUR MONEY. i urge you go and see something else with more substance. this is boring, the plot is terrible and the cast look like they are messing around most of the time! please take my advice and see something else.

It's a pity that ALW has produced his most melodic and memorable score for years only to waste it on a daft story with an indifferent libretto. This music deserves better. I found myself shutting my eyes and trying to forget about the absurdities that were going on on the and concentrating instead on the music. Why he did this he only knows. The 'phantom' is simply an obsessed man in a mask and Christine is as one-dimensional as she was in Phantom 1. As for the ending, let's not go there. Next time ALW wants to write a show I suggest he goes along to his local bog standard comp. and get the kids to write the book for him - they'd do a lot better than this.

The music and sets blew me away. I thought it was hokey at first but eventually the music, talented actors/singers, and clever scenery changed my mind by the intermission. A must see!

Thank you very much Juile Durham for spoiling the suspense by posting the ending of the show on your review - you may not have enjoyed it but please let others see it for themselves without finding out the ending first!

One can only praise the three main performances from Christine, The Phantom and Raoul, wonderful singers. What a pity that the rest of the show did not reflect this. It was disjointed, poorly plotted and inconsistent most of the way through.
The stagecraft was excellent without a doubt with the projection work and the sets themselves, however, as this was a romantic Valentine's gift for my parter, we both left the show somewhat disappointed, equally friends that had seen it on the first night were very disappointed too. Such a shame that what seemed a promising sequel turned out to be rather a damp squib. I would not recommend this to anyone - save your money to go see something else!
(This review has been edited in places to remove spoilers and plot giveaways)

Simply excellent show and the music was memorable. Big selling points are the performances by Ramin (the Phantom) and Sierra (Christine). Very dramatic and engaging - three hours flew by very quickly. Projection scenery awesome as well.

It's not as bad as others make it out to be - it's just that they're viewing it with nostalgia for Phantom of the Opera, which it isn't. It's a brand new show with brand new music!

So don't knock on it until you've tried it! Recommended.

my expectation were high but i was very dissapointed with "love never dies", felt diss-jointed, did not flow .we left very dissapointed,

I went with high hopes. Sadly I feel that more work went into flying over the pond and traveling to the theatre than went into making this musical. The music does not compare to Phantom. The sets do not compare to Andrew Lloyd Webber sets of years ago. The story is embarrassing and the magic of the Phantom is gone. Don't believe the hype that some PHANS are putting out. The audience response at my showing was dismal at best and I heard many angry comments as I left the theatre. The seats were terrible, expensive and the show was a chore to watch. I can't believe I am making these comments about A Lloyd Webber show but there is is. Love Never Dies is boring, embarrassing and worst of all, not the least bit magical.

Being a huge fan of The Phantom of the Opera I was so excited to see this production ever since it was announced that Lloyd Webber was thinking about making it. Entering the auditorium of the Adelphi theatre, expectations were high which were certainly met from start to finish of the performance. Ramin Karimloo, who has previously starred as the Phantom at Her Majesty’s Theatre shone as the Phantom in Love Never Dies, bringing passion to the role as derived from his prior experience in Phantom. Love Never Dies also stars some outstanding new talent, especially that of Niamh Perry who plays Fleck as seen on Lloyd Webbers reality programme “I’d do anything”. Overall it is an amazing production well worth seeing.

Great sets, good story, good cast and a top sequel to The Phantom of the Opera this show really is a must see. If you loved the Phantom, you really will like this show, and whilst it carries the story on from the Phatom of the Opera, the show is made more suitable for a range of ages as the Phantom seems to have soften and become a less domineering character.

It was another triumphant production from Baron Lloyd-Webber!

Powerful musical score, creative and sumptuous sets and costumes which can only be described as an assault on the senses.

Some of the musical numbers (mainly the ones sung by the character Meg) were not to my taste as I found them irritating and crass.

The plot was a little disjointed and left me feeling a little bemused as to totally change the characters of Raoul and the Phantom's persona from goodie to baddie and vice versa was too far a reach for it to be believable. Plus I felt the mystery of the Phantom was lost due to him being unmasked for the majority of the show and no his looks have not improved over time and his wounds still look fresh and raw!

Disappointing end to what should have been a happy ending - who doesn't like a happy ever after ending??

The Phantom previously was the hunted and now appears as a successful character who seems to have flourished in the Coney Island environment where being unusual and alternative is appreciated and he is now being celebrated for his genius. The Phantom now appears to have everything except as always the one thing he really wants – Christine is still not yet his. I really enjoyed the more operatic pieces being interspersed with vaudeville and rock opera interludes.

The staging, costumes and the whole look of the show with filmic projections, with quirky props and eye catching tricks makes it really magical. The score is, as you would expect from Lloyd Webber, very well written, beautifully orchestrated (with a proper size orchestra!) with musical motifs and themes that run through it well. The music is cleverly reminiscent of the original but not imitating, keeping the same feeling but with new and different catchy tunes that you’ll hum out of the theatre. If there is one thing ALW know how to do, it’s write a catchy hook. The cast are exceptionally good and there’s a great array of talent on show, stunning voices that are refreshingly classical in sound rather than the American contemporary belt sound we’re used to these days.

FYI - I went with a girl who had never seen Phantom – she absolutely loved it and followed the whole thing so no you don’t have to have seen the first one.

There are moments when it drags slightly, I think they could shave about 5/10 minutes of it without you feeling like you missed out. Some reprises start to drag and there are a few too many choruses repeated here and there. This may be to cover the revolve moving or something though.

I didn’t like the ending greatly, it drags on too long and you are wanting a reconciliation between father and son that doesn’t quite happen in full – generally the beginning and the end have a strange petering in and out feel to them, rather than the big grabbing spectacular that is in the middle. And occasionally some of the acting is too much on the cheesy side, even for me.

Strong and well known cast – Summer Strallen, and Niamh from I’d Do Anything and one of the lovely Olivers too. It’s everything you’d expect from old school Lloyd Webber musicals in terms of score (yes the 80s synth kicks in for a rock moment - love it, blast from the past).

I really enjoyed this show, I didn’t know really what to expect or how the show was going to end. I think the scenery and effects were really good. A lot of singing like usual, I loved the fact they did sing little bits from the First Phatom of the Opera Musical. The little boy that played Gustave (love the name!) was great, he is one of the best young actors I have seen in the West End apart from Artful Dodger in Oliver. The story line is very good, Phantom himself turns into this new man, loving, caring and with a heart compared to the mean uncaring ruthless Phantom he was in the first one.

The show has spectacular staging and, in my opinion, a strong and eclectic score - Caudevillian, Rock(!)and Classical. As a sequel to POTO it is difficult to believe that the characters have changed as much as they have but as a standalone piece of entertainment it is great to see a show that is not based on a film or a 'compilation' rock opera... at last!
I would go and see it again as

1. I haven't stopped humming some of the tunes since last night (yes he can still do that to you!)
2. I am intrigued to see how much tightening up happens in the next 3 weeks.

Brilliant songs, fantastic cast (even better than the original), terrific sets, amazing use of projections, great costumes and amke-up. Sadly let down by a weak story, but it doesn't spoil it, it's still a great show. A weird and flat ending, so my tip is leave ten minutes before the end!

THE SPECIAL EFFECTS IN THE FIRST HALF WERE STUNNING VERY DRAMATIC ANOTHER GREAT LLOYD WEBBER SCORE A MUST SEE FOR PHANTOM FANS

This is Webber at his best!! Phantom of the opera was a hard show to beat, it has become a classic and standard in the West End! Love Never Dies though lives up to expectations and manages to continue you on the fanatasic tale of love between the Phantom and Christine! With some of the best vocal performances I have seen a long time, this show will not disappoint Phantom fans! It makes me want to go back and wacth Phantom Of The Opera and then Love Never Dies all over again!! A MUST SEE SHOW!!!

Love Never Dies is a masterpiece with exceptional sets and clever projections. The fast scene and costume changes are impressive! It doesnt fail to entertain from begginning to end, with intense emotional and passionate performanceas from both male and female leads - take your tissues they will be much needed!!! Ramin (the Phantom) delivers an incredibly powerful and moving performance, and Sierra's beauty both in physical presence and vocal performance is stunning!!! Best show in a long time. Be sure to go see it!!!!

its magical, mystical and full of intrigue and passion. Loved it!! The special effects are amazing!! On a two day theatre break you could watch phantom one day and love never dies the following day. Or mat for one and evening for the other if you’ve only got the day!!

I loved the visual effects blow me away, it blow apart all my preconseption of a musical. The story was an emtional rollercoster from start to finish and the performances given by the cast was amazing .

THE SETS AND AND THE VOCALS ARE JUST AMAZING.I THINK ONE SHOULD SEE PHANTOM TO UNDERSTAND THE SEQUEL. THE MUSIC AND THE ACTING WAS BRILLANT. IT WAS NICE TO SIR ANDREW LLOYD WEBBER DURING THE PREVIEWS SUPPORTING THE CAST OF THE SHOW AND HIS PRODUCTION IS A MASTER PIECE

It was absolutely fantastic! The visuals were spectacular, the staging is extravagant, beautiful vocals from all of the principal characters and the acting was top! The music is some of Lloyd Webber’s finest, having the familiarity with the original Phantom with reference to particular motifs but taking on a whole new level of expression and passion that makes the story come alive and the hairs on the back of your neck stick up! The sexual tension between Christine and the Phantom was reignited and the added twists to the story seemed to appear from nowhere. An awesome show and a must see!

Having seen Phantom over a year ago, I was intrigued to see what this would be like, in all honesty I'm not a huge fan of operatic type songs so wasn't sure how I would feel, but I loved it! The effects were brilliant and I loved the way they used the projection from scene to scene. I was also very much interested in the story and what was going to happen next and I was not dissapointed. The singing from the Phantom (Ramin) was superb, he has such an amazing voice, Summer Strallen was great too. All phantom fans will love this show and the way the story unravels.

Long awaited follow-up to Phantom doesn't disappoint. Impressive performances from all lead characters so early in its run, Phantom and Christine's vocal performances were stunning.

Fantastic set - Coney Island and its freakish inhabitants are mesmerising. Use of projection on smoke-swirled screens was engaging without dominating the acting.

Highlights for me where the 'rock-opera' scene between Phantom and Gustave, though thats your lot when it comes to the rock. The song 'Devil Take the Hindmost' is haunting and the closest you'll get to foot-tapping in this show.

Second act failed to live up to impact of the first. Ending in particular left me a bit flat. Couldn't help thinking of Darth Vadar and Luke Skywalker in Star Wars ....

The special effects were amazing. However there was no contrasting light and dark in the telling of the story. The music was nowhere near as good as the original Phantom music. However, all the actors gave superb performances, but the storyline was weak and badly told.

This was the best and most beautiful show I've seen in the West End. I liked Phantom, but this exceeded all of my expectations. All the cast are amazing performers with stunning voices. They delivered powerful and emotional performances. The set is fantastic, with a very smart use of projection, and the music is a masterpiece. It's simply the best musical ever!

Being a fan of the first I was not sure how I would like Love Never Dies, but it lived up to expectations! The set first off was amazing, obviously a big budget, they could do whatever they wanted. Set in Coney Island, the show creatively uses computer imagery a lot at the beginning and key scenes throughout, which sounds tacky, but was very effective. The Phantom’s lair was without doubt the best set and most dramatic scene. It is definitely an upgrade from his dungeon at the Paris opera house!

The main cast were fantastic; each sang amazingly well and put true emotion into what they were signing. The scene between the Phantom and Christine was superb, real chemistry! The little kid in the show, unlike other West End shows, just shone, amazing voice, amazing delivery of lines, puts Oliver and Billy to shame!

All original new songs and music, after getting the cast album and listening again, I’m sure many will become well known favourites. I did miss the roar of the Organ, but the rock style Phantom Lair song made up for this.

This exceeded all expectations. The first half was visually stunning and cleverly set in America in a ‘freak show’ which allowed weird visuals and colourful costumes. The underlying sexual tensions between the Phantom and Christine were ever present and I was drawn inexplicably into wanting her to leave her alcoholic husband and cleave to the man who, in the first episode, frightened her more than excited her. Ramin Karimloo was vocally stunning and he owned the stage with his Charisma and power. Sierra Boggess, silent through the first 10 mins or so of being on stage, transforms herself into a love torn woman in a triangle of passion. Her voice is divinely intense and perfect for the role and she manages to carry the air of vulnerability shared with resignation of her current lot by her body language and expressions. Gustave (Christines child) has an angelic voice and a passion that far exceeds the years of this child actor.