Phantom Sequel: Love Never Dies savaged by Critics

Andrew Lloyd Webber’s new musical “Love Never Dies” – which is the sequel to “The Phantom of the Opera” – hasn’t even premiered yet, but it’s already been slated by online viewers. The attacks have been popping up all over the Internet, since the previews began last month.

According to an article at news.sky.com, the online critics have commented on just about everything, from the performances, to the set and ticket prices. One blogger at West End Whingers even dubbed the new show as “Paint Never Dries,” and described it as dull and tedious.

There are 84 pages of pre-first night reviews on the theatre discussion forum whatsonstage.com. And while there are a few positive remarks in the posts, others say that the show is “tired,” and “lacking in surprise.” One poster said that he just wanted to catch the train home.

However, Andrew Lloyd Webber has hit back at the critics, telling The Times that what the internet reviewers are actually watching, are the previews and not the finished article. The new breed of online critics will certainly prove to be a bit of a headache for London’s theatre land.