not logged in
| NJC: Freddie is defeated by a Phantom | |
Posted by:  |
rockfenris2005 10:31 am UTC 06/23/08 |
Freddie is defeated by a Phantom Last updated at 2:17 AM on 17th June 2008 The news had theatregoers on the edge of their seats in anticipation - a high-octane artistic collaboration between composer Andrew Lloyd Webber and best-selling writer Frederick Forsyth. Their plan: to create a sequel to Lord Lloyd-Webber's smash-hit, Phantom Of The Opera. Now, with the first act of the new musical about to be performed privately for friends of the composer and his wife Madeleine, Forsyth has been telling friends he has had a narrow escape. The Day Of The Jackal author accepted the commission with alacrity last year and quickly produced a plot line based on his 2000 novel, The Phantom Of Manhattan, in which the facially disfigured hero Erik moves from the sewers of Paris to build a new life in New York. But shortly after delivering the manuscript, Forsyth received a letter from Lloyd Webber saying he had changed his mind. Then he learned that comedian and writer Ben Elton had been drafted in instead. "Freddie thought it a bit strange, but then Andrew is very exacting," says a friend of Forsyth. "Apparently since dropping Freddie, he has had a string of librettists, lyricists, directors and others working on the project. He finally ended up with Ben Elton, whom he collaborated with on The Beautiful Game." Elton's new storyline has been worked on by American lyricist Glenn Slater, who penned Disney's The Little Mermaid as well as the musical of the film Sister Act. Hairspray director Jack O'Brien has also been involved. The title has been changed to Phantom: Once Upon Another Time and it will be premiered next month at Lloyd Webber's private Sydmonton Festival, near his country pile in Hampshire. The peer often uses this venue to trial new ideas. Taking part will be the final six Nancys from the BBC reality show, I'd Do Anything, with contestant Rachel Tucker, who was voted off in the final stages, singing the role of Meg Giry. Forsyth remains nonplussed with his rejection. "I don't get miffed over these things," he tells me. "It is news to me that he has a first act ready. Andrew is an extraordinarily secretive man. "I have no idea how much of my story has been retained. He has been chopping and changing all the time. It is a matter of complete mystification to me." A spokeswoman for Lloyd Webber says: "Andrew is planning to entertain guests with the first performance of the Phantom sequel at Sydmonton, where he likes to try out new productions." | |
| URL: | Link |
| reply | | |
| Previous: | re: Thank you, WILBURY. - rockfenris2005 04:25 am UTC 06/24/08 |
| Next: | re: NJC: Freddie is defeated by a Phantom - Wilbury 11:50 am UTC 06/23/08 |
| Thread: |
|