I don't think he went back to comedy. It was more that he became a middle-of-the-road type artist. I actually enjoy listening to "The Disney Album" (or whatever it's called) which he recorded before "Dance Of The Vampires". Please don't kill me. I'm in the prime of my life.
The reason I also think Crawford could play Joker is because it could be seen as an artistic culmination of the characters of Frank Spencer and The Phantom. You have The Joker's insane comic side, a little like Frank, and you have his dark side, killing Bruce Wayne's parents etc., like The Phantom terrorizing The Opera House and killing Piangi and Buquet. In effect, you combine these famous characterizations into one ultimate evening.
Watch the video of "The Music Of The Night" on youtube, Michael Crawford and Sarah Brightman. I watch it and I think of Joker dancing with Vicki Vale in Gotham City Cathedral, like the climax of "Batman" 1989.
And because The Joker is such a psychopath, it would easily explain why the character goes from comedy to serious drama, in the way Count Giovanni Von Krolock did.
Also, a lot of Crawford's new material in "Dance Of The Vampires" is like something you can imagine The Joker singing.
> I figured that, but I have my doubts Crawford could play a
> straight role anymore. Thinking back to DOTV I got the
> impression he drifted back into Frank Spencer mode because
> that's what he feels more comfortable with and he couldn't
> be bothered putting in the effort needed to play Von
> Krolock properly. Apart from some of the singing he looked
> to be taking it fairly easy.
>
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