by | | Random
The Phantom Deserves a Sequel: Let’s bring”Love Never Dies” to Broadway.
As a lifelong devotee of musical theater, few productions have captivated me like “The Phantom of the Opera.” This masterpiece is, hands down, one of the best musicals in history. From the moment I first watched the Phantom’s haunting tale unfold, I knew there had to be more. The original ending just didn’t sit right with me – the Phantom deserved better.
That’s why I’ve been eagerly awaiting the sequel, “Love Never Dies,” ever since. The way the Phantom’s story concluded left me unsatisfied. The connection between him and Christine was so deep, so consuming, that the random appearance of some other man sweeping her away just didn’t ring true. Their duet, “The Point of No Return,” is a song that oozes passion and desire – it’s a musical representation of their love, raw and unrestrained.
The Phantom’s actions, driven by his all-consuming passion and jealousy, were justified in my eyes. He brought out the best in Christine, mentoring her and unleashing her true potential as a singer. That’s what love is all about – accepting someone for who they are and helping them become their truest self. The Phantom deserved a better resolution, a chance to right the wrongs of the original ending.
When I heard about the Melbourne production of “Love Never Dies,” I was ecstatic. I immediately bought tickets, eager to witness the sequel in all its glory. Alas, life got in the way, and I never made it to that once-in-a-lifetime opportunity. Years later, I still regret missing that Australian version, which I’ve been told was the best before the show went on tour.
Watching the recorded movie version, however, was a spectacle in its own right. The costumes, the set design, the seamless transitions – it all exceeded my already high expectations. As someone who has seen countless shows on Broadway and off-Broadway, I can say with certainty that the production values of “Love Never Dies” are unparalleled. The set design, in particular, is the most spectacular I’ve ever encountered.
My admiration for Andrew Lloyd Webber’s works is well-known. I’ve seen “Cats,” “Bad Cinderella,” and I am about to watch “Sunset Boulevard,” and I firmly believe that “Love Never Dies” is superior to “Bad Cinderella.” In fact, with “The Phantom of the Opera” no longer gracing the Broadway stage, I believe the time is ripe for “Love Never Dies” to take its rightful place.
The themes of the sequel – righting wrongs, starting anew – resonate with me deeply. Set in the vibrant Coney Island, I think the revised Australian version of the show would be a perfect fit for the New York audience. This city craves stories of redemption and fresh beginnings, and “Love Never Dies” delivers that in spades.
Moreover, the rarity of musicals lasting 20 years, like “The Phantom of the Opera” has, is a testament to the enduring power of these stories. I believe “Love Never Dies” deserves a chance to capture the hearts of Broadway audiences and potentially embark on a world tour, sharing the Phantom’s tale with even more people.
While the movie version was a spectacular experience, allowing me to see the actors’ expressions and emotions up close, nothing can replace the magic of live theater. The richness of the sound, the immersive atmosphere – that’s what I crave. I long to witness “Love Never Dies” on stage, to feel the energy of the live orchestra and the power of the singers’ voices reverberating through the theater.
When “Love Never Dies” finally graces the Broadway stage, you can bet I’ll be one of the first in line to secure a ticket. I’ll be there, front and center, ready to experience the Phantom’s story unfold before my eyes, just as I had hoped all those years ago. This is a moment I’ve been anticipating for far too long, and I refuse to miss it. The Phantom’s tale deserves to be told, and I’m determined to be there to witness its triumphant return.
by | | Random
There is real pain in my creations. Sometimes I ask myself why do I have to do the things that I do, and it is essentially meaningless. But there is something within me that I need to express artistically – to push the limits of what it means to be human. I don’t think I will understand myself not I will understand the universe or comprehend it. But at least in this short time on earth – I had lived my life to the fullest and did most of what I wanted to do without subjecting myself to the limitations of societal expectations.
by | | Random
I have to admit I spent most of my life overcompensating to be good enough. I would work 16 hours a day, and not socialise to achieve my goals. I wanted to be perfect. I needed and craved for validation, at the expense of my health and well being. I would tear down the skies, to hear, “It’s going to be okay.”
At this stage of my life, I would say I have reached the pinnacle. A list of feats that I made possible in a short duration of time, because of my ruthlessness. I don’t think I am well liked, I think I might be hated.
Four years of business school doesn’t train someone to be compassionate. It trains you to get down to the bottom line. It’s soul breaking training, the graduation rate is less than 50%. It corrupts the mind, it crushes dreams and it forces cold hard facts and removes all traces of emotions. To succeed, one must develop a sense of being in a state of zen.
My identity was fragmented in the process of business school, it broke into pieces, only to be merged together again in my pursuit of the highest form to be an artist and athlete. With this new form, I can truly say I have been to the depths of the deepest caves of my mind and back. I am glad I undertook the training to be an actor, I would never have understood myself this deeply otherwise.
by | | Random
The art of acting is the ultimate mastery of being human – it combines athleticism, artistry and imagination all in one. It’s about being a dancer and vocalist. To connect with our authentic selves that we had long forgotten…. to be part of the divine.
It’s hardly understood and misused. It is now mainly used as a tool for fame, riches and temporary pleasures.
True mastery belongs to a few who can find the art within themselves as their unique expression to the world.
Such, is my endless request for immortality.
by | | Random
There are flashes of actors that are memorable, the moments that you remember about years after you watched the movie. Those moments are the most invaluable, and how do we create that?
I had never seen it on West End. I saw it once in Las Vegas in the Phantom when he was enacting in the Phantom of the Opera. I saw flashes of it on some films made in Hollywood. The rest of the plays I had watched? They are technically good but I don’t recall the actor. But shouldn’t each show leave such an impact to the viewer that they would remember the actors that brought life to it?
Over the years the brilliance of actors became less visible as “high concept” movies took precedence. For the new shows on broadway, the emphasis is on theatrical costumes and flashy stage props. Why, is it that in this modern day of technology we have simply lost the art of theater?
I reminiscence the days I saw real acting, real theater and real artists on stage. But soon this art form will be lost to technology, unless we make an effort to learn and execute it without the need of flashy props or make up to conceal what the actor truly desires to bring life to.
An actor fuses body movement and voice, a dancer and vocalist in one. The highest art form using the human body purely as his instrument. No need for any externalities. An actor can perform nude in a one man play and yet be captivating to his audience. Yet, day by day I see countless of actors do harmful things to their bodies and it hurts me to see them smoke or drink.
Shakespeare was an actor before he became a playwright. He trained himself write from an actors point of view in his plays. The training of being an actor is probably one of the toughest conditioning a human can ever subject himself to as an artist and athlete.
The rarity of this art form, and the almost extinction of it, has lead me on a timeless quest to rediscover this truth and experiment endlessly on myself to elevate my art to the next level.
by | | Random
I see my destiny
the dark lady of my dreams
she fades in and out
whispers to my ear
I am a woman of masquerades
une danseur actrice directrice
let me take over you
the lights go out
I remember myself no more
Je vois mon destin
la dame noire de mes rêves
elle se fane dans et hors
murmure à mon oreille
Je suis une femme de mascarades
une danseur actrice réalisateur
laisse moi t’occuper de toi
Les lumières s’éteignent
Je me souviens plus de moi
by | | Random
I haven’t been able to watch or read a movie, play or story about love for the past year without tearing, even if the ending is good or bad.
So now, when I study a play, I cut out a scene, a fragment, so I don’t have to deal with the ending, so I don’t have to feel emotions. So I can live one more day, dancing with the wind.
by | | Random
I dream about it every night. I don’t know but sometimes the undercurrent of dreams takes over reality and I just have to respond to it and create this magnificence so I could lay it to rest.
by | | Random
I am delayed on my creative projects due to various commitments. I am working on new releases in this order:
1. Release of Purple Python Hardcover Book on Amazon
2. Filming of Scarlet Queen YouTube (52 episodes a year)
3. Release of The Scarlet Throne Short Story on Amazon
4. Photo Gallery page on my websites of my past and current photography work as a model and digital artist.
5. Editing of all three books in the HOURGLASS Series to be compiled and released as a trilogy on Amazon
Accomplishments to date:
– 3 published books on the HOURGLASS Series on Amazon
– 3.5 million views on YouTube for THE SCARLET QUEEN
In Progress:
2018 – Solo Short Film based on THE SCARLET QUEEN to be pitched as a feature-length movie.
2018 – 2024 – Trilogy based on THE SCARLET THRONE short story to be made into a fantasy series.
by | | Random
There is a new beginning to every ending.
This year I had lost 7kg in total as part of my preparations to film a self directed 20 min short film next year. I don’t think I am adequately prepared at this point and I don’t think I will ever be fully prepared. But the essence is at least I tried to do something unachievable than let this opportunity pass without a fight.
I had confessed to my best friend that I would rather die in the middle of pursuing my dreams then not having lived my life to the fullest. I would rather trade my short term gratifications such as going on yet another aimless directionless wanderlust to achieve long term results of leaving behind a fraction of the masterpiece I am attempting to bring forth to this world.
I am utilizing my limited time on earth to maximise my returns on investments to ensure I spend the least possible time on each project with the greatest scalability. It’s by no chance, and no luck that I am where I am today. I do not believe in the attribute of luck or fortune. I believe we can powerfully choose and will forces into existence using the focus of our mind.
I may never be rich or famous but at least I lived virtuously and lived my life in accordance to my principles.
Lastly, I had been performing my filial duties to my family and I have no regrets. For death is the only certainty on this temporal journey on earth.
I choose my suffering & my happiness.
I choose myself.
2018
