Plan to derail Phantom sequel

The producers of Love Never Dies have described a plan to derail the musical as an “attack on creative freedom”.

The producers of Love Never Dies have described a plan to derail the musical as an “attack on creative freedom”.

The Herald Sun reports that die-hard fans of the original Phantom musical were planning a poster campaign to discourage audiences from seeing the new show.

A similar spoiler campaign, by a small band of Phantom fanatics online, preceded London’s 2010 premiere of Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber’s musical.

“I find it amazing that they can take it on themselves to say, ‘We have the right to decide what should be done with the Phantom’,” producer Tim McFarlane told the Herald Sun.

“Surely that’s Andrew’s call. He’s the composer, the creator, and he’s upset and bewildered as to why a small group of people would want to try and stop him doing what he does.”

McFarlane, CEO of the Really Useful Company Asia Pacific, said: “To try and stop a creative interpretation of this relatively new show is perplexing when this is such a fantastic opportunity for all the people involved.”

McFarlane said: “At the end of the day, the public should have the right to decide whether they want to go to it or not. If you disagree with it, well don’t go. Don’t come out and say we’re going to censor other people, including the composer himself, from working with his music.”

The show opens in Melbourne next month.