'Love Never Dies' main cast meet fans

“Love Never Dies,” a sequel to “Phantom of the Opera,” will play 21 shows at the Shenzhen Poly Theater through Jan. 7.

The main cast greeted fans and local media yesterday evening, sharing behind-scenes stories of the musical by Andrew Lloyd Webber. Let’s hear what they have to say.

The main cast of "Love Never Dies" and fans pose for a group photo last night. Photos courtesy of the event organizer

Luke McCall as the Phantom: The sequel retains the same characters from the original, but after 10 years, they certainly have different mindsets. The feelings that Phantom cherishes for Christine are profound and complicated. He misses her and her beautiful voice so much that he will do anything to meet her again. The number I like the most in the new show is “Till I Hear You Sing,” which aptly expresses Phantom’s yearning.

Manon Taris as Christine Daaé: Back in drama school, I was given the assignment to sing the song “Think of Me,” which is so beautiful and led me to dig into the musical “Phantom of the Opera.” I love everything about it, the script, the music, wishing to be able to play a part in it someday. In 2016, I was luckily hired by the production of “Phantom” in Paris. The Chinese tour is my first opportunity to play the role of Christine, which means a great deal to me. The character is more complicated than in the original; she is a mother, lover and wife. I’m happy that the character is perfectly in my range and I can perform effortlessly. I am French and started learning English at 31, so I am self-conscious about my accent. My music director often consoles me that this is also my uniqueness. My character is an opera singer in Paris, and I hope to bring my “Frenchness” to the role.

Niall Sheehy as Raoul Vicomte de Chagn: Raoul is a good husband and father, but he certainly has his personal demons and faces a difficult struggle. I am Irish, known for being easy to anger and also easy to forget. I can relate to the role, partly because I had struggles and suffered frustrations as an alcoholic. I perceive the relationship between my role and Phantom as such: Both want to be the dominant male in an animal kingdom – they both want Christine – so they cannot coexist. It’s primal and not personal; one must be gone. Off the stage, Luke and I are good friends; on the stage, we have chemistry.

Olivia Barnett-Legh as Meg Giry: I began dancing at 4 and singing at 13. As a kid, the highlight of my week was every Saturday morning, when I took my singing and dancing classes. At 18, I was admitted into my dream drama school and I graduated last year. To be a good musical performer, you have to work really hard. I don’t have as much fun as my friends. I was always practicing, stretching at home while they hung out together. The job is therapeutic. During an emotional scene at the drawbridge, I cry out really hard because I identify with my role. After I get my emotions out on the stage, I feel like a fresh person.

Britt Lenting as Madam Giry: The most special thing about this musical is certainly its music. Music is a universal language so that even if you don’t understand the lyrics, you can still feel its beauty and emotions. In movies, it’s music that makes the scenes come alive and be remembered. My personal favorite song is “Memory” from the musical “Cats.” I’ve sung it in German, French, Dutch, and English. I hope to be able to sing it in Chinese soon.

Katrina Kemp as Fleck: I was in the cast of the American production of this musical last year. This year, the cast of the Chinese production is mainly from Europe. I’m the only American in the cast. We are like a family and I enjoy the laidback aura of this team.

Nic Cain as Gangle: My last role in a musical was Frankenstein’s monster. I’ve been casted perhaps because both roles are tall and imposing, but certainly they are different. The monster is the center of that show, but he has no control of his behaviors or his life. Gangle, on the other hand, is orchestrating many happenings in this show.

Chris Draper as Squelch: The roles of Fleck, Gangle and Squelch are most distinctive because of their physical looks. You will often see the three of us together on stage. We do a lot of stunts in the circus, bringing welcomed new elements to the show.

“Love Never Dies” has music by Andrew Lloyd Webber, lyrics by Glenn Slater, book by Ben Elton, based on “The Phantom of Manhattan” by Frederick Forsyth, with additional lyrics by Charles Hart, orchestrations by David Cullen and Andrew Lloyd Webber.