”Phantom of the Opera” is a tough act to follow, particularly when it comes to a sequel about one of the most popular musicals in history.  Despite the negative Internet buzz surrounding “Love Never Dies,” composer Andrew Lloyd Weber is confident he has another hit on his hands as the show opens today in London.  Weber is calling critics of the new production a part of a “sad culture” and that they live just “by the old Phantom of the Opera.”  Among the postings that have been less than kind about “Love Never Dies” is one that says the reviewer thought, quote, “I was watching a rough cut of the actual thing.”  Another blogger says the follow up to “Phantom” is “boring” after seeing the show in previews. 

Weber remains undeterred in his belief that the show will be a definite crowd pleaser.  The composer of other hit musicals such as “Cats” and “Jesus Christ Superstar” says if Internet critics could have seen the first preview of “Cats,” he thinks it would have closed.  “Phantom of the Opera” broke records with over nine-thousand performances in London alone and performances before more than 100 million people since it opened in 1986.  It also has chalked up the longest run in Broadway history.