Andrew Lloyd Webber Disses Coney Island of Today

Andrew Lloyd Webber says Coney Island sucks.

When news broke two weeks ago that Andrew Lloyd Webber had set his hotly-dreaded Phantom of the Opera sequel in Coney Island circa 1919, the AP quoted Webber saying, "[Coney Island] was the eighth wonder of the world. Think of Vegas and then triple it." But the wire service left out the best and most controversial part of that quote, and some Coney Island locals have been insulted a little bit.

The full quote Webber gave at the press conference included this declaration of war on the entire borough of Brooklyn: "Of course, Coney Island today is nothing at all.." Damn, you gonna take that Coney? Not Dennis Vourderis, co-owner of Deno's Wonder Wheel Amusement Park, who tells the Daily News, "What he said is insulting. If we're 'nothing at all' why did he set his new musical here?" And Dick Zigun, founder of the Coney Island Circus Sideshow, retorts, "We have a more authentic freak show than what he's got onstage."

A publicist for the sequel, called Love Never Dies, has tried to placate locals by insisting that Webber was "simply pointing out that it is a different place today than it was 100 years ago." Which is certainly true, but not for nothing, it's not "nothing." Until Weber personally apologizes to Coney Island, we're boycotting the Broadway transfer of Love Never Dies!

Contact the author of this article or email tips@gothamist.com with further questions, comments or tips.

By John Del Signore in Arts and Events on October 20, 2009 2:54 PM

Comments [rss]

cbd

who cares?

adam4757

Well it isn't anything like it was 100 years ago so he's not lying. Same for pretty much any funfair that's 100 years old.

Son of Spam

We cower in our shelters

with our hands over our ears

Lloyd Webber's awful stuff

runs for years and years and years...

NannyState

Andrew Lloyd Webber is the Coney Island of composers.

felixthecat2

He is right about Coney Island.

Qraymond

Unrelated, his music sucks.

Think2wice

You know he's right.

That overgrown cheerleader Markowitz—who still cries himself to sleep over the Dodgers leaving Brooklyn—wants to give Weber a personal tour. I hope that Weber keeps photos of what it used to be handy. That ought to give the butterball something else from the good ole days to cry about every night.

Spirit of 76

"What he said is insulting. If we're 'nothing at all' why did he set his new musical here?"

Get a grip. He said Coney today is nothing at all and his play is set almost 100 years ago. The truth hurts but Coney Island today is a pale shadow of its amazing self back in the days of Steeplechase, Luna Park and the original Dreamland.