Lord of the Rings musical splits critics

It may be the most expensive musical ever, but critics were divided on whether the new Lord of the Rings show is a hit or a miss.

Having just opened to a packed house at the Theatre Royal on Drury Lane in London's West End, the show was celebrated as a success by some commentators while others complained that it was ultimately a disappointment.

Writing for the Daily Telegraph, Charles Spencer said it "remains a thumping great flop" filled with "ponderous inanities" in the script and "trite" lyrics in the songs.

However, other critics were more positive with the Times describing it as a "wonder" and the Guardian's writer saying he "couldn't see how it could be better done".

Celebs were out in force on the opening night of the musical, with stars including Sir Andrew Lloyd Webber, Dame Judi Dench, Kevin Spacey, Richard E Grant and Brian May attracted to the event.

They were transported to JRR Tolkien's Middle Earth through a spectacular mix of pyrotechnics, acrobatics and a £1 million revolving stage.

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