The "Lord of the Rings" musical, widely considered the most expensive production in the history of West End theater with part of the music scored by Indian maestro A.R. Rahman, opened here Tuesday evening to mixed reviews that ranged from confusion to dazzling excitement.

Some reviewers panned it while The Times called it a "wonder" and "a brave, stirring, epic piece of popular theater". Rahman's music for the adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien's fantasy saga also came in for some criticism.

The Financial Times said, "As for Finnish folk group Varttina's score, even with two makeovers by (Bollywood composer) A.R. Rahman and now (musical supervisor) Christopher Nightingale, it cannot muster a single memorable tune."

Columnist Kelly Nestruck wrote in The Guardian: "There was a standing ovation at the end, but it was a weary one - it almost felt as if the audience was applauding itself for getting through the three-hour slog without air-conditioning."

The stage adaptation is said to have cost 12.5 million pounds. When it was premiered in its earlier extended version in Toronto, the newspaper Toronto Star had renamed it Bored Of The Rings.

But actress Dame Judi Dench said: "For anyone who is a Tolkien fan, it is just a terrific treat. I have never seen the films, but I am a great fan of Tolkien's writing. It has wonderful choreography and the cast worked so hard."

The Independent termed it an "inadequate Tolkien adaptation." Under the headline "Flawed of the Rings," The Sun said the show's melodies were "tune-free" and the lyrics were "swamped" by the massive band. "Overblown, over-orchestrated and now over here," its critic said.