Posted: 4/19/18 at 7:42pm
Well i just got back from the matinee and let me just say DAMN!!!!!!! Ben was amazing, havent seen such a good Phantom at the majestic since Hugh. His voice was powerful and clear and was a had a trememdous stage presence. Do yourselves a favor and go see him at the majestic, you wont be disappointed :)
Posted: 4/20/18 at 9:17am
I also saw Ben in the matinee yesterday. I thought his singing was fantastic, but there was something about his physicality, the way he moved around the stage, that felt weird. I thought his movements were crazy big and exaggerated. I feel like the Phantom is supposed to be graceful and kind of sneaky/slinky, gliding about, but Ben's steps reminded me of someone in a marching band, all blocky and hulking. Like a huge football player tiptoeing around a kid's tea party.
Posted: 4/20/18 at 9:39am
PanaroFan111 was he able to hit and hold the final note in "Music of the Night"?
Posted: 4/20/18 at 10:04am
amygbrooks said: "I also saw Ben in the matinee yesterday. I thought his singing was fantastic, but there was something about his physicality, the way he moved around the stage, that felt weird. I thought his movements were crazy big and exaggerated. I feel like the Phantom is supposed to be graceful and kind of sneaky/slinky, gliding about, but Ben's steps reminded me of someone in a marching band, all blocky and hulking. Like a huge football player tiptoeing around a kid's tea party."
Its funny you say that lol i do agree with you about the way he moved, but you gotta keep in mind his nerves its was only his 4th show and Ben is a rather large Phantom in stature so lets give him a few weeks to get his legs. Did you see that he barely got into the chair in the last scene lol he barely got his cape clipped so he can disappear.
Posted: 4/20/18 at 10:06am
Lot666 said: "PanaroFan111was he able to hit and hold the final note in "Music of the Night"?"
Sure did he was very clear and crisp. You will def enjoy him :)
Posted: 4/20/18 at 4:54pm
PanaroFan111 said: "Its funny you say that lol i do agree with you about the way he moved, but you gotta keep in mind his nerves its was only his 4th show and Ben is a rather large Phantom in stature so lets give him a few weeks to get his legs. Did you see that he barely got into the chair in the last scene lol he barely got his cape clipped so he can disappear."
Yes!! I was seated right in front of the chair and was holding my breath when I saw him struggling with the cape.
Posted: 4/20/18 at 5:00pm
No matter how many times I see the show, I always think that the Phantom is not going to disappear in time. It drives me crazy! lol
Posted: 4/26/18 at 9:37am
PanaroFan111 said: "Lot666 said: "PanaroFan111was he able to hit and hold the final note in "Music of the Night"?"
Sure did he was very clear and crisp. You will def enjoy him :)"
Posted: 4/26/18 at 11:20am
Saw Ben a few nights ago! What a voice! His MOTN was gorgeous- the second I heard his voice in the dressing room, I thought "oh man, this is gonna be good!" He has kind of a JOJ vibe to him, vocally, which I love. He also did the pseudo accent in PONR really well, which I really liked. The man can sing, so I am thrilled they upgraded from their last long term Phantom. I enjoyed it MUCH more than Barbour, and a friend I brought with me agreed that this is a major step up, vocally. I did enjoy Peter a lot, so I'm sad his run was so short, but Ben looks to be a really good leading man.
I don't think he's quite mastered the physicality of the Phantom yet, so I'd be interested to see him later in his run to see if he's gotten more used to the blocking and see if it changes his characterization a little- it still felt like he was getting used to getting from point A to B and working on hitting his marks. I feel like, in light of almost missing the cloak part previously, he might have rushed to the chair a little bit. He wasn't a particularly elegant Phantom yet, and I was a little sad he didn't move at all during Christine's part of PONR, but that's a personal preference and I've been spoiled by great Phantoms who do that part really well. I don't think he's quite mastered or decided yet what type of Phantom he will be, but he definitely has my attention.
I felt so bad for him though, the candle trick didn't go off in final lair, so it looked a little ridiculous when he let Raoul down haha. I've never seen that not work, but lately that seems to be a common malfunction.
Posted: 4/26/18 at 11:44am
labellaragazza1 said: "the second I heard his voice in the dressing room, I thought "oh man, this is gonna be good!"
Please tell me he doesn't yell the "Insolent boy" line, spitting out the word "boy". I hate when they do that; it should be sung low, with a nice hint of threat in it.
"The man can sing, so I am thrilled they upgraded from their last long term Phantom. I enjoyed it MUCH more than Barbour,"
This is good to hear!
"I felt so bad for him though, the candle trick didn't go off in final lair, so it looked a little ridiculous when he let Raoul down haha. I've never seen that not work, but lately that seems to be a common malfunction."
I've seen the candle fail a couple of times; from my experience, this is perhaps the most common technical failure in the show.
