Robert Guillaume (Benson) as The Phantom?- Page 2

[nealb1]

Posted: 4/11/11 at 11:15pm

Reece Holland only stayed with the show for the first year or so. Then Michael Piontek took over and made a very dashing and elegant Raoul. He was perfectly cast.

When "Phantom" opened in Los Angeles in 1989, it was front page news. Michael Crawford made almost daily headlines with his performance for the first year that he did the show. Then he left, Robert G took over, and then Crawford came back for several months.

Best12bars, you're so right. His performance doesn't translate well via Youtube, videos and the like. At the end of the show, after Christine kisses him and leaves him, he starts sobbing, and it just tore your heart out. It was so moving - his passion, his emotions and his sorrow. There wasn't a dry eye in the house during that scene when she said goodbye to him and he couldn't control his emotions.

[pennydreadful]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:02am

Feeling bright acid green envy right now. I've only seen Panaro live (he is very very good), but I'd give anything to have seen Crawford.

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 4/12/11 at 12:12am

I think Colm Wilkinson in Toronto came very close to Crawford's approach. Wilkinson was the entire package-the voice, the physicality and the sensuality. Colm also broke my heart several times over.

[Gingersnap2]

Posted: 4/14/11 at 8:31am

I saw Robert Guillaume perform "The Music of The Night" in full costume on television at some point...during some sort of gala concert on PBS. I don't recall the exact year or what the gala was for, though I used to have a VHS tape of it.

At the time, I have to admit I didn't really know who Robert Guillaume was and, while I liked Michael Crawford a lot from the original recording, I wasn't really making comparisons. As long as it was Phantom, it was all good to me. But I just didn't like him. Fine voice, but his acting seemed terribly stiff to me.

[My Oh My]

Posted: 4/14/11 at 9:21am

"Here's a news clip with Dale Kristien and all three of the L.A. Phantoms: Michael Crawford, Robert Guillaume, and Davis Gaines."

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qoyflTp6pl8

Ahh. That would be the video I've uploaded and mentioned earlier, hehe.

I also have very fond memories of the original Los Angeles production of Phantom. I saw it for the first time in March, 1992 sitting front row, dead center and I immediately forgot the only cast I had been familiar with--the OLC from the recording--and couldn't imagine any other group of actors playing those roles better than the L.A. company did. I've since seen all three U.S. national tours and the Broadway production multiple times and no other set of managers have outdone Calvin and Norman. I've long compared all Mme. Girys to Barbara's, and there hasn't been a more satisfying and sympathetic Christine as that of Dale's.

I got into the show a little late and missed Crawford. Darn it. But I did get to see Broadway's original Carlotta, Judy Kaye, when she appeared at the Ahmanson for a limited time during my second visit of the show in September, 1992. She brought a unique comical style to Carlotta and was hilarious. I can't say if she or Munro were best because both blew me away. Even the small roles in that production were so well-performed, all others pale in comparison; Elizabeth Stringer's Meg was stunning in the usually thankless role.

Updated On: 4/14/11 at 09:21 AM

[bryan2]

Posted: 4/14/11 at 9:38am

Having seen Phantom many times here and in London, I have to say Michael Crawford has no equal. When you saw him live, the way he moved his hands and fingers was amazing..he was sexy and scary and very imposing due to his stature and presence. It is a performance that will never be duplicated..amazinq..
Robert Guilumme (?) of Benson fame acting style is always stiff so when he played Phantom it did not change..he also could not hit the high notes and was very blah...but the worst was Timothy Nolan who replaced MC in NYC he was absolutly horrible...nazal and just bad...I also believe that too many small (short) men have played this part and it doesnt translate for me because in my mind he should be very imposing..or maybe they just were not good enough to feel imposing ...I dont know...but MICHAEL CRAWFORD IS THE PHANTOM

[sparrman]

Posted: 4/14/11 at 5:24pm

By many reports, Timothy Nolen was not successful in the role of the Phantom. But he is essentially a bass baritone, and never should have been cast. He was a WONDERFUL Sweeney Todd, both in acting and singing. Quite imposing too! Too bad he made such a poor impression in Phantom.

[Eagleman]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 2:24am

Just as a matter of curiosity, how many different actors have you seen play the Phantom--and where did you see them?

[JRybka]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 8:53am

I hated Robert Guillaume as the Phantom. It might have been the whole production. It just didnt work at all for me. I did love it when I went to see it recently. It worked really well on Broadway.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 1:51pm

Sparrman, I read a very interesting interview with Tmothy Nolen (who is the Sweeney in my avatar, btw) where he talked about his struggles with Phantom. When he was hired, he was told the score would be lowered for him, but they didn't do it. Even during the run, Nolen kept asking Lloyd Webber to lower it as had been agreed, but was told it wasn't necessary because he sounded "fine." He was put in a very uncomfortable position, as the role needs to be sung by a tenor. Even high baritones like Anthony Crivello just don't sound quite right.

[sparrman]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 2:12pm

I think I read that interview too, and it was quite interesting.

Not sure I agree about the Phantom needing to be a tenor; I'd certainly classify Anthony Warlow as a high baritone, and think he sounds pretty definitive in the role.

[The Distinctive Baritone]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 8:25pm

Well, as we all know, Anthony Warlow is no mere mortal

[sparrman]

Posted: 4/23/11 at 10:24pm

100% agreed!

[JamesFT]

Posted: 3/27/21 at 10:35am

I was actually one of the few who saw Robert Guillaume do the role as the Phantom.  I saw Phantom three times in Los Angeles.  The first time with Crawford, the second time with Robert and then I saw Crawford come back to reprise his role later. I read what "best12bars" wrote and he is somewhat accurate, however, I feel the word "flat" is mis-leading.  At first, the performance does feel flat because Robert is not playing the extremely chaotic Phantom that Michael played.  Robert took the performance to a more dark and more ominous place.  

LOOK!  MICHAEL IS ALREADY A  FREAKEN NUT-CASE!!!  The man is fearless no matter what altitude you put him at,  which is why he was perfect to play the chaotic, psychotic, Phantom.  Lets not forget what the guy was doing in previous performances like Barnum and Hello Dolly.  You are not going to find many Tenors in the business, with all the right toolset combinations, to follow the high-bar that Crawford set.   But I think the Production had the right idea selecting Robert.  They knew the most important thing was to cast an actor and tenor who could command the stage and make the performance their own.  Robert took the role into a darker place....a little more gloomy, a little less chaotic.  I personally thought it was a nice fresh interpretation of the role.  The only people I ever heard complain where people wanting a carbon copy of the crazy Michael Crawford, with that haunting light tenor wispy voice.     One detraction I felt took from Robert was his laugh. That laugh is just too recognizable.  When he tried to laugh at Carlotta's voice turning to a toad, I'm hearing Benson laughing from the TV show.  I think that hurt him a little. Nothing like being type-cast over a chuckle. 

Updated On: 3/27/21 at 10:35 AM

[darquegk]

Posted: 3/27/21 at 12:38pm

Interesting the mention of Sting as an early contender. I can’t hear Mid-eighties Sting singing the material, but his gloomier and burnished voice as an older man would fit it much better.

Especially Sting circa his deeply gloomy Christmas album.

[joevitus]

Posted: 3/27/21 at 4:30pm

I used to own the Porter Centennial Gala Concert cd with Guillaume, and his voice was completely shot. That was from 1990. I wonder if singing the Phantom wrecked his voice?

Updated On: 3/27/21 at 04:30 PM

[theatreguy12]

Posted: 3/27/21 at 10:17pm

Never saw him myself, but my friend did.  Said he wasn't good at all.   She said the same thing as several on here have noted.  Stiff.   She also said he played the role almost with too much anger the night she saw him, so you really had little sympathy for his character.  While Phantom is a murderer, there's the sense of sadness about him too.  She didn't think RG captured that at all and she really felt nothing for the character the way RG portrayed him.