London's new Phantom Ben Lewis has Tea With Wilma

Ben Lewis is London's new Phantom in The Phantom Of The Opera, having played the role of Phantom in the Australian production of Love Never Dies. I saw down with Ben to chat about the show and how it feels to play the same character twice.
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[@MargateOswald]

Lovely interview, Ben Lewis done a swell and fabulour job as Phantom in Love Never Dies got it on Blu-Ray and it never fails to get me emotional. Would love to see Ben as Phantom at Her Majesty's Theatre.

[@CynicalCharmer]

He is absolutely incredible. Love Never Dies has very dodgy sound production that actually ruined Ben's vocal performance. Live, is another world, his range and presence is staggering.

[@puddintame3962]

Ben Lewis’s phantom always reminds me of Christian Bale’s Batman, and Hugh Panaro’s is the Joker. 😂

[@LisaMurphy]

Just watched Love Never Dies - I got it from KZbin movies. It was surprisingly good and Ben Lewis was great. His leading lady was also great and they had wonderful chemistry. There were several good songs and amazing sets and costumes. See it!

[@emilymitchell5709]

He’s such an amazing actor and lovely person, I’ve met him twice and he was very friendly and acted like a gentleman x

[@mirfanyfer4530]

Ben... I looooove youuuu...

[@akhurnu]

Great interview. I wish I could see you play the Phantom on the West End. Best Phantom ever! You have the most beautiful voice I've ever heard. And we bought the DVD.

[@RT-yc3tk]

My absolute favorites: both Phantom movies!!! Ben was fantastic, awesome. Just once enough is enough to last lifetime!

[@sandraaustin3792]

Such a Wonderful Interview . How good to see you again I saw yr Concert in Melbourne For Love Never Dies which was just Magical What a Star you have become Yes i sure would love you to come back to do Phantom at His Majesty,s to see you PERFORM Again Love from Perth WA

[@Hatsepari]

Excellent interview! This found me too late, but still in hopes that you can deliver these questions to him for me: “There’s no doubt that you’re the greatest Phantom ever (at least to me), you resurrected him, it’s like he lives inside you. How do you relate with him so well? Do you also feel the loneliness and the despair of being a genius, feel like there’s no one can truly understand you and your vision? And the thirst for recognition but also feeling lost amongst the crowd? Like Erik does!” Thank you so much, and have a great day.

[@pedrokoury1352]

Him and Ramin are my fav phantoms, though Norman Lewis brings such a different quality to the character that I can't help but create a top 3 with them.

[@christinewells-leddon9287]

The Australian version of Love Never Dies is magnificent: the sets, costumes and props are gorgeous, and Mr. Lewis and Ms. O'Byrne have wonderful chemistry together. I bought the DVD, and expect I will enjoy it for many years to come (or at least as long as the technology lasts).

[@sandraaustin3792]

How good to hear that Anna is in a ashow MY FAIR LADY You and her were Magic on Stage

[@TheMsiaddict]

I don't like high notes, he said. I'm a baritone, he said. Yah Ben, we believe you really. Just like your role in Spamalot.

[@sunsun2181]

Beb-san, Please come to Japan!!!

[@AmiAmarantaml]

Does anyone knows for how long Ben Lewis will continue as the Phantom? I just found out he's playing Erik and I'll like to go and see him in London but the earliest I can go is in March!

[@christinasamuel731]

yes Ben will be still in the cast if Scott and Luke are not on because the cast change happens in September or in the summer

[@christinasamuel731]

cant remember wich

[@akhurnu]

Who is Luke?

[@jessicaliew4096]

the understudy Phantom

[@marywuilloud2018]

Is Ben Lewis the Phantom in the POTO in London in March 2018? How can I be sure it is him who is performing and not his understudy?

[@christinasamuel3947]

sorry if it is a bit late but there is a cast board near the box office I had Ben when I saw The Phantom Of the opera full cast according to the cast board

[@reinilla]

handsome Ben

[@PrincessSolitaire]

How did Ben come to the conclusion that the character was a young man? In the original novel he seemed to be 50ish, and I remember Michael Crawford referring to him as an "old man." Nice interview and I'm looking forward to seeing the show with Ben in two week's time.

[@TheMsiaddict]

PrincessSolitaire Around 30 yrs is still not old.

[@samos4924]

50, not 30.

[@untitled797]

In the original Gaston Leroux novel the musical is based on, Phantom is a 50 year old man.

[@samos4924]

I think Ben Lewis might be approaching him as a "young man" because he played him in LND and even if Ben Lewis is supposed to be aged up he can't be more than 40 in LND, so I guess he's thinking of him as 10 years younger than there. I always thought of the Phantom as at the very least 40 and probably 50+ but he's often played by 30-somethings and Karimloo played him in his 20s.

[@TheMsiaddict]

The Phantom is 31 isn't he. He was born in 1986. The stage Phantom, I mean. So Ben is right.

[@PrincessSolitaire]

Has Ben had an opportunity to get notes from Hal Prince yet? If so, how did that go, and did the feedback change his approach in any way?

[@TheMsiaddict]

PrincessSolitaire Notes from Hal Prince? Why?

[@PrincessSolitaire]

HM's has a resident director (usually another cast member) who works with the newbies; but HP does eventually get around to seeing new cast members (especially with a change this big), and will give them his feedback. I was noticing a huge difference between how Ben was singing Music of the Night when he first started, and the most recent bootleg I heard - much softer, more seductive - that was what made me wonder if Hal had given him notes yet.

[@TheMsiaddict]

PrincessSolitaire Ben said in an interview that the director didn't restrict him. He's free to do whatever he wanted.

[@marywuilloud2018]

Saw the POTO at the West End. Ben Lewis was fantastic. I thought Kelly did a very poor job portraying Christine. Actually, I thought there was no chemistry between Ben and Kelly.