So sad to see the tour leave Orange County, and I’m especially disappointed I didn’t get to see all four of the current Billy’s during the two-week stay here. I did get to see four really terrific shows, one with Noah Parets, two with Drew Minard and one with Ben Cook. Reviews of the first two shows posted earlier in this tread, and my review of the latest show follows immediately below. I so wish I could have taken in more shows and seen Mitchel Tobin go on as Billy. There’s still a slight chance I’ll make it down to San Diego in the coming week and hopefully see “Mr. Tobin” there!
Anyway, Sunday afternoon in Costa Mesa was quite a show! I was very excited to see Ben’s name on the board to play Billy. I know that his reign will be over soon, and I’m so glad I got to see him do this role. I don’t know if he’s the oldest to ever play Billy, but he seemed to me to be the tallest and most mature. I’ve read so many great things about Ben that I knew I’d love his performance. However, after seeing him go on as Tall Boy (Thurs, 4/18), I had to wonder if he hasn’t already outgrown the role of Billy. He’s a big kid! So, I was a little skeptical about whether or not such a mature Billy could work. It does! Or at least Ben makes it work. He’s a brilliant Billy!
Ben’s voice is really, really great. He sings with the best of them. I was surprised at how youthful he can still make his voice sound, without losing quality. I wouldn’t say I was an expert or anything, but it sounded to me like there were only two small places where they made a key change for Ben. Only during the highest notes of The Letter and Deep Into The Ground did I notice a key change to lower notes. It worked beautifully. I thought Ben’s vocal in Electricity was one of the best I’ve ever heard, although I think he mixed up the words just a little bit. Only those who know the words by heart would have noticed because Ben didn’t show the slightest clue that anything may have gone awry.
Ben has so much personality and charisma on stage, and he’s such a terrific actor. His dance moves “to put Micheal off” during the boxing scene are hilarious. Those types of moves often get some laughter, but Ben’s had people rolling in the aisles. His reaction to Debbie’s proposition in the bathroom scene is also priceless. Very, very funny! At the other extreme, Ben’s acting during both Letter scenes is moving and genuine. I wasn’t close enough to see whether he shed actual tears, but he sure acted like tears were there when he’d wipe them away with his arm or hands. Ben does this so effectively (I’m reminded of Kylend Hetherington) that those actions alone pull at the heart strings.
And can Ben ever dance! Absolutely terrific! I think the sequence during the Dream Ballet was the most graceful I’d seen. I could easily see him as Older Billy someday. His aerial at the beginning of his dancing in Electricity was hands down the biggest I’d ever seen (er, actually it was hands free). Super tap dancer too! Loved him in Expressing Yourself (really made me wish I could have seen him as Michael before) and in Angry Dance.
I was very happy to see Ben to a flip off the piano at the end of B2B. That one thing makes a big difference, at least in my opinion, to the impact that’s left at the end of the number. And wow, I have to add that Ben’s jump roping is off the charts good!
Ben’s maturity level, or rather his size, seems to have caused a few adjustments to be made. When Mrs. Wilkinson is offering encouragement to Billy about his audition (the one he ends up missing) and she goes to button his jacket, she stands instead of kneels in front of Billy. During the “winter scene”, I don’t know if Ben forgot to bend down a little or if Jake who was playing Michael underestimated the height difference. Jake went to kiss Ben on the cheek and missed and then had to literally jump up to reach him. This totally cracked me up. Then, when Billy normally runs up and jumps up onto Dad during Once We Were Kings, Ben just runs up and gives a bear-hug. Still very effective though.
I can’t say enough about Ben’s performance. I loved it. I seem to have the same sentiment with every Billy I’ve seen!
Well, Billy is such a remarkable role that I’ve spent most of my time in awe of the actors who play him. If I had the time and I didn’t think people would get bored reading my long-winded posts, I could go on and on about all of the other actors who make BETM such an incredible show. I do, however, want to mention that the entire cast is amazing and that they all make this show extraordinarily special. They are one stellar Company. I wish everyone the very best during the remaining weeks of this tour and beyond.
Good luck Billy! You are very f*&^ng special. Now piss off before I start to cry!