Did John Martin Bengson ever go on as Raoul in Stockholm or Copenhagen?
I don’t think so. Main reason might be that he was first cover (later alternate) Phantom and second cover Raoul. I remember he talked about an incident in Stockholm in the podcast Phantomology, where Glenn Edell had to fill in for Raoul at a short notice, I wanna say a bit out in the performance even. JMB was so happy it wasn’t him who had to dive into the task. Then a short while later he was told to prepare for the role of the Phantom, as he was to take over for Peter Jöback mid-performance…
(Glenn Edell, Emmi Christensson and John Martin Bengtsson)
But John Martin Bengtsson did play Raoul a time or three in understudy rehearsals, both in Stockholm and Copenhagen. And of course, he was principal Raoul in the non-replica version in Gothenburg. So he definitely knows the part.
I can imagine JMB knows all the parts and is ready to nail the role of Carlotta if needed.
He’s so talented and speaks fluent Swedish, Danish and English without an accent. Big fan of him!
Hahahaha, yes! He’d make a fine Carlotta, definitely.
He is the kind of performer you don’t realize how good he is until you see him live. He has a grand and fantastic voice, but also such a stage presence. I remember seeing him as Enjolras some 10 years ago. After some key scenes I was like “The hell?!?”. Such a force of nature on stage. And he seems to prepare very well for the roles he plays too. I will be genuinely sad if he doesn’t get a Phantom run, be it short or long, in West End or on Broadway. More people needs to experience him in the role.
I’m still madly in love with Enjolras Martin Bengtsson.
