“Beauty and the Beast” is one of the Disney animated movies that came out during the studios’ golden age. The entire production is a true example of catching lightning in a bottle where it’s a perfect combination of animation, music, direction and voice actors. When you’re dealing with such a wonderfully complex character such as the Beast, you need the perfect voice to convey all of those emotions and perfectly blend it with the animation shown onscreen. They found that in Robby Benson, a seasoned Broadway and film actor who captured all of those elements and now has one of the most memorable voices with his work as the Beast.
In the classic animated story, “Beauty and the Beast” centers on a stubborn, short-tempered prince who’s turned into a beast and will be forced to remain one unless he finds a woman to love him for what he is on the inside, despite his appearance. He’s put to the ultimate test when the beautiful and intelligent Belle takes the place of her ailing father, changing the Beast’s life for the better.
We had the great opportunity to talk with the cheerful Robby Benson about the “tale as old as time,” how simple it is to change his voice to the Beast and how hard it was to alter it as the prince.
When you were first cast as the voice of Beast, were you ever afraid that you might have came off as a little too terrifying before you finally saw your voice combined with the actual animated character?
Robby Benson:You know I never did. I always felt that if we played this honestly, it was so beautifully written. I think that Mr. (Alan) Menken and Mr. (Howard) Ashman did such an incredible job and the animators were doing such a great job that I never really worried about that. But that’s actually a pretty good question.
What was it like working with people like Alan Menken? After all, he was one of the gods of Disney at that time.
Robby Benson: I grew up doing musicals. I was on Broadway as a young teen doing musicals and I even sang a song on the Ed Sullivan show. Music has been a part of my life. I remember when we made “Beauty and the Beast,” I turned to Mr. (Jeffrey) Katzenberg, who was very involved creatively and I said “You know, this doesn’t feel like an animated feature, this feels like a Broadway show.” This wasn’t the first time he heard that I’m sure, but there was a credibility factor, there was a weight, there was something really special that was happening while we were making this film and it actually translated into the work. That doesn’t always happen. You think you’re working on something special, then you put it together and it almost makes it, it almost works. But this one was completely different. This one we all felt it was very special and then when it was all put together it was very special.
And it does play more like a Broadway musical. I think that’s one of the reasons why “Beauty and the Beast” stood out so much to the point of where it was the first animated feature to get nominated for Best Picture at the Oscars that year.
Robby Benson: That’s right, you’re absolutely right. And I do think that’s why also. I just think that there’s a quality, a standard that’s set that the other animated features weren’t even trying to accomplish at the time. We weren’t just trying to entertain young people, I think it entertained anyone who sat down and watched it. It really didn’t matter what the demographic was.
Yeah, definitely. [laughs] I actually talked to Paige O’Hara last week, she’s so wonderful.
Robby Benson: Yeah, she’s the best.
She told me that when recording came around for “Beauty and the Beast,” you two were able to record with each other whereas most of the time you’re normally isolated in a booth by yourself.
Robby Benson: Yeah, usually we were separated and we thought, you know, for some of these scenes it would really help if we worked together. I really think it would make both of the performances more urgent and play as real as possible. It did work and it worked beautifully.
You’ve been doing the voice of Beast now for years, is there any particular voice exercises that you have to do in order to keep your voice in tip-top shape in order to become the Beast?
Robby Benson: I was fourteen years old and I was on Broadway in the original cast of a show called “The Rothschilds” and my voice changed. I went from a tenor to not even a baritone, I went from a tenor to a bass almost overnight. I was like the little puppy dog who used to yap and now has this gigantic bark. And that happened to me [lowers voice] so it was very easy for me to do the Beast. [laughs] It just comes out, it just is what it should be. I also thought it should never be a cartoon. It should be a character that feels real. It was never some maniac just always yelling, screaming and doing stuff like that.
When I was young, when you were doing the voice of the Beast and then when he finally transforms into the prince I always wondered if they altered your voice, trying to figure out how it worked. I never knew those things! [laughs]
Robby Benson: Well I will tell you this: it was not only disappointing but it was actually hard when I became the prince. It really was. That was actually harder than doing the Beast. When I suddenly had to be the sweet, happy-go-lucky prince, glad to be alive, be with Belle and see all the characters come to life, that was actually tough for me. But playing the Beast was almost like typecasting. Take that as you will. [laughs]
Curious, every once in awhile do any kids or anybody in general recognize your voice?
Robby Benson: Yeah, actually that happens a lot. That’s something that fascinates me too. I’ve been on the phone and let’s say I’ll call 411 for information. Literally someone will get on, going about their business, wanting to know what city and all of that information. I’ll start telling them and all of a sudden they’ll stop and go “You… you sound like… wait a minute… are you Robby Benson?” It’s really weird when it happens over the phone. It’s also happened at supermarkets. I’ll be going shopping and I’ll say to somebody “How do you tell if this cantaloupe is ready?” Then people will turn around and go “Oh my God, I knew it was you!” It’s very strange to be recognized sonically, very different than being recognized visually.
Well you have distinguishable looks as it is, so the fact that people know who you are the minute they hear your voice is pretty flattering I’d like to think.
Robby Benson: It is, and I’ve got to tell you something, I really am one of the luckiest people in this world. I have the best fans ever, they’re just so kind. They look me in the eye, they talk to me, no weirdness going on, and they’re just really good people.
Can I throw something out at you? I want to tell you what I’ve been working on the for the past eight months. It’s probably the most rewarding project I’ve ever worked on. I produced and engineered my daughter’s first album, her debut album and it is a remarkable piece of work by her. It’s called “Lyrics Love Life Revolution” and it just came out. It’s on iTunes, Amazon, CD Baby and it is a killer album and we did it together. I’m just so proud of it. Thank you.
“Beauty and the Beast” is out in theaters now, presented in 2D and 3D.