Beauty and the Beast

Top Box Studios are rapidly making a name for themselves in North Worcestershire and Warwickshire for their high quality, inclusive youth productions.  But they also have an adult group, and it was a pleasure to visit a sold out Greig Hall for their latest venture, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast. 

Beauty and the Beast is based on the Disney movie of the same name, which itself is based (albeit rather loosely) on the French fairy tale La Belle et la Bête.  So we meet a rather vain, unkind prince who shuns a poor beggar woman bearing a rose and is magically transformed into an unsightly creature as punishment. To revert into his true human form, the Beast must learn to love, before the rose wilts and he is imprisoned in his beastly form forever… 

The action then moves to a nicely depicted middle-European village (with what seems to be a sizeable population of Americans!) Enter the charming young woman Belle, winningly played by Lucy Traves, who is, oddly, shunned as a weirdo because she likes to read books.  Belle has gained the attention of boorish oaf Gaston (Tom Bowes, enjoying himself royally), who plans to make her his bride.  Gaston is, in turn, and rather mysteriously, the target of a bevy of besotted village girls, amusingly portrayed by Elizabeth, Elle, Emma, Grace, Ilana and Mia.  He is also accompanied by a bolshy retainer Lefou – Izzy K enthusiastically making up the other half of a fun double act.

It’s not long before Belle’s eccentric inventor father Maurice (Mark Hull) gets himself lost in the woods and menaced by a nicely balletic pack of wolves.  Seeking sanctuary at a nearby Chateau, he is welcomed (if that is the right word!) by the friendly Lumiere (Jon Laight) and grumpy Cogsworth (George Evans), two humans who have been transformed into a candelabra and a clock respectively. 

We also met coquettish Babette, transformed into a duster (a vivacious Shannon Skett); human wardrobe Madame de la Grande Bouche (Paula Lilburn); housekeeper-turned-teapot Mrs Potts (Gabby Baldwin, channelling Julie Andrews); and her son/teacup Chip (Phoebe M/Lily D).  These characters formed a sort of chorus that took us through the story, and they all gave charming, effective performances, bringing plenty of energy and humour.  I particularly like the little character touches, such as Cogsworth’s limping gait (well maintained throughout), Babette’s voracious eye for anything in trousers, and Lumiere’s positive outlook on life.

Skulking around in the background, of course, was the Beast, played by Callum Wright in an effective, nuanced performance, which brought out the human side of this character most effectively.  The scenes between him and Belle were charmingly portrayed, as they each came to love the other in a very believable way.  This provided a really strong core to the production, which was enhanced not only by the other principals but by a large ensemble of villagers, wolves and castle staff, all of whom played their parts well and helped to lift the performance. 

There are some great songs in this show, many of which are famous from the Disney movie.  ‘Be Our Guest’, brought us almost to the end of the first half in entertaining style, and included some nice choreography.  ‘Gaston’ showed off the ensemble in a rousing number, and ‘Human Again’ was a great showcase for the castle dwellers. ‘A Change in Me’ is a song for Belle that was added to the stage show, and it’s easy to see why, as Lucy grasped the opportunity it presented with both hands in a great vocal performance.

The indefatigable Top Box production team of Tracy Anne Wright and Georgie Pearce and George Evans were joined for this show by guest director James Baldwin, who certainly maintained the high standards that the team have established, keeping up the pace and energy all the way to the lovely, smiley conclusion.  There were some nice bits of scenery at the Beast’s castle and Belle’s village, although this made some of the other scenes look a little bit bare by comparison.  However, good lighting helped to generate the atmosphere, especially whenever the characters got lost in the woods.  Costumes were good and thoroughly appropriate – it’s no mean feat to fit out a cast of this size!

Congratulations to one and all at Top Box Studios for yet another successful show.  I look forward to see what’s coming next off the production line at Top Box HQ!

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