Beauty and the Beast

As the years passed, he fell into despair and lost all hope, for who could ever learn to love a beast?

Well, I can tell you categorically, the audience watching LYMT at Theatr Colwyn certainly did. A wonderful evening’s entertainment was had by all at the hands of this talented, young group. LYMT brought us Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

Adapted from the beloved 1991 Disney film, the story introduces us to Belle, a captivating and intelligent young woman. Belle's unwavering courage and deep love for her father are evident when she selflessly exchanges her own freedom to rescue him from the clutches of a fearsome Beast. This pivotal moment sets the stage for a heartfelt journey, as Belle finds herself imprisoned in the Beast's enchanted castle, where the true nature of both captor and captive is gradually revealed. 

The production commenced with an engaging narration that skilfully established the story's setting. This introduction provided the audience with essential context and marked the first appearance of the young Beast, portrayed with competence by Caleb Beavan. The scene quickly transitioned to the lively village square, where the audience was introduced to several key characters alongside the ensemble, laying the foundation for the unfolding narrative.

In this production Sam Tocker played the role of the Beast. Sam gave a strong and heartfelt performance of this character. One may think that it is difficult to portray a character when hidden behind a mask however, Sam did not let the mask inhibit him and achieved a superb performance as the Beast, demonstrating his aggressive, defensive traits alongside a softness and caring side to his character. His rendition of If I Can’t Love Her was excellent. A fabulous performance Sam. 

Amelie Russell played Belle. Amelie was perfect for this role and portrayed the bookworm heroine beautifully. Amelie was responsible for singing several challenging songs throughout this production which she tackled with skill and confidence. Her dancing skills were evident as she glided seamlessly across the stage. Amelie worked well with all her on-stage partners; her father, Gaston, and the Beast, changing to suit the different relationships. A lovely portrayal Amelie. Congratulations.

Eric Warwick gave a warm and convincing performance as Maurice, Belle’s father. A super portrayal Eric. Well-done.

Finlay Rose took the role of Gaston. Gaston is full of his own importance and struggles to understand why he does not completely enrapture Belle. This role requires the actor to subtly change from being charming to arrogant and vengeful. Finlay did a superb job portraying Gaston and his performance of the song Gaston was excellent. Congratulations Finlay. 

Archie Davies as Lefou worked perfectly in contrast to Gaston. He was lively and energetic and brought a sense of fun to his scenes. Super characterisation Archie. An impressive performance. Well-done.

Katie Belmont and Camilla Davies played the parts of Mrs Potts and Chip, respectively. Katie gave a lovely, warm performance as the doting mother to Chip. Her rendition of Beauty and the Beast was beautiful. Camilla had a wonderful sense of fun about her and played the young Chip in an adorable childlike manner. The pair had super stage presence, and I am sure brought a smile to many faces in the audience. Well-done to you both.

The elaborate candelabra Lumiere was played by Osian Emberton. Osian gave an excellent portrayal of this character. Kind-hearted and rebellious he welcomes Belle into the castle and tries to encourage the potential relationship between her and the Beast. Osian used fabulous mannerisms and gestures in this role. He managed to be sympathetic and caring while still making the audience laugh. Osian superbly led the well-known song Be Our Guest alongside the wonderful dancing crockery and cutlery. An outstanding performance Osian!

Flynn Thomas-Marshall delivered a super portrayal of Cogsworth, the ever-dutiful and slightly uptight castle clock. His dynamic on-stage relationship with his counterpart and friendly rival, Lumiere, was a delight to witness. Flynn brought to life Cogsworth’s deep sense of responsibility towards the castle and unwavering loyalty to the Beast. His nuanced performance made it clear that Cogsworth often feels burdened by the weight of overseeing the castle and is frequently exasperated by Lumiere’s antics. This contrast between the characters added both humour and heart to the production. Well-done, Flynn.

The other female characters in the castle; Babette, played by Sophie Venezia and Madame de la Grande Bouche played by April Williams, both gave exquisite performances. Sophie’s character, Babette was fun and daring. She sauntered around the stage using lovely mannerisms and keeping Lumiere, her boyfriend, on his toes. Fabulous Sophie! While April’s interpretation of Madame de la Grande Bouche is quite the opposite of Babette. She radiates a feeling of elegance that reflects the accomplished opera singer Madame de la Grand Bouche is known to be. An impressive performance April with super vocals too. Congratulations.

I really enjoyed the performances of Sasha Wright, Catrin Nellist and Evie Bithell as Les Filles de la Ville. The reactions and energy of this trio were adorable and contributed much to the story. Fantastic!

This production boasted a large cast where each person made their own contribution. The Narrator and the Enchantress who eloquently guided the audience through the story. Gaston’s complicit Monsieur D’Arque, the market sellers and the rest of the ensemble all added to this wonderful production.

A strong feature of this show throughout was the use of the dancers to enhanced different sections. The Wolves and the Beast section was very effective. The Rose Dancers worked beautifully and added a whole new dimension to the wilting of the Rose. The use of the red costumes was exquisite. My congratulations go to all the dancers involved and to the choreographers. 

The set for this production was excellent. The bookstall and the other village props looked highly effective. I particularly liked that members of the cast moved the scenery and props ensuring smooth transitions between scenes. The rose accompanied by the dancers worked beautifully. 

The costumes were perfect and reflected the strong, synonymous look of this classic Disney production. 

The light and sound were excellent throughout. Congratulations to all the production team.

A wonderful night of amateur theatre from Llandudno Youth Music Theatre. A fabulous production performed by a talented group of young people. Thank you for inviting me to come along. I look forward to seeing what this group does next. 

 

The views in this report are solely the opinion of the writer.

 

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