Beauty and the Beast

Arbroath Musical Society presented a colourful and warmly received production of Beauty and the Beast, bringing this much-loved musical to life with clear enthusiasm and commitment from the entire company.

Elyse Gray led the production as Belle, delivering a sincere and engaging portrayal, supported by confident vocals that carried well across the auditorium. Spencer Shek took on the demanding role of the Beast, offering a thoughtful performance that captured both the character’s intensity and gradual emotional shift. Alasdair Semple and Kai Hutcheon formed an entertaining partnership as Gaston and LeFou, providing strong character, contrast and lively comic moments enhanced by strong vocals that energised their scenes. Findlay McDonald gave a gentle and believable performance as Maurice, grounding the story with warmth and heart.

Within the Castle the enchanted household brought personality and theatrical flair throughout. Lynne McIntosh’s Mrs Potts was warm, and reassuring, delivering a beautiful rendition of Tale As Old As Time, while the clear presentation of Cameron Wells charmed as Chip. Bruce Martin and Brian Boyd were excellent; an effective double act as Lumière and Cogsworth, loaded with characterisation and humour, while Laura Barclay’s Madame de la Grande Bouche and Jessica Buick’s Babette added further colour and magic to the scenes. The Les Filles de la Ville; Shelley Brandie, Jessica Taylor and Angelisa Chalmers were fun to watch, well staged, en pointe and full of the drama and humour required by these roles, while David Mitchell provided a suitably authoritative Monsieur D’Arque. All well supported by the ensemble who played a key role in driving the energy of the production. The villagers creating a lively, well-defined community, while the magical household filled the castle with colour and character. ‘Belle’ (Village), ‘Be Our Guest’ ‘Gaston’ and ‘The Mob Song’ were delivered with strong impact, providing some of the show’s most dynamic moments.

Behind the scenes, the production was supported by a dedicated creative and technical team.

Direction and choreography by Darren-Paul Handy alongside Musical Director Kirsten Hammond shaped the storytelling with clarity, ensuring a good pace and strong character development. The flying sequences for the Enchantress and the Beast were an ambitious staging choice that added theatrical spectacle and a heightened sense of magic to key moments.

Stage Manager Jen Bruce ensured the show ran smoothly, supported visually by costumes from Utopia Costumes and scenery by Aurora Scenic. Sound and lighting by Grey Events helped create the atmosphere of both village and castle settings.

Overall, this production reflected the hard work and enthusiasm of everyone involved, delivering a heartfelt interpretation of a well-known and much-loved story. The company’s commitment to bringing live musical theatre to their audience was evident throughout, and Arbroath Musical Society can be proud of the collective effort that brought this classic tale to the stage and to a very appreciative audience.

Well done to all.

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