Beauty and the Beast Jnr

Limelight Theatre Company

Beauty and the Beast  Jr

Maddermarket Theatre, Norwich

April 10-13

Director and Choreographer   Anna Lawrence

Musical Director and Producer   Zelda Rolfe

What a delightful finish to the Easter holiday to enjoy this Disney Junior production.

Anna Lawrence very cleverly split the huge ensemble into two groups (the village and the castle) to allow for more acting space on the small stage of the Maddermarket and to allow for more expressive opportunities for all in performance.

Must commend the very clever use of a plethora of properties and the movement by cast in this production. And an excellent costume plot, most agreeable on the eye.

Principals well cast and each presented and lived their characterisations: a delightful Belle from Ellie Elvin, she had the right vocals, loved the books,  and worked well with inventor father Maurice from Ewan Dallas in the family unit as they survived the adventures in forest and castle. Ben Robinson as a dominant and cocky Gaston in the village, how could any maiden resist this powerhouse of masculinity (Belle did) with the three lovesick maidens, Giuliana Rossa, Poppy Pain, and Sophie Buxton almost dying of their feelings. Sam Nuttel as Le Fou was fun and filled with energy and worked well as a great foil for Gaston.

Into the castle with minimum turning of screens and another set of props, furniture, and cast: the Beast from Charlie Clarke a strong presentation and transformation of character during the action, and how well he and Belle worked as a duo. The fluidity and flexibility of Shane Davenport as Lumiere was fascinating and working so well with the authority and pomposity of Alec McIntyre as Cogsworth, they made an ideal pair to run the castle. Summer Brown as Mrs Potts displayed a motherliness and great care for that delightful Chip, Harper Boon, and led the big number in this sequence with the spoons and forks. Add in Florence Rymarz as Babette and Leah as Madame de la Grande Bouche to complete the castle staff for the story.

But in both settings it is the ensemble work that should be commended: in the village everyone had a specific role and character and they knew it, they worked with the myriad of props to tell the tale, they knew exactly where they and their props/action had to be, and there was no faltering; in the castle, similarly, each servant knew the task and the timing for the scene, this was good rehearsing and perfect staging. Must commend the singing and the dancing, and we heard every single word.

A delight for the audiences and fun for all involved.

NODA owns the intellectual Property Rights to the content of all show reports written by NODA Councilors, Reps and Assistant Reps

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.