Beauty and the Beast JR

Beauty and the Beast is a Disney stage musical with music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and a book by Linda Wolverton and is based on the 1991Disney film and dating back to a late 18th. century classic French fairy tale. It tells the story of Belle, an intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle’s attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by the Beast, a grisly and fearsome monster, who was long ago trapped in his gruesome form by an enchantress. The only way for the Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and to be loved in return. There is a time limit too, once all the petals fall from a magical rose all hope will be lost, and he will stay a Beast forever.

The wonderful set was constructed by Lee Mellor, Chris Peck and Ken Radmore and consisted of Castle style stone walls around the stage with curtained side exits and two curtained archways on either side of a set of stairs, complete with bannisters, that led up to a painted flat. The many different locations needed were ingeniously achieved by the interchanging of this folding flat where it became a magnificent wooden door, a street scene, a kitchen scene, a lovely feature window plus a bookcase. These were taken off and on so many times, each time having to be carried up and down the stairs, and as well as this, there was also the manoeuvring of other stage props that were used. This was all achieved by the hard-working Stage Manager, Mark North and Stage Crew, Ian Nye and Cohan Wildgoose who must be commended for all their stalwart efforts. The exquisitely painted scenery was once again in the hands of Scenic Artists Andrew and Sabina Aucock and the whole was enhanced by a good lighting plot and excellent props.

The show opens with Narrator Alicia Wildgoose accompanied by the Enchantress and four lovely dancers as she tells the story behind the Beast’s predicament. Freya Morrell was delightful as Belle portraying the character perfectly from being quite sweet and caring to being strong and feisty. Her singing was quite lovely and the End Duet with The Beast, when she returns to the castle and declares her love to the injured Beast, was so movingly delivered. Ben Johnson commanded the stage as The Beast and his attire and make-up were top-notch. He has a very powerful voice which enabled him to convey his anger and frustrations so well. The change in his demeanour from these traits to becoming sad and vulnerable was so well achieved especially when he so heartbreakingly sang ‘If I Can’t Love Her’. The final scene when The Beast realises that Belle has come back and that they love each other led to the subtle magical transformation bringing him back to being a ‘human’. Belle finally sees the man behind the facade and indeed, the spell has been broken and all the other members of the household are returned to human forms. Will Travell definitely looked and acted the part of the arrogant, self-opinionated and narcissistic Gaston with great confidence and stage presence. He swaggered around the stage trying his level best to flirt with Belle and then attempting to rally the villagers to go and kill The Beast. His individual fight with The Beast was great and it ended when he was overcome, lost the fight, and went flying out of a ‘window’ which was a super exit! Giving him good support was his sidekick Lefou well played by Finnley Barton and Clayton Smith excelled as Belle’s father, Maurice - loved his wonderful machine. Oscar Millar was superb as Luminiere (the debonair valet). His French accent was spot-on, and he portrayed the friendly, flirtatious, fun-loving nature of the character to perfection. As the pompous Codsworth (the Butler) Sonny Wallage managed to portray his prim and proper attitude ideally and I loved Jasmine Doolan as Mrs Potts (the housekeeper). She was so matter of fact, so down-to earth, quite stern but very caring of her son and so welcoming towards Belle. Her singing of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ was just terrific. Only the face of Chips (the son of Mrs Potts) was visible through a hole in a teacup and was adorably played by Noah Collins, and Freya Peterson was splendid as Madame de la Grande Bouche (an operatic singer). I must say that the costumes of these five characters were absolutely sensational and how they manipulated themselves through the small stage exits was quite a skilful accomplishment - just Chips had to have some help! Gracie-May Gill Knowles was just perfect as Babette, the seductive and sexy French Maid. She had a great accent, and her dress was just fabulous. Good support came from Ella Weston, Karin Peterson and Isla Cashill as the three fawning admirers of Gaston. There were some excellent ensemble scenes but one that really stood out for me, was ‘Be Our Guest’, it was just outstanding. The singing and the accompanying choreography and the execution of it was fantastic and the costumes were absolutely gorgeous. The three younger dancers in this number were Olivia Mellor, Leah Nicholas and Daisie-Mae Holloway and the older ones were Karyn Peterson, Emily Gibbons, Isla Cashill, Alycia Wildgoose and Elle-May Bartram. The movements, acrobatics and howls by the ‘wolves’ in the forest scene were awesome as was the lovely dancing by the ‘Rose’ dancers and the ensemble cast members all played a vital and most enthusiastic role in the show. The Finale, sung to ‘Beauty and the Beast’, with all the ‘spell-bound’ principals now in stunning outfits, brought this most entertaining and wonderful production to a perfect ending which was made even more so by the exquisite, opulent and elaborate costumes.          

Many congratulations to Director Donna Knowles, to Musical Director Wendy Blunt, to Choreographers Bethany Thomas and Chloe Thomas, to Wendy Blunt and Angela Mitchell for Costumes and Wardrobe (the majority being supplied by Triple C Costume Hire), to everyone Backstage and Front of House and most especially to the principals and to all the members of the wonderful cast. My thanks also for the very warm welcome I always receive, and it certainly was, a great pleasure to ‘Be Your Guest’.  

© NODA CIO.  All rights reserved 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.