Beauty and the Beast Jr

Beauty and the Beast is the stage version of an 18th century French Fairy Tale and adapted for the stage from the 1991 Disney animated film. I have seen the adult version of this show and I was intrigued to see how it has been adapted for a Junior theatrical group. I was not disappointed in any way and was enthralled by the show and the cast who put their all into the production.

The opening of the show was very atmospheric with the Narrators coming to front of stage telling the story of the arrogant Prince who dismisses a beggar woman that turns out to be an enchantress and her part was well played by Olivia Berridge. The enchantress transforms the Prince into a Beast and tells him the only way he can return to human form is to learn to love and be loved in return. However, there is a sting in the tail as she also tells him that if that does not happen, once all the petals fall from a magical rose bush he will remain a Beast forever. This transformation from Prince to Beast was cleverly done with back lighting and smoke effect.  

Time moves on and we are now transported to a village at the edge of a forest where we see Belle, superbly played by Erin Clarke, on the night I saw the show, who feels out of place as she is well read and wishes for more out of life than she has. The full cast of villagers were well rehearsed and directed in this ensemble scene and sung “Belle” excellently. The stage movement and choreography were disciplined and well executed. Some of the cast had specific roles like Aristocrat, Fishmonger, Egg Seller, Baker, Milkmaid, Bookseller etc and all of these played their parts well displaying their characters.

We are also introduced to Gaston, the arrogant, self-opinionated and narcissistic village brute. Munro Currie was excellent as him and kept in character throughout, as well as the characterisation of Gaston the part was well sung, and Munro has good stage presence. Gaston’s sidekick Lefou, was for me one of the stand out parts of the evening. His comic timing and ability to move about the stage was superb. Their duet of “Gaston” was excellent

In the words of Rabbie Burns “But to our tale”.

Belles father Maurice, an inventor, well played by McLaren Welsh, is taking his new invention to a fair at the other side of the forest and he gets lost. He finds himself at a castle and asks for help. Here we see some servants that appear to be household objects and we meet six well played roles. Thomas McGeorge as Lumiere, the candlestick has very well played stage presence. Cogsworth (Kerr Ferguson) the longcase clock was always on time! And along with Babette (Rylee Domingo) a slightly flighty and feathery French Maid we also meet Mrs Potts (Marley Domingo) the teapot who was a more sympathetic role in contrast to Madison Loftus’s more earthy presentation as Madame Le Grand Bouche’s wardrobe. Not forgetting Chip (Chloe Smith), Mrs Potts son and teacup, who spent the evening being transported about on a tea trolley. This set of casting worked well together and their renditions of “Be Our Guest”, "Something There” and “Human Again” were excellent. Mrs Potts solo “Beauty and the Beast” was lovely.

This is our first sight of the Beast and he was superbly played by Dane Smith, suitably menacing and aggressive at the outset. Maurice asks for help in getting home but the Beast imprisons him.

We are now returned to the village where Gaston has been turned down by Belle, but she sees Lefou wearing her fathers scarf and goes off in search of him. She finds her way to the castle and pleads with the Beast to let her father go if she remains as his prisoner. He agrees and Maurice returns to the village to tell what has happened, but in the meantime, Belle has been escorted to her bedroom where she sings “Home”. This was excellently sung and she is suitably comforted by the servants.

Meanwhile back at the village Gaston and Lefou put together a plan to rescue Belle in the hope he will win her over.

Back at the castle Belle refuses to have dinner with the Beast and he tells her she can starve but the servants put on a special dinner for her and this is the resounding finale to Act One, “Be our Guest” with the full cast being various pieces of crockery and cutlery. The costumes were brilliant and the whole scene was excellent.

Lumiere shows belle around the castle and she wanders off to the West Wing which is out of bounds and the Beast finds her there. He loses his temper and Belle escapes and runs away but the Beast pursues her into the woods where he fights with a pack of wolves and is injured. Belle helps him back to the castle and tends to his injuries.

The servants notice a change in his attitude towards Belle and they hope that love might blossom so they could all “Become Human” again. In gratitude for Belle helping him the Beast asks her to dinner and she accepts this time and they have a romantic dinner where Mrs Potts sings her solo “Beauty and the Beast” which was superbly done by Marley. I liked Dane’s transformation from the aggressive and menacing Beast to the sadder and more vulnerable, especially when he lets her go home and realises that he is in love with her.

The Beast allows Belle to return to the village to see her father as she promises to return and when there no one has believed Maurice about the Beast but Belle produces a magic mirror and shows the villagers he is not mad.  Gaston is jealous of someone else taking Belle’s affections and whips up the villagers to storm the castle to kill the Beast and we hear the ensemble sing “The Mob Song” which was one of the many highlights of the show and illustrated the enthusiasm of the whole cast. The mob storms the castle and we see an excellent fight scene between the Beast and Gaston with the Beast getting stabbed but Gaston is overcome and chased off.

Belle finds the wounded Beast and professes her love for him and sings a reprise of “Home” which was so movingly delivered.  This breaks the enchantress spell and he is transformed back to the Prince and all the household servants become human again.

Guess what! They all lived happily ever after.

The production flowed from start to finish with no pauses due to the experienced Stage Crew, Lighting and Sound. Congratulations Act One, A show I will remember for a long time and was thoroughly well entertained.  All in all a brilliant production which fully justified the ovation they so richly deserved. Thank you.

  

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.