Disney's Beauty and The Beast

In presenting this tale as old as time, Beauty and the Beast provides fantasy, love, humour, sadness with a simple message that it is okay to be different!  This was indeed a polished production.  Ellis Little performed and sang the part of Belle to perfection as if she had just arrived from Disney’s Magic Kingdom and was well matched with Matthew Coulter who brilliantly characterised The Beast, the part which he played in the 2010 production.  Brendan Strang was at real ease and provided a sterling performance as the egotistical Gaston, well supported by Jenna Totten as Le Fou.  Jim McGhee provided a fine performance as Maurice, Belle’s scatterbrained father.  There were great moments of comedy provided by Bryan Shallow’s Lumiere, and Joe Totten’s Cogsworth, the part he also played in the previous production.  Fine performances were also provided by Angela McGarry as the sexy French feather duster Babette, Marie Doyle as the singing wardrobe Madame de la Grande Bouche and Angela Ball as the motherly Mrs Potts together with Dylan Brain and Christopher Hanlon who alternated performances as her son Chip.  All remaining principals with the entire company added to the quality of this production.  With a great set, stunning costumes, good singing, choreography and an excellent score by Alan Menken and Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, this all made for a spectacular and magical evening’s entertainment.  I must also commend Matthew Coulter on this his first main production as Director whilst also taking on the lead role.  Congratulations to the whole company and the production team for providing a spectacular magical evening.

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