Disney`s Beauty and the Beast Jr

This ` Tale as Old as Time`  was a good choice for the very talented youth section of LEOS,  with  good solo and chorus singing  throughout.

As the Narrators, Sammy Platkiw, Olivia Savage, Emily Scott and Trinity Shelton, started the story off with great clarity.   Olivia Hill established the strong and loving character of Belle,  and her singing was a delight.  Isaac Brooks played her eccentric father Maurice with gentle humour.  Josh Jones took on the role of the arrogant Gaston.  He and Matthew McAuley as Lefou, bounced off each other well.  The aptly named `Silly Girls`, Eleanor Carty, Emma Roberts and Beth Ward worked together well and added comedy.  Showing good individual characterisation were the servants, particularly Oliver Ridgway as the slightly nervous  Cogsworth,  with Ryan Phelps as a flamboyant  Lumiere,  Esme Parker as the comforting Mrs Potts and her son Chip played by Jennifer Finlay.  Lille Woodhouse as the opera diva,  Madame de la Grand Bouche, and Bella Ridgway,  a coquettish Babette, added to the fun.  Completing the line-up,  Daniel Jones as the Beast,  showed anger and then pathos in the title role.

The transformation from Beast to Prince was neatly handled, and the show benefitted from good lighting effects and some superb back projection, a good idea when there are so many scene changes.  Every year much is expected of our youth groups,  and once again this company have not disappointed. 

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