Displaying items by tag: Beauty and The Beast

Disney’s 1991 Award-winning musical Beauty and the Beast was an instant hit. Its songs were memorable, and its story considered one of Disney’s best. With music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice and Howard Ashman, a live musical took the Broadway stage in 1994 that successfully ran for thirteen years (Broadway’s tenth longest run) and has since been stage in theatres all around the world. Fairy tale lovers in the Chicago area now get their chance to see this highly acclaimed fantasy-musical once again, this time at Aurora’s Paramount Theatre, in what is truly a visually stunning, heart-warming and vocally charged adaptation of the modern classic. 

A spell is cast on a handsome prince that turns him into an unsightly beast after his horrible behavior and selfish ways have gone too far. He now lives in a dark mansion deep in the woods along with a once human staff that are slowly turning into household items - a candlestick, a clock, a dresser and a teapot. The more time that passes the closer each is to losing their human likeness altogether - forever. Only one thing can save them – should the beast fall in love before the last pedal of a magic rose falls, the spell would be reversed, and all would be come human again. But…the love must be returned to him. For a hot-tempered beast that lives hidden in the middle of a vast forest, this is much easier said than done.

 
Belle (Beth Stafford Laird) is a beautiful village girl who is courted by town hero Gaston (Emmett O’Hanlon) but she repeatedly fends off the egotistical hunter’s aggressive advances. But Gaston doesn’t give up so easily and he, along with his comical sidekick Lefou (Nick Druzbanski) are always scheming their next move. Belle’s kind-hearted father Maurice (Ron E. Rains) is an inventor whose keen ideas are often looked at as kooky by the fellow villagers. He loves his daughter more than anything but stumbles into trouble when he gets lost in the woods and Belle goes on the daunting task of searching for him on her own. After a series of happenings have the two crossing paths deep within the trees, Belle then Beast’s last chance for love before time runs out.

Paul-Jordan Jansen, who recently left a strong impression on theatre goers for his strong performance in Drury Lane’s ‘And Then There Were None’ is magnificent as Beast. His deep, strong speaking voice and precise annunciation of every syllable lends to his regal background, so we never forget who he was despite his beastly appearance. Jansen effectively delivers rage as well as he does tenderheartedness, making Beast a well-rounded counterpart to Belle. And Beth Stafford Laird is well cast as the musical’s leading lady, charming, warm and adventurous when need be, she so effortlessly captures the essence of our fairy tale Belle. Both Jansen and Laird complete the package also showing off their powerhouse vocals in many numbers throughout the show.

 
Though our leading characters are nearly flawless and are simply a pleasure to watch from scene to scene, the musical gets a lift from a very solid supporting cast. Emmett O’Hanlon’s rich baritone gives us a showstopping moment or two while he is also able to pull of the needed over the top cockiness that makes his role so humorous (Trevor Vanderzee will be playing the role of Gaston January 8th through 19th). Druzbanski as Lefou is just plain funny nearly every time he takes the stage while other notable performances would have to include Jackson Evans as Lumiere (the candlestick) whose comedic timing is just superb, Ron E. Rains as Maurice, the highly-imaginative inventor, and Becca McCoy who delivers big as Madame de la Grande Bouche, the former singing star who is slowly becoming a dresser thanks to the spell cast upon them. So many great performances grace the stage in this all-out production that includes an impressive ever-changing set, astonishing costumes and several memorable numbers including the instant classic “Be Our Guest”.

Directed and co-choreographed by Amber Mak, ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ is a colorful, exciting and thoroughly engaging adventure filled with fun surprises and outstanding vocal performances.

Recommended for theatre goers of all ages.

‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ is being performed at Paramount Theatre in Aurora through January 19th. For more information visit www.paramountaurora.com.  

I loved the Disney version of Beauty and The Beast on the big screen and I think children who have been wowed by the movie version will also be wowed by Drury Lane Theatre’s sumptuous stage production as well. Director Alan Souza and choreographer Ron De Jesus pull out all the stops and keep these characters on the run with a high tech revolving set of staircases overlooked by an enormous glowing rose which we all know is counting down the time The Beast has left to woo Beauty and tame his childish self-centeredness in order to release his entire kingdom from the spell cast when he meanly turned away a magic spirit disguised as a poor old crone. 

Drury’s “Beauty and the Beast” contains super solid vocal and comedic performances from ALL of the supporting players in this show, getting superb contributions from characters Lumiere (Tony Carter), Cogsworth (Nick Cosgrove), Babette (Sierra Schnack), Mrs. Potts (Bri Sudia) and her son Chip (Sophie Ackerman), Madam de la Grande Bouche (Catherine Smitko) and Monsieur D’Argue (Billy Rude). 

The magnificently designed, flattering "glow in the dark" period costumes by (Ryan Park) really pop visually and move with each performers while giving you the sense that each person is truly "trapped" in the role of what they did or worked as when the spell was cast, just as many of us feel we are in daily life by our job roles. 

Delightful songs fill the theatre throughout this masterful production. “Be Our Guest” is a true showstopper that, with so many talented dancers, comedians and the brilliantly designed and colorful amazing costumes swirling up and down the ever moving staircases, it makes the whole audience want to race down to the stage and urge Belle to join the Beast for dinner.

Erica Stephan as Belle gives us a gutsy yet sensible and very intelligent portrayal of "Beauty" and little girls will love how she sticks to her guns when insisting that the Beast act like a gentleman and not a bossy, somewhat unmannerly boyfriend. 

Brandon Contreras is a moody, dark version of the Beast but his shy sense of humor and triumphantly rich vocal range make his performance one that takes a while for Belle to warm up to but finally endears him to her and the audience, as his complex emotions for Belle finally shine out when he is able to make tender his actions AND words towards her. 

Mrs. Potts (Bri Sudia) is another character actress who has an amazing vocal range and her songs are deserving of special notice because they are so well delivered vocally along with her gift for physical comedy.

The play’s nemesis, Gaston, played by Mark Banik is a suitably sexist but not too scary Gaston and delivers some great physical comedy as well. 

It's true that this story like many fairytales starts out with a beautiful yet intelligent heroine with two equally awful men to choose from (or run from in this case) and ends up with marriage to a Prince as the end goal. But at least "Beauty and The Beast" requires the complete transformation of one of the "beasts" chasing after her hand in marriage into a man deserving of her love instead of a brute that she must endlessly battle for respect. 

As one of the best all-around productions I've seen in a long time, I highly recommend this stunning, exciting and fast-paced musical to young and old alike this Holiday Season. I was blown away by visually stunning set and the tremendous talent assembled for this show and I think you will be, too. 

“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast" will be performed at Drury Lane Theatre in Oakbrook through January 27th. www.drurylanetheatre.com