No compensation was received for this post. Media tickets provided.
If you asked me to name my favorite Disney films, Beauty and the Beast would easily be in the top 5. The film premiered when I was just a tween, but I remember being captivated by the seemingly impossible story of a beautiful young woman who falls in love with a Beast. The story itself is brilliantly retold by Disney, with intricate, magical details and an award-winning score that you can’t help but sing. If any film was to be turned into a musical, it’s this one.
Earlier this week, I attended the premiere of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts. Having seen quite a few musicals on Broadway, overseas, and here in Southern California, I had high expectations for this production, all of which were surpassed by the casts’ impeccable performances.
Staying true to the original story, the production opens with an old beggar woman asking a young prince for refuge from the bitter cold in exchange for a single rose. Appalled by her haggard appearance, he turns her away from his castle. The old woman warns him not to be deceived by appearances and that true beauty comes from within, revealing her true identity as a beautiful enchantress. Because she could see that there was no love in his heart, she transformed him into a hideous beast and placed a spell on the entire castle, leaving the single rose to act as an hour glass. The Beast must learn to love and be loved in return before the last petal falls in order to break the spell.
Thus begins the brilliant live performance of this timeless classic. Belle, who’s played by Hilary Maiberger, has a voice that practically mirrors Paige O’Hara. She brings the beautiful young woman to life on stage through her mannerisms and her singing and I felt like Belle had literally stepped off the screen onto the stage that warm winter evening.
As the story has global familiarity, I won’t recount the entire production. What is absolutely refreshing about the stage production is the fact that it isn’t simply a repeat of the original film. The score, which features music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice and Howard Ashman, includes a number of brand new songs which breather new life into the classic story. Many of the scenes are expanded upon with new details (Belle teaches Beast to read) and seeing the story performed live on-stage creates a connection with the characters that is unique to the stage production.
There were two musical numbers that stood out during Tuesday’s opening night performance. The first was Gaston, which is expanded from the film’s original version and features the cast using metal beer mugs in a brilliantly choreographed number that had audiences cheering and raising their own glasses in approval. Perhaps the most spectacular number was Be Our Guest, which featured Lumiere and a host of dancing dishes, silverware, and salt/pepper shakers in an exciting musical sensation that ends with champagne bottles exploding with streamers.
With a beautiful, intricately designed set, elaborate costumes inspired by the film’s romance and charisma, and a cast that captures the heart and emotion of this treasured story, Beauty and the Beast will delight audiences young and old.
See Disney’s Beauty and the Beast live on stage at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts through January 19th, 2014. Be sure to arrive an hour before the scheduled showtime to enjoy pre-show activities which include a puppet making workshop, coloring and stories at the library, photo opportunities in front of two show-inspired backdrops, and themed cupcakes and cocktails. Single tickets start at just $29 and can be purchased online or in person at the Box Office.
Images: Amy Boyle
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