Disney has taken over plenty in the entertainment world, so it shouldn't have been a surprise when they moved onto Broadway with adaptations of their animated musicals. Beauty and the Beast is an uneven experience, full of bright lights and spectacle, but not much meat for me to chew on. The story is familiar: young woman meets a savage man-beast, is first frightened by him and then learns to love him. The Disney version gave life to inanimate objects, all of which are featured in the stage play. It feels like two shows in one; there's the original Disney material, and there are the additional songs written for the musical. The two halves don't always work well together. The stage material has a darker, more adult edge to it, but this is overwhelmed by the sheer schmaltz of the production.
What did I like? There was the vain villain's signature tune, "Gaston," complete with clinking beer steins. There was the epic "Be Our Guest," complete with a hot pink backdrop and a dancing cheese grater. The singing was generally solid, and Grant Norman was excellent as the as the Beast. On the downside, there were the cute touches that make often make Disney products tough to swallow. Matters weren't helped by Suan Owen, who played Belle kind of like Dorothy in "The Wizard of Oz."
Opened:
March 1, 2000
Ended:
March 12, 2000
Country:
USA
State:
Wisconsin
City:
Green Bay
Theater Type:
Regional, Tour
Theater:
Weidner Center
Theater Address:
University of Wisconsin-Green Bay: 2420 Nicolet Drive
Phone:
(800) 328-8587
Running Time:
2 hrs, 45 min
Genre:
Musical
Director:
Robert Jess Roth
Choreographer:
Matt West
Review:
Parental:
strobe lights
Cast:
Grant Norman, Susan Owen, Chris Hoch, John Alban Coughlan, Janet MacEwen, Ron Lee Savin, Ron Wisinski, Michael Mags, Miles Meehan, Michael Raine, Jennifer Shrader, Monica M. Wemitt, Danyelle Bossardet, Paul A. Brown, David Combs, Christine Devito, Tracy Generalovich, Jacqui Graziano, Linda Griffin, Susie Gritzmaker, Louisa Kenrick, Ranee Lawless-Orsini, Ken Nagy, Aaorn Ramey, Rod Roberts, Sam Sinns, James Tabeeek, Megan Thomas, Kara Tremel, Billy Vitelli, Brek Williams, Barrie Wood.
Technical:
Set: Stanley A. Meyer; Costumes: Ann Hould-Ward; Lighting Design: Natasha Katz; Sound: Jonathan Deans; Illusion Design: Jim Steinmeyer and John Gaughan; Musical Conductor:John Miller; Musical Director: Brent-Alan Huffman.
Critic:
Ed Huyck
Date Reviewed:
March 2000
