Ooh La La Lumiere, Let Me Be Your Guest!!!
Written: Aug 02 '00 (Updated Aug 02 '00)
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Product Rating:
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Pros: Costumes, set design, special effects, Lumiere was the best
Cons: Nothing - I was too impressed
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| Dionne25's Full Review: Beauty and the Beast |
I wouldn't consider myself to be a theatre aficionado, but I have seen a number of plays in my days. While many of these plays hold some kind of memory for me, I would have to say that after seeing Beauty and the Beast last night at the Lunt-Fontanne Theatre, I have a newfound respect for the theatre.
I had the opportunity to see this play through Candice923 who received 4 complimentary tickets and a night at The Sheraton. I had to pass on the hotel stay, but, the play was spectacular.
I don't even know where to begin. The story is the same of a prince who was turned into a beast because he could not appreciate beauty from within. The wicked spell would remain on the prince if he could not learn to love or find someone who would love him for the person inside and get past his physical features.
Seeing the Disney movie is one thing, watching the story unfold live is quite another.
First, I'll start off with the set design. What a setup!!! That stage was used in every way imaginable. The colors, costumes, everything about the set was amazing. My favorite number by far is Be Our Guest. When the curtain opened and revealed the set, all I could do was gape at the stage. It was transformed into a huge china arrangement that left me speechless. The colors were eye-popping. Reds like you wouldn't believe; bright, sparkling colors that seemed to brighten the entire stage. The dance numbers were great.
Some of the ensemble cast members were dressed as kitchen utensils and they even had salt and pepper shakers. What's funny about it was they had a white guy in the pepper costume and a black guy in the salt costume. Was it planned? Who knows, but it was really cute. There was one point in the number where there was a row of plates along the stage and some of the ensemble was behind it. I don't know how or even when it happened, but some of those plates became top hats. Everything about that number was a sight to behold. I can't even describe it because it's something you'd have to witness for yourself. As I'm writing about this, I have a huge grin on my face remembering that scene. It was just so amazing beyond belief.
The entire set design for Beauty was spectacular and I thought the lighting created the mood even more. For instance, in the The Mob Song scene, this was where Gaston was planning to have Maurice (Belle's father) locked up for insanity hoping this would get Belle to marry him. The red lighting used in this number made everyone look evil and menacing and it gave me chills.
Another great aspect of this play was the special effects. I tell you, watching some of these scenes unfold, I couldn't believe they were live. Chip (last night was played by Harrison Chad), especially was the most amazing part of the play. In one scene, Mrs. Potts (Barbara Marineau) brings out a tray of tea, she's holding the tray in her hand, has Chip on the tray, and you don't see his body. It could very well be that Mrs. Potts was holding Chip in her hand under her costume, but the art of illusion is amazing.
Your eyes look as if they may be deceiving you in many of these scenes. There were times when Beast would appear out of nowhere and I found myself wondering if I took my eyes off the stage at any point. In the final scene where Beast becomes human, it's like magic before your eyes. I don't know how they were able to get the beast costume off him in such a short time (plus he was floating in the air for this), but that little puff of smoke was like presto, change-o.
The costumes; oh the costumes. I wanted to be Belle in the second act where she and Beast were having dinner and Mrs. Potts serenades them to the tune of Beauty and the Beast. You could tell that detail was put into every piece of fabric. The colors were bright and playful. Even the commoner's clothes were great.
I've saved the cast members for last because I loved every aspect of the characters and I'll only touch up on a few. But knowing me, I might start talking about everyone in the cast, so bear with me.
Andrea McArdle was spectacular. To see her reprise her role as Belle was definitely a treat. The woman can sing and worked so well with her other cast members you'd think they were family. Her voice will mesmerize you and almost puts you in a trance. She was simply amazing.
Steve Blanchard played the Beast and I believe he is the same actor who played Raul in the original cast of Phantom of the Opera, but I'm not sure about it. He was cold and untouchable as Beast and played the part very well. That and the fact that his voice was a contributing factor (at least for me.) He was comical in many scenes as well. In Act II, after he rescues Belle in the woods from the wolves and she tends to his wounds, he let out a scream that I never thought I'd hear come out of a man's mouth. Talk about high-pitched. He was menacing when he was mean and such a softie when he showed his tender side.
Patrick Ryan Sullivan was great as Gaston, and he is the splitting image of a guy I know. I told Candice, and she immediately saw the connection. Sullivan was great. He was your typical, macho jock, so to speak. He was a regular player. He knew all the women wanted him (with the exception of Belle) and he toyed with these women. During curtain call, he got so-so applause, and he gave the audience a look as if to say, "Hey, I'm Gaston. I'm the man." The applause grew a bit after that. He was mostly comical and he did a great job.
Jay Brian Winnick was the but of Gaston's jokes as Lefou. He was a cross between Ernie Sabella and Nathan Lane, but he had his own comical attributes as well. He played up the stage and took his abuse in stride.
Michael Lang played the doormat and when he first came out, I honestly thought it was a prop, but he was simply doing his acrobatics and was awesome.
And then there's Patrick Page. Lumiere, Lumiere, how I love Lumiere. Page is by far my all time favorite performer in this play. He was great. He played up to the audience and brought such vigor and vibrancy to the performance, it was breathtaking. All the numbers he was in (especially Guest) was great. His French accent was off at times, but he made up for it in style and in his acting. Both he and Jeff Brooks (Cogsworth) were great together. He did a great job of keeping his wick burning that's for sure. Ladies, you will love Patrick Page, so if you're in the NY area, be sure you check him out.
Beauty and the Beast is a play for all ages. "Wow" is something you will find yourself saying over and over again with this play. It's Disney, so you'll definitely be in for a treat. It's filled with all the memorable songs from the movie, so you'll find yourself singing along with the cast (as well as saying memorable lines form the movie.)
I can't say enough about this play. I was taken on a journey beyond compare and am yearning for more. The only glitches included a stage hand who made himself visible in one of the scene changes, a sneeze from backstage (which sounded like Beast) and a few inconsiderate and rude audience members who felt the need to take a couple of pictures during the play.
Beauty and the Beast, for me, showed the magical side of theatre.
Recommended:
Yes
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Epinions.com ID:
Dionne25
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 - Top 1000 |
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Location: PEI, Canada
Reviews written: 333
Trusted by: 71 members
About Me:
I'm a proud mamma of 2 boys!!!
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