Classic tale of beauty
shines at Jones Hall
By Dionne Victor
The Daily Cougar
A silhouette of a beast holding a rose
greets theatergoers as the Broadway musical of one of Disney's most magical
stories of beauty, and how
it comes from within, begins.
Robert Jess Roth directs Danyelle Bossardet
and Grant Norman as they fill the roles of Belle and the Beast, respectively.
Beauty and the Beast, which runs through
June 16 at Jones Hall, will leave children and parents in awe as it captures
the tale's idea on stage as
much as it is does on screen.
With sprawling hills and an abundance of
sunflowers as a backdrop, the musical doesn't stray much from the animated
version yet it thrives on
many levels. The array of special effects
glittered throughout the antics and dazzling performances are sure to keep
audiences entertained.
Anyone familiar with the movie will see
how close the musical is to capturing the essence of the story as Bossardet
portrays the angelic
independence of beauty and sings every
song with the
clarity and beauty of a Disney
character.
The townspeople also add to the Disney
magic as Gaston, played by Marc D. Galio, plays his role well enough to
have even the crowd despising
and loving him by the show's end as he
brings his character's sidesplitting antics to life. His sidekick Lefou,
played by Skip Harris, adds to the
laughter with his clumsy ways and how
he somehow always ends up at the end of Gaston's hand.
As the musical moves to the enchanted castle,
audiences will find the highlight of the night with the performance of
Be Our Guest. The famous
butler-turned-candle holder, Lumiere,
quickly becomes a favorite — his flirtatious ways add flair that appeals
to adults and children alike.
Accompanied by elaborately dressed kitchen
utensils, the performance displays all the grandiosity that can be found
in a Broadway musical.
Another song, "Gaston," which is performed
by the townspeople, is carried by an impressive display of clanking steins.
Each song is performed from the heart and
the sequences are set in a way that holds children's attention and gives
parents admiration for the
cast's craft.
The orchestra's accompaniment throughout
the show and especially of Beast's ascension is what makes the transformation
live up to the most
climactic part of the fairytale.
