Disney's Beauty And The Beast

Disney’s musical re-telling of the classic fairy tale Beauty and the Beast is brought to magical life in this vibrant production by Nova Music Theatre.  With an excellent cast, outstanding set, costume and lighting design, and assured direction, the show will enchant theatregoers young and old.

Beauty and the Beast is one of the few Disney films that doesn’t veer too far from the traditional fairy tale on which it is based, and the result is a story with a lot of heart and a few moments of despair.  Belle, a beautiful, bookish misfit, trades her life for her father’s when he is captured by the horrendous Beast, secretly a prince in disguise.  Trapped in the Beast’s castle, Belle comes to know and eventually love him, breaking the enchantment under which he was placed for his heartless ways and returning him to his Princely form.  What Disney has done is fill out the cast of characters with singing and dancing household objects, a preening fool who will have Belle as his wife at all costs and various comedic sidekicks and townspeople.

Director Noel Browne has brought Disney’s vision to life onstage in a show that captures the essence of the animated movie through outstanding production values and design as well as acting that is pitched perfectly just on the border between animation and reality.  The show is well paced and the actors, particularly the Beast’s household, work beautifully together.  John Clancy’s musical direction is assured- the orchestra is as tight an ensemble as I’ve ever heard for the opening night of an amateur production, managing tempo changes with ease, and the reed players are to be commended on their virtuosity.  Choreographer Wayne Robinson has tackled the always-difficult task of large ensemble dance numbers well, but it is when he uses his featured dancers that his work shines.  This is particularly evident in the wolves’ slinking, leaping dance break, and Daniel Ham’s featured moment in 'Be Our Guest', which Ham carries off with extraordinary ease.   

The acting reminds us of the show’s animated roots, but remains firmly grounded in real emotion.  Robert Clark captures the ferocity and the pathos of the Beast through nuanced acting that relies on physicality and voice alone, as his face all but disappears under the Beast makeup.  It is a shame that the Beast’s first song comes so late in the first act as Clark’s voice is superb - his rendition of 'If I Can’t Love Her' is heart wrenching. 

Georgia Wilkinson makes a beautiful and feisty Belle and her song, 'A Change in Me', brought a collective sigh from the audience.  Playing Gaston as a cross between Captain Jack Sparrow and Errol Flynn on steroids, John Gardner owns the stage in his numerous big production numbers.  Gardner, originally from Auckland, inhabits the role completely, finding the moments of physical comedy and dancing up a storm.  Also worth mentioning are Greg Beresniak, who gives the show heart as Lumiere, Mark Monroe as his stiff sidekick and partner  in comedy Cogsworth and Amanda Stevenson as Mrs Potts, whose rendition of the show’s signature song 'Beauty and the Beast' is performed with incredible warmth.  David Youings, who plays Chip, a role he shares with Nathan Morton, also deserves a mention as he manages to convey a great deal of appeal and personality whilst spending almost the entire show concealed in a drinks trolley with only his face visible.   

The set, dominated by a castle that spans the whole stage, was designed by Chris White and offers a grand arena for the performance, complemented by the exquisitely painted backdrops.  There is attention to detail in the contrast between the expertly rendered paintwork of Maurice’s cottage and the castle’s stone features, and the sloppy paintwork of Maurice’s experimental (and handmade) woodchopping vehicle.  The limited use of well-designed set pieces makes for smooth scene changes on the whole, although the removal of the table during the song 'Beauty and the Beast', at the critical moment when Belle and the Beast start to see each other truly for the first time, could be done more obliquely through a slight change in timing or lighting.

Michael Zagarn’s lighting design is critical to the magic of the show.  From the moment we enter the theatre to see the castle half concealed in shadow, it is clear Zagarn is an assured hand at conveying mood.  Special lighting is used to great effect at critical moments, such as during the Prince’s transformation, and when the magic mirror is used.  It is these moments that will capture the wonder of the youngest audience members, and timing is critical.  Unfortunately, on opening night both transformations, from Prince to Beast, and back again, were marred by timing that was close, but not quite right, and by a radio mike left on, all of which broke the magic, but no doubt everything will come together for future shows. 

Of course a production such as Beauty and the Beast relies heavily on the costume designer’s art to make us believe that actors are candlesticks and teapots.  Stephanie Lumb and her team have done an outstanding job, not only in the feats of engineering required but in the fine detail, such as jewels and filigree.  Her costumes not only bring the household goods to life but make us believe they could be found in a Prince’s castle.  Belle’s iconic yellow dress is exquisite, and even the ensemble are expertly dressed with an eye to detail.  Cogsworth’s glass could do with some hairspray to stop it reflecting into the audience’s eyes, but apart from this the achievement in costuming brings Disney’s animated magic to life perfectly.

There were a few opening night glitches such as timing of lighting cues, very occasional vocal nerves and radio mike crackle, and in the opening number in particular the sound was patchy, so that lines were lost.  No doubt these will be quickly ironed out.  Overall Nova has achieved a production filled with magic and heart.  The emotional scenes draw the audience in, the show is visually stunning, and the cast are outstanding.  If you have children, they will absolutely love this enchanting production.  If you don’t have children, go and see it anyway- Beauty and the Beast is a fine piece of Musical Theatre.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs at The Whitehorse Centre until the 5th November - see What's On for more info.

Reviewed by Rachel Le Rossignol

Rachel has been involved in theatre for twenty-five years, both onstage and off.  In her younger days she performed in Intervarsity Theatre Sports in Sydney but later became much more interested in the production side of shows.  She has stage managed numerous pro-am productions at the Theatre Royal, Hobart, including The Secret Garden, My Fair Lady, The Best Little Whorehouse in Texas and Big River.  Her experience includes teaching drama, directing, costume design, performing and lighting design.  In 2009 her script 'A Midsummer Bay's Dream', was performed on 3MDR and last year her adaptation of The Snow Queen was performed by Gemco Players.