Beauty and the Beast the Musical

[Silver]

I noticed awhile back that The Lion King was the only musical to have an induvidual thread. Yet BatB is the most beloved of Disney Theatrical productions so it makes sense this should have it's own topic area.

I personally think this is the finest Musical Disney ever created for the Broadway stage. In fact I still think it's one of the most classical productions ever made! Almost everything about this production is so on target it's in fact left quite enormous footsteps to follow. Every aspect translates beautifully to the stage medium while maintaining the essance of the heartfelt story. Which is exactly what the audience hopes for. The story has been slightly expanded but it never ventures away from the point. (Which sadly many of the other Disney musicals have) If anything I believe the story has become even more emotionally involving and entertaining. The characters are fleshed out to grasp a better idea of their dilema. I've always liked the film but I always felt there was something missing. In the musical the race against the clock is so enthralling that there are moments when I think the spell might not be broken. The 2 and a half hour window has allowed the story to completley develop into what it should be. Also the music by Alan Menken and new lyrics by Tim Rice mesh phenomenally with the original score. It's almost seemless. They may even provide more the emotional center of what the story was missing from before.

And the visual language of the show is no exception of how remarkable this production is. Unlike some shows this one does everything to enhance the story as well as pay homage to the film. The sets, costumes, lighting and effects embelish the fantasy and still create the recognition of the beloved characters and scenery. It's been so wonderfully created that I almost can't imagine how much more realistic an animated film can turn into live-action footage. The craft is just excellent! It's colorful and sparkly enough so children find it cheerful. While the adults can be appreciative and bathe in the wonder of the complicated task it took to create it. Another thing that works inthis show's favor. The family-oriented production is so enticing and pleasing to all ages it's become iconic for it's novelty never fading.

The enchanting show continues to entertain audiences around the world but I do hope there will be a revival someday for Broadway and West End. And if it does I hope to be at the theatre. Rumor has it that an American Touring production will start up later next year, but nothing has been confimed by Disney Theatrical yet.

So what does everybody else think of this incredible Musical? As you can see I'm quite a fan.

[athena]

This musical was untill 3(?) years ago shown in the Netherlands, but at that time I wasn't yet that fond of musicals or BatB.
When I did have the intention to go there, my parents didn't want to see it, because they thought they wouldn't like it that much.

I think it's a pity that I haven't seen it, 'cause now I think I should have seen it xD, so hopefully someday I'll be able to see it

[Skeleton Grin]

Funny you should mention this!
It's touring the UK at the minute and I literally an hour ago purchased tickets for me and my younger sister as a birthday treat for her!

I'm looking forward to it more than she will be I think ;P

[Silver]

Athena- I do hope you are able to. If you like the film, then I really do believe you'll find this show enjoyable.

Elliot- That's fantastic! And that's so sweet of you to treat you're sister. I'm sure you'll both have a ball. I treated my best friend to her first professional Broadway production this year with the TLK and she had the time of her life. As far as I'm concerned the only thing better then enjoying a Disney Broadway show is watching your loved ones immensley enjoy them. Be sure to put up a review once you've seen it. I'd love to hear your opinion on it.

There is good news for those in America who want to see a National Tour of BatB. Disney Theatrical has in fact confirmed there will be a Tour run next year. Though not all dates and Theatre locations have been announced or confirmed, it will happen none the less. Casting is in the middle of the audion process so that has also yet to be announced. (Be sure to look at the offical site for updates. Everything should be stated by at least Christmas) My best friend and I will so be there! I'm so excited.

[Skeleton Grin]

Ok its been a few days since I saw it but its fresh in my memory so I thought I'd post a few thoughts

First off the bat, I'd just like to say I absolutely thoroughly enjoyed the show. It did the film itself a great honour but also, as Silver's previously mentioned, adds heaps of just little details here and there that make it feel an even fuller piece than that of the film.

Cast
The cast were fantastic as well. After watching some clips on youtube of other productions and seeing people like Gary Beach, who is probably a mighty fine actor, he wasn't what I had in mind for Lumiere AT ALL and so I was very apprehensive on whether this'd let it down for me. However, the actor who portrayed Lumiere in the production was absolutely phenomenal and was by the best Lumiere I've seen. His cast mates of Cogsworth and Mrs Potts, Maurice, Belle and Beast were all also amazing. Each cast member fully embodied the character and were fanstically faithful to what everyone already knows and loves. One slight problem I found however was our Gaston. He didn't have anywhere near enough the range of some other Gaston's I'd seen and his voice for me wasn't deep enough nor did it have enough scope. During The Mob Song he seemed to really struggle with some of the bigger parts.

Set
The sets were great. The theatre we saw it in (The Sheffield Lyceum) is nowehere near the size of a West End stage never mind a Broadway stage but the production looked like it could hav e been made just for our theatre. The "quiet village" and the Beast's castle all looked fantastic, gothic pieces and really lived up to my expectations!

Songs
Again, although I had heard there were many new songs to BatB I'd never actively seeked them out except for Human Again (which I absolutely adore and am a strong advocate that it should have stayed in the film) However, I don't think there was one song that I disliked that was new. Some highlights for me (which I later came home and downloaded haha) were Maison De Lunes (fantastic song with the inclusion of Monseuir D'Arque), Home (beautiful) and particularly No Matter What. I thought the duet between Belle and her father absolutely touching and I actually found myself welling up. A really great song that has since been on my iPod on repeat.

SFX
The special effects of the piece as well were also spellbinding. The use of the translucent curtain to help create effects such as the forest, the Beast's castle, etc was absolutely inspired. The part that got me the most, and again touched me, was the Beast's transformation scene. What on paper could sound like a really basic idea, combined on stage with the lighting, the music, and the performance conjured up what was one of the most fantastical scenes I've ever seen on stage. Simply amazing.

Final thoughts
In conclusion, I absolutely adored BatB the musical, as you can probably see. Aside from a tiny bit of miscasting, it absolutely lived up to my ridiculously high standards and by far exceeded them. It is definitely a production that I'd see over and over and when I'd left it made me feel actually depressed.
Depressed over how 2 years ago, when I joined college, I gave all that side of media up, opting to go backstage, behind the camera, etc as opposed to in front which for so many years seemed to be my calling. And that's how I was affected by it haha, its made me want to switch paths.

10/10 definitely and I think I favour it over The Lion King!

[Silver]

I'm so glad you immesnley enjoyed the production and it exceeded your expectations Elliot! Who was in the cast if I may ask?

[Skeleton Grin]

I don't actually know, I have the programme but there's noone familiar in it :/
They were all London actors I believe though.

[Joy]

I saw it a long time ago, when I was about four...but I still can remember the magic in that musical. I remember watching Susan Egan take the stage in the first number and I remember the amazing transformation of the Beast at the very end. Needless to say, I still think that Beauty and the Beast is just about one of the best Disney musicals to grace Broadway. This is embarrassing, but I saw The Lion King twice, and I fell asleep during the second time...:/ Anyways, if you don't have the Original Broadway Cast Recording, I suggest you get it! Terrence Mann and Susan Egan has incredible chemistry as Belle and the Beast. The new songs written for the musical such as "Home" and "A Change in Me" are beautiful as well.

[SpellWovenNight]

The first time I saw it was ten years ago and it was a touring version of the Broadway production. I just in saw the Opening Night in Chicago last night. Now, it wasn't an exact replication of the Broadway production and it produced by NetWorks. Besides this particular production's directions and designs, looking at the script there were some things that surprised me. The tried to bring a lot of humor into the show, which (I don't think was unique to this production) wasn't in character for the characters. As far of the music some of the reed section and keyboard were. . .over used. It's such a full orchestra score that reduced to a pit orchestra, that normally reduces strings. I also believe they used a lot of the keyboard to try to replicate the sounds - but it still has an electric sound in my opinion. After hearing so much of Home, I was looking forward to hearing it, but I actually found If I Can't Love Her and A Change in Me much more appealing.

[Silver]

I also saw this same production in February.^^ I have to say I was very dissapointed with the visual aspect. I knew ahead of time the set design, props, costumes and space would be smaller. But I felt they downgraded it so much it felt more like watching a tacky High School production. If I had a psychic ability and knew this is what I'd be paying for, I wouldn't have gone. I expeced a less lush and epic production, but still a respected professional style. I was hoping to see a similar design based off the original Broadway production as I raved about in my last post on this thread. Where they had the entire castle set, more embelished costumes and more advanced visual effects.

What thankfully saved the show from being a wreck was the outstanding cast! Each actor brought their own fresh interpretation while keeping justice to the iconic characters. I thought the singing was fantastic and the numbers were well choreographed. My favorites out of the bunch were If I Can't LoveHer, (The actor helf the last note wonderfully) Gaston, and title song. They brought back those memories of how well the film such enertaining and meaningful songs.

[SpellWovenNight]

I found out that after my friend went that they changed the script too. They cut out two songs and some of the lines were different as well. I don't understand why they would've done that, especially when publicizing it as the returning production of the Broadway show.

[Silver]

I don't understand it either. The last three touring productions of this show were modeled after the Broadway production, and they were successful finacially. If they were concerned about the economic crisis and not enough people being interested in viewing it. They obviously arn't aware of the impact this film has had. Simply because it's apart of the classic Disney fracnhise, people are going to pay for it. If there's one career field that has been still bringing in the millions, it's the Entertainment industry. The Lion King and Mary Poppins touring productions were based off the Broadway designs (Smaller but still generally the same concept) and they've been selling out like mad. Even if the production was more expensive to redesign and find more expensive theatres to perform at, they still managed to earn their income back. Why didn't the producers of this show take this into consideration?

[Briar Rose's Dark Knight]

I have tickets for this coming week during the San Francisco tour. I'm excited to see it as BatB currently ranks as the musical I would most like to see.

[angelgirl]

BATB is a really great movie! I've seen clips of the musical on Youtube, but I've never actually seen a production of it. I'd like to someday, though.