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DISNEY'S 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST'
Posted By Paul Tyree
Category
UKTheatre Reviews
Date Posted 7/26/2006 |
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DISNEY'S 'BEAUTY
AND THE BEAST'
Music by Alan Menkin
Review by Paul Tyree
www.paultyree.co.uk
Apart from what I
thought was a very weak opening and a cartoonish performance
by Gaston, played by Michael Quinn, this production is
everything that you hope it may be.
Jo Gibb makes an
excellent and endearing Belle and Nic Greenshields is
magnificent as the Beast.
For some reason the opening
number didn't hit the right notes and it felt awkward and
forced, as though the performers had only just woken up to the
fact that they were supposed to be putting on a play. After
that false start, however, everyone settled in quickly and the
piece really began to take off, the first half closing out
with two incredibly strong numbers, most notably ' Be our
Guest'. This left the audience very buoyed and eager to see
the second half.
Again, Michael Quinn's performance as
Gaston was distracting, overblown and off putting - it was
also very evident that he seems to have forged a career out of
impersonating Elvis. At first I thought that perhaps his
gurning and hip shaking might be a direct reference to the
cartoon, but sadly not. Compared to Mr Quinn's performance,
the Gaston in the Disney cartoon is infinitely deeper, more
finely nuanced and a far far better actor. The only way to
defend his stage performance is to remember that this play is
supposed to be for children and a cartoonish, overacting
Gaston is less likely to frighten the little ones. (I would,
however, not endorse this sort of patronizing view. If
children can handle the Wicked Witch in 'Wizard of Oz' or The
Childcatcher in 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang', then they can
certainly handle a Gaston with a little more depth).
These criticisms, however, are minor and far
outweighed by the sheer professionalism of this production and
the tremendous amount of work that the cast put in to make all
this appear effortless.
Sergio Priftis is excellent as
the candlestick 'Lumiere' as is Adam Stafford as 'Cogsworth'.
Their interplay is as enjoyable here as it is in the movie.
Zee Asha stands out as Madam De La Grande Bouche, the wardrobe
and Emma Cannon is suitable flirty and eye catching as
'Babette'.
It is, however, with our two leads that
this production stands or falls and luckily both performers
are completely believeable in their roles.
Nic
Greenshields also displays a fine talent for light comedy - no
easy thing when you're 6 foot 6 and covered with latex and
hair.
The costumes and sets are as professional as one
would expect from this sort of play, but still deserve a
mention for the undoubted craftsmanship that went into their
production.
The orchestra was also magnificent and
deserve high praise for being so present, vital and invisible.
Truly an orchestra has done it's job magnificently when after
the first minute, you have completely forgotten about their
existence, so at one and integral they were to the piece.
All in all this production was as special as one would
hope and will transfix all who are lucky enough to get a
ticket.
Lyceum Theatre, Sheffield:
July 10-29, 2006
Kings Theatre, Glasgow: August 1-12,
2006
Milton Keynes Theatre: September 4-16, 2006
Theatre Royal, Norwich: September 18-30, 2006
Palace Theatre, Manchester: October 2-7, 2006
Hawth Theatre, Crawley: October 9-14, 2006
Hippodrome, Bristol: October 16-21, 2006
Hippodrome, Birmingham: October 23-November 4, 2006
Grand Theatre, Blackpool: November 6-18, 2006
Swan Theatre, High Wycombe: November 20-25 2006
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