Review by Paul Towers, 17/9/24
Beauty and The Beast – The Broadway Musical
Directed by Keiran Whelan-Newby
Produced by KW Productions
At The Little Theatre til Saturday 21st
September 2024
I have been seeing KW Production shows for
the last 10 years and every show is bigger, better and more professional than
the last. Their production of Disney’s Beauty and The Beast is the most
ambitious yet.
I am sure everyone knows the story of the
petulant, over-privileged prince whose self-absorbed sense of entitlement leads
him to ignore the plight of what he thinks is a lowly flower seller. His
ignorance has consequences and he is turned into a monster, condemned to live
in his isolated castle where even his servants have been turned into the
objects they used. The only way the Beast can break the spell is to convince a
girl to love him despite his appearance. That girl turns out to be Belle, a
village girl similarly ostracised by her neighbours for treasuring books over
people.
As The Beast Keiran Whelan-Newby uses his
powerful voice to rattle the scenery with his rage at himself and everything
around him. Rose Bale’s Belle is no walk over and The Beast has to work hard to
win her over.
Of course anyone who has seen the film this
show is based on is waiting for the animated pots and pans to provide the
comedy and heart of the story. Lumiere (Simon Butler) has great fun as the
Candelabra and Russell Webster’s Cogworth, the pessimistic Clock is well
matched as his partner in crime. The other really memorable character is Mrs
Potts (Siobhan Ball) the teapot and her son, Chip (a role shared by Edward
Lander and Hollie Longley-Wilford). The villain of the piece, the predatory
Gaston (Vaughan Barton-Ashcroft) has another great comedy partner in Lefou (Matt
Barton-Ashcroft). This show has a huge cast of 27 including the ensemble and
choreographer Caroline Walsh makes good use of the entire cast. There is much
innovative and inventive animation designed by Joe Roberts which helps higher
the production values. A live band of 11 is mostly hidden behind the scenery
under the direction of Tim Stokes.
While Beauty and The Beast runs til Saturday
21st September you are way too late to get tickets as the entire run
is sold out.
https://thelittletheatre.co.uk/
https://ptheatre.blogspot.com/
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