‘Beauty and the Beast’ abounds (again) at the Lyric

Classic show runs through June 25.

To borrow a refrain from its title tune, by now “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” could be considered a show as old as time, with songs as old as rhyme.

First adapted for a 1946 French film, the classic fairy tale attained mainstream popularity thanks to Disney’s 1991 animated movie musical, which was most recently remade in a live-action version that hit screens a few months ago. In between, the Broadway production opened in 1994 and ran for 13 years. Besides several touring-company engagements at the Fox, audiences here have been treated to numerous other local renditions of it, as well, including a 2008 staging by Atlanta Lyric Theatre.

Suffice it to say, there’s nothing particularly new about director Robert Adams’ current Lyric remounting of the show — in more ways than one. Take some of the principal cast members: Lauren

Hill reprises her role as the spunky romantic heroine, Belle, from an earlier outing with the Gainesville Theatre Alliance; and Jeff McKerley (as the candelabra Lumiere) and Robert Wayne (as the clock Cogsworth) undertake the same parts they did in the Lyric’s previous incarnation.

There’s a certain polished quality to their performances, which isn’t to suggest that they’re exactly refreshing (notwithstanding Hill’s lovely singing voice). At least Logan Denninghoff has been promoted to portraying the cursed and misunderstood Beast, after a stint on one of the national tours playing Gaston, the vain villain of the piece.

Larry Cox performs the buffoonish bad guy this time around, with Brian Jordan as his acrobatic accomplice, LeFou. George Deavours is Belle’s father, an addlebrained inventor. The delightful standouts in the ensemble, as sundry “enchanted knickknacks,” are the splendid Marcie Millard (as the maternal teapot, Mrs. Potts), Heather Witt (as the operatic armoire, Madame de la Grande Bouche) and Bonnie Harris (as the frisky feather duster, Babette).

The familiar songs are by Alan Menken (music) and Howard Ashman and Tim Rice (lyrics). In addition to Millard’s “Beauty and the Beast” solo, among other musical highlights are the splashy group numbers “Be Our Guest” and “Human Again,” featuring the lively choreography of Cindy Mora Reiser. The music direction is credited to Chris Brent Davis, utilizing a canned instrumental track. (Similarly, the lavish scenery and costumes have been imported, too.)

As if most of us didn’t already know as much, Linda Woolverton’s script imparts a message about beauty existing from within, and about the importance of finding the courage to speak from the heart.

Speaking of which: Revivals have always been a staple of the theater business, of course, and you can’t really fault a company for wanting to capitalize on a proven success, but when is enough enough of the same old song and dance?

It’s not that there’s anything wrong with the Lyric’s latest reiteration of “Beauty and the Beast” — the show looks and sounds and (mostly) plays absolutely fine — but it’s probably most highly recommended for those (few) who’ve never been here or done this before.

CALLOWAY CONTRIBUTED BY CAYCE Atlanta Lyric’s “Beauty and the Beast” features Jeff McKerley (from left), Lauren Hill and Robert Wayne, all of whom have played their roles in earlier productions of the Disney musical.