The News Herald (Willoughby, OH)
GLTG conjures an enchanting ‘Beauty and the Beast’
“Tale as old as time; song as old as rhyme … .”
Odds are that, given the popular animated Disney film released in 1991 and its live-action remake from 2017, you know the lyric that comes next from the much-beloved musical “Beauty and the Beast.”
The show, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice and book by Linda Woolverton, is on stage at Geauga Theater in Chardon from Geauga Lyric Theater Guild.
You probably also know the storyline. As a reminder, when a vain and arrogant prince denies an old woman shelter in his castle, the women reveals herself to be a sorcerous and casts a spell on the whole castle. The prince now has the form of a wild beast, and his servants are trapped in the form of various household items.
To break the curse, the Beast must fall in love and experience love in return. When kind-hearted village girl Belle becomes the Beast’s prisoner, can the two see through the other’s defenses, fall in love and break the curse?
You probably know the answer to this, as well, but GLTG’s enchanting and impassioned production, under Angela Miloro-Hansen’s direction, is certainly worth seeing.
Mayim Hamblen as Belle is sweet, likable and has a very pleasant voice best displayed in in her song “Is This Home?” Her counterpart, Brandon Ferris as the Beast, is gruff, abrupt and short-tempered — that is, until he acts like a gentleman to win favor with Belle.
While Ferris is so often growling and angry, his
wonderful singing voice breaks through his character’s hard shell. The interactions between Hamblen and Ferris are quite cute and very funny.
While the Beast reveals himself to be gentle, Gaston, the village heartthrob, is anything but. He sets his sights on Belle and won’t accept her refusal to marry him. Played by the impeccable Jonathan Klein, who looks and acts like he stepped right out of the animated film, the egotistical Gaston is an absolute pleasure to watch. His muchabused right-hand man, Lefou, is well played by Paul Ulle, who has mastered the fine art of falling.
One of the most entertaining songs of the show, and the best performed by an often-off six-piece orchestra under John Krol’s direction, is the ensemble number “Gaston,” where everyone sings Gaston’s praises while performing an intricate dance number choreographed by Sarah Wyatt.
As Cogsworth — the Beast’s tightly wound and extremely loyal majordomo, who now assumes the form of a clock — Lace Williamson is absolutely charming, while the candlestick Lumiere, played by Andrew Kotlar, is given a delightful personality and an amusing French accent.
Other enchanting performances are turned in by Mari McCloud, as Mrs. Potts; Janna Klein, as Babette; Brooke Peterson, as Chip; and Melissa Fry, as Madame de la Grande Bouche, all of whom are beautifully Disneyfied by costumer Kelly Miloro.
Their castle is designed by Randy Hansen, who creates swooping staircases and artistic, pastel-colored stained-glass windows, which are complemented by Brad Allen’s gorgeous light design.
With a light heart, a jovial cast and skilled crew, GLTG’s production adds to the legacy of this “tale as old as time.”