TALE AS OLD AS TIME
The Beauty And The Beast musical brings the animation to life
It brings an emotional tear to eye when cartoons can capture the heart-wrenching trials of humanity, but when humans can come across convincingly as cartoons, the result is undeniable glee. Disney’s Broadway spectacular, Beauty And The Beast, which is showing in Thailand for the very first time, brings the 1991 Oscar-winning classic of the same name to life.
Right from the very first note that the orchestra emits, it is impossible to deny those familiar feelings of curious wonder that comes rushing back in. Hearing the familiar enigmatic backing track that once introduced audiences to the story of a prince-turned-beast by a real, live band is a moving experience that seems to open the gates of animation and bring it to life. When the characters start delivering their first lines in the scene where Belle is in the village, I feel a peculiar sense of déjà vu. This is the very first time I am watching the musical, yet, I can almost mouth the exact words and lyrics because they are straight from the animation.
Hilary Maiberger, who plays Belle, is very much the heroine cartoon. Her voice sounds like the original; her singing is exceptional; her movement is a three-dimensional carbon copy of the cartoon down to the wink. When she starts singing the perennial favourite Belle (also known as Little Town), her clear voice is a joy that will transport you to that quaint and bustling provincial town she cannot wait to leave. Slaves to Disney will be easily entertained by the songs.
In fact, it is the performances that steal the show, rather than the sets and costumes. Another joy to watch is Gaston, who had an extremely beefy and tall actor to fill his shoes. His slapstick-funny sidekick, Lefou, also generated much of the laughs for the evening. The Gaston song, which takes place in a tavern, was an entertaining romp that threw a mug-clinking dance into the routine.
Human characters aside, the enchanted objects will infect you with their distinct and cartoonish personalities. Part of the fun is seeing how they will be costumed and move around. Lumiere and Cogsworth enunciate their French and British languages pitch-perfectly as if they were the iconic cartoon characters themselves. How Chip, the little teacup, was fashioned is interesting to see — plus, he’s terribly cute when he turns into a little boy at the end. Babette and the Wardrobe are also a delight to watch; the larger-than-life sass in their personalities being a theatrically grand comical relief that eclipse whatever they wear.
The costumes don’t say much, with the Beast looking more like a ball of curls with a really bad (rubbery) face job, rather than the scariest creature known to mankind. Or it may have been intended, as the Beast is more comical and silly in this version. In moments that were meant to chill you to the bone, the musical has fallen short. The wolves in the woods were supposed to be a terrifying scene, but unfortunately, the wolf dolls only reminded me that I’ve seen better puppet mastery in Sesame Street.
While musicals obviously cannot replicate the wonders animation can create, the wow factor could have gone up many notches to fill us with wonder and awe, especially when seeing the library for the first time or when Be My Guest begins. It’s all fun with the can-canning spoons and plates, but the song could have been even more of a spectacle — like it should be — with dancing food and beautifully-set tables. In hundreds. There are times when the easy way out has been taken. Don’t get me wrong, the effects aren’t bad at all. They’re good, but just not good enough in today’s technologically advanced world that has broadened the set of possibilities for the world of musicals. Think the grandeur of Phantom Of The Opera or the fantastical and awe-inspiring sets of Charlie And The Chocolate Factory. Like Beauty And The Beast, Roald Dahl’s childish storyline is one which feeds on glorious imagination and delicious fantasy. It is a surprise to see what a spectacular musical can achieve — so much that it was better than watching the movie.
But back to Beauty. What’s important to note is how true it stays to the animation, but still comes up with additional lines and songs that allow characters to bring their own depth to the characters. For an evening of light-hearted glee, the beloved songs are the main treat, with the human incarnation of the cartoon characters as the surprise centre-fill. Don’t miss this enchanting musical if you are a fan of this tale as old as time.