Anneliese van der Pol as Belle

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 4:35pm

So I went to see Beauty and the Beast last night with my friend and she goes, "uh oh" and I ask her what's wrong and she says, "I forgot that Anneliese van der Pol is playing Belle...look" and points to her headshot. I think, "oh god. great they got some stupid disney popstar to give Beauty and the Beast more of an audience."

I could not have been more wrong. She was UNBELIEVEABLE! I was so pleasently surprised. Her voice was both delicate and powerful. At the end of the first act my friend and I looked at each other and just went, "WOW" I thought, A Change in Me will be the big test. It was flawless. Not only did it sound good, it was the best version of that since Ashley Brown singing it at Broadway on Broadway. I also loved her speaking voice. She sounded exactly like Page O'Hara from the movie. She just played and sang the role beautifully, I suggest seeing her in it she won't disappoint.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 5:00pm

I couldn't agree more! I thought she was flawless. I thought that she sounded more like Susan Egan though. I felt like I was listening to the original Broadway recording.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 5:04pm

I haven't seen her yet, but I saw some of the videos on this site. she sounds UNBELIEVABLE.

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 5:53pm

I'm going to get hit by a bus for this, but I thought she sounded better than Susan Egan. I don't remember Susan belting A Change in Me.

[jg4892]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 5:55pm

I don't think they had A Change in Me when Susan was there.

[desiree armfeldt]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 5:58pm

I'm going to be hit right behind you: Susan Egan sounds like she's straining a lot on the CD.

[Brave Sir Robin2]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 6:13pm

I heard she is great.

[bjh2114]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 6:49pm

"I don't remember Susan belting A Change in Me."

That would be because the song wasn't put into the musical until Toni Braxton took over. Susan never got to sing the song. And I agree that Anneliese sounds better than Susan Egan, I just meant that they have very similar voices. I closed my eyes while Anneliese was singing "Home" and thought for a second that it was Susan. But in terms of quality, I agree that Anneliese is better.

[BroadwayBound86]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 8:30pm

When the video first came out with Anneliese as Belle I was thrilled...it looked too good to be true....especially for bad quality video online. Sure enough I wasn't too impressed with her. She was funny yes and she has a powerhouse voice....but she was too stiff in the role and took it too seriously. Yes I know she is supose to but it looked too well rehearsed and too fake. The only thing that really impressed me was her A Change in Me. Other than that...I wasn't too impressed with her.

[mrslovett7]

Posted: 5/20/07 at 10:50pm

I have a recording of Susan Egan doing A Change in Me, so I guess it was just her recording it.

[Craig]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 12:20am

The song has been re-orchestrated during Ashley's run..

The ending has been written much bolder and beltier for a true 11 o'clock #. Anyone who's seen a performer do the song before Ashley (or heard a recording) would not have heard the big finish to the song

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 12:42am

Except when Andrea would riff.

[theactorsociety]

Posted: 5/21/07 at 1:59am

In the interview with Anneliese, she said that she was singing the original ending of the song, which they changed for a former Belle (Ashley Brown). But it was changed back when Sarah Uriarte Berry returned to the role.