BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - NETworks tour

It's "reimagined" by the same creative team as the original Broadway production, but the sets and most of the costumes are entirely new designs. They've also made some cuts to the libretto/score including "No Matter What" and the entire battle sequence with the enchanted objects.

Cheap is the word I would use to describe this production. The set is horrendous and looks like a giant coloring book as inflated, popped, and the remains were thrown onstage. The changes made to the book were unnecessary. No Matter What was cut and replaced by awkward dialogue about Belle's mother that is out of place and stops the show dead in its tracks.

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^ If you've tried navigating the board's search function lately, you would find that prudent silence is wise the next time you feel tempted to suggest it.

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"^ If you've tried navigating the board's search function EVER,"

FTFY, I don't mind reading things again.

I saw the tour twice last year over, in the fall in Cincinnati and shortly before Christmas in Richmond, KY. I saw the show several years ago on Broadway as well and, like others have said, the sets and costumes are very scaled down, especially the village and Belle's home.

I thought Emily Behny did a very solid job as Belle and had a nice richness to her voice. The Beast was played more as a brattish child than a tortured soul, but the kids seemed to love it. Overall, it was worth seeing and, especially for younger or first-time theater go-ers, it would be a very entertaining show.

Well there is this...
A Must-See!

^

"Ooooooooh, isn't this a hot mess..."

...won me over.

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Having enjoyed the show on Broadway, I was interested in seeing the NETworks tour, yet skeptical at the same time.

The prices for this show were outrageous; it was about $120+ ticket. Fortunately, we had "limited view" seats in the orchestra for $33, which turned out to be a good deal. Had I paid more, I would've expected a lot more from the production.

For the most part, the cast was talented. If you've ever seen the Broadway production, you can spot the differences in the NETworks tour. For example:

- As someone mentioned in a previous thread, "No Matter What" was cut and replaced with some dialogue between Belle and her father about Belle's mother (I thought it did not fit well).
- "Maison De Lunes" is cut.
- There is no battle scene between the villagers and the enchanted objects; it went straight from the battle song to Gaston fighting the Beast.
- The costumes and scenery were different and not as grand as the Broadway version (example: "Be Our Guest").

For what we paid, I enjoyed the production. But I missed the grandeur that was the Broadway production.

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