Beauty and the Beast 10/27/04

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 9:45pm

I just got back from NYC. I saw the matinee of Beauty and the Beast, and everyone was in with the exception of a couple of minor parts and I believe the "Maurice" (Jamie Ross) was out. I sat in the next to last row of the rear mezz. The seats weren't bad, but I moved up to Row E (mid mezz) during intermission and those seats were a bit better. With the exception of a guy who was blocking my view, but the whole row was empty so I moved down a seat. Mid/rear mezz isn't that bad in the Lunt-Fontanne, because it is a smaller theater. Anyways, you guys were right - Brooke Tansley was superb! Lovely singing voice. Her "A Change in Me" and "Home" were definitely better than Christy Romano's versions that I heard. Steven Blanchard was the Beast, and he was also wonderful in the role. There was one song that the Beast sang that I never really cared for at first: "If I Can't Love Her." However, I gave it a chance on the CD (with Terrance Mann) and Steven's take on it was excellent. There was one part where Belle sneaks into the Beast's West Wing, and the Beast finds her in there and gets mad at her. Well, when he got mad at her, he just jumped out from behind or curtain or something, and it gave me quite a jump! As for the rest of the cast - Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth, Maurice, Mrs. Potts, Babette, and Madame de la Grande Bouche - they did their roles justice as well. And let's not forget Chip - everyone thought he was so adorable! I don't know who played Chip - Henry Hodges or Matthew Gumley - because the Disney website lists both of them for the Wednesday matinees. I was sitting high up, but I believe it was Henry Hodges.

Let me comment that the special effects in the show were brilliant. Some highlights included the set design of "Be Our Guest" and how the giant champagne bottles sprayed smoke and streamers out at the end (yes, of course I went to get a streamer during intermission). The Beast transformation was a major highlight of the show - love how it was done. I know Steven Blanchard has a double at that point, but still, how does he get out of all that makeup so fast? All in all, anything that involved the "sparks" made the show even better.

I didn't see as much choreography as, let?s say, 42nd Street, but the choreography that was part of the show was terrific and comedic. For example, I liked the little dance break during "Gaston," and how everyone was clanking their beer mugs together as they were dancing.

The costumes and scenery were beautiful. Belle's dress towards the end was gorgeous. I also loved the scenery that showed the inside of the Beast's castle. A+. This show is surely a grand spectacle.

I would recommend this show people of all ages. It is a fun musical and much better than I thought it was going to be. When I bought the cast recording, I though "eh". I rarely listened to it. I recently started listening to it, mostly after seeing the Broadway in Bryant Park show with Beauty and the Beast, Hairspray, and Phantom of the Opera, and I got used to some more songs. It may be easier for one to like some of the songs if they see it performed rather than just hear it on a CD.

P.S. There was one part I laughed at (not out loud) that wasn't supposed to be funny. It was when the last petal fell off the rose. As it fell, I heard some mechanical "whir" or noise, and it stopped as soon as the petal fell to the bottom. Does that happen every time a petal falls, because I don't remember hearing it earlier in the show? It was loud enough for me to hear it from the mezz.

Updated On: 10/28/04 at 09:45 PM

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 9:49pm

So glad you enjoyed Brooke :) did you go to the stage door?

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 9:52pm

Glad you enjoyed the whole show too

The woman who plays Madame de la Grande Bouche is hilarious. Lumiere and Cogsworth are great too :) Everyone is. So many people complain about the smaller Lunt version but I think it's still a spectacular show :)

[Amneris]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 9:58pm

i can not WAIT to see brooke as Belle. She is one of the most TALENTED & NICEST people on broadway and I am sure she will go even further!!

[saddle shoe side kick]

Posted: 10/27/04 at 10:02pm

yep but for now she wants to stay as belle so disney had better extend her contract.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 1:10am

I heart Brooke Tansly as Belle and as Brooke hehehe!

I to hope Disney choses to hang on to her while they can :)

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:27am

glad you enjoyed Brooke and the show.

Took bad the physical production pales in comparison to what the original staging is.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 6:12am

What do you mean by the smaller Lunt version?

Yeah, Disney should definitely extend her contract unless she wants to leave. They extended CCR's, but her voice wasn't exactly all that, but they don't want to extend someone's contract who has a beautiful voice?

I didn't go to the stage door. They didn't do the BC/EFA, either. I asked someone if they were, and they told me it started, but weren't sure if it started for Beauty and the Beast.

The usher was nicer than the usher at Phantom of the Opera. For some reason, he gave me an extra playbill. He thought the first one got wrinkled or something, but it didn't. I think he wanted the first one back, but he didn't really say anything about that. Also, because people had to be in the seats their ticket said, instead of making a big fuss by telling everyone to move like they did at POTO, he took certain people's tickets and swtiched them with other people in our class so no one had to move.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 6:17am

the show is MUCH downsized from the original Palace theatre version..

*Be Our Guest -- tehs et used to be bigger, and there were fireworks/sparks instead of streamers
*the ballroom was a huge 3-D unit rather than that cheesey backdrop
*the wolves were these scary looking mechanical creatures with glowing red eyes rather than dancers in constume
*the cast was bigger
*the cast was bigger

there are a lot of differences that people who saw it at the palace will notice.

[PennyLou]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 8:22am

yes, but the show is still enjoyable, I mean it happens with all shows at some point things downs size to keep costs lower but the Disney experience is still fun, and for someone who never saw the first production or for little kids who are seeing there fist show it is still a wonderful experience!

[scottwalker]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:29pm

Thanks for the review.Have been waiting weeks for the 27th to arrive to see how you liked it.
The set is just fine.I saw the original production at the Palace with Susan Egan.Saw it there again with Kerry Butler.What the set is now takes exactly "nothing" away from the incredible performance being turned in by Brooke everday.She was great her first shows...she amazingly just keeps getting better.
The set also takes "nothing" away from one of the most beautiful stories ever written.Brookes performance just brings out all the Beauty "again"that I think many,many people had forgotten about Beauty and the Beast.
The tears I had when I first saw the movie all those years ago come back every night at the theatre...in several different places.
She does have a beautiful voice.She dances great.Her acting is fantastic.Obviously I can not say enough about her nor Beauty with her in it.
I hope everyone goes to see it .I hope you all enjoy it as much as I and my family.It is simply the best.We can hardly wait to go see it again.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:40pm

Scott,
I don't fault the performers at all. love Brooke just as much as anyone. I just long to see that spectaular set I remember Kerry Butler inhabiting at the Palace.

[scottwalker]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 3:52pm

Broadwayguy2...wish I could remember all the little things that went with the original set at the Palace...Afraid as I get older...That the things I remember ...are the performances...It was the first show that I ever saw.The first that I took my daughters to.Kerry several years later came to the edge of the stage...left...and looked right in to the eyes of my daughters...cementing their desires to be actors.Saw It again at the Lunt...with Andrea McArdle and now Brooke.Her performance is what we will always take with us...Keep with us.
I ...right now can not even recall the "mechanical wolves " that you speak of...wish I could...But ...Glad you love Brooke and I sure hope that you get to see her in it...

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:05pm

I saw Kerry as well and she was INCREDIBLE as Belle..

In addiction to being an actor, I am also into teh design/production side of stuff, so those things stick in my head.

[Michelleruth2]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 4:16pm

Millie,

I'm so glad you enjoyed the show! I KNEW you would! My icon is a photo taken with David De Vries (Lumiere) last year. This show is my sentimental favorite, and I'm anxious to go again to see Brooke. So many people say she is fabulous. Doesn't Steve have a great voice?

[scottwalker]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 5:01pm

Kerry was incredible...as was Susan Egan...But without a doubt...Brooke is every bit as good... I do not say that lightly.She is great....Worth a trip to NYC...treat yourself for the holidays...You`ll be so glad you did...Scott

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 9:11pm

When I first got the Beauty and the Beast CD, I didn't care much for the songs. But my opinion has changed and I like most of them! Steve's "If I Can't Love Her" was beautiful. The first time I heard it, which was probably Bryant Park, I thought it was boring...never gave it a chance, and it was my first time hearing it...but Brian O'Brian was great, don't get me wrong. Anyways, I love the chorus of the song. And then when Brooke and Steve sang a part of that song together at the end...wonderful! Don't judge the show just because it is based on a "Disney" movie. The show is far better than the movie, in my opinion. If you want to see a good quality show in NYC, don't miss out on Beauty and the Beast. It isn't a show that is too difficult to get tickets to, and there are most likely discounts.

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 9:21pm

Also, I'd like to thank the lady in the last row in the rear mezz, who was sitting right behind me, for ruffling her plastic bag during the show. The first time I just looked at her, and the second and third times I think she did it closer to my head to get me angry. Throw your plastic bags out if they are going to be a disturbance.

[dancinfan]

Posted: 10/28/04 at 9:42pm

BroadwayGuy2, you are the first person I have ever heard of who liked the puppet wolves! We used to call them wolf-on-a-stick.

The Palace production was always the only one in the world that had the elevator in Be Our Guest and the forced perspective terrace you remember for the Beauty and the Beast waltz. There have been several designs since then for the waltz, including the "Japanese tea garden" look that now exists at the Lunt and the "Milky Way" star spiral from the 2000-2003 tour. The best waltz look IMHO, if you ever see pictures, was from the recent UK tour. A fantastic multi-colored star drop and a blue moon. The UK tour also featured the most gorgeous library of all the sets I'm familiar with - it was a stunningly painted set that made the library look like it went on forever into the distance.

The cast was downsized by four onstage ensemble members, two swings, and the Beast standby. The result is that instead of having 2 full sets of flatware in Be Our Guest, there is now one; instead of 5 plates, there are now three; instead of 6 napkins, there are now five; and various choreography was adjusted to fit the smaller ensemble in ways that most people would not notice at all.

One thing I can say for Disney is that the downsize and move to the Lunt has indeed given the show a longer run, given more shows the opportunity to use the amazing Palace, and renovated and mainatined the Lunt-Fontanne, which was a mess before Beauty moved in.

[broadwayguy2]

Posted: 10/29/04 at 4:51am

dancin,
check your PMS :-P