#1
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.
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.
"We like to snark around here. Sometimes we actually talk about theater...but we try not to let that get in our way." - dramamama611
Updated On: 10/28/04 at 09:45 PM
but for now she wants to stay as belle so disney had better extend her contract.
.jpg?format=auto&width=365)
