Beauty and the Beast now revised/abridged: how do you feel?

“I know few people have sentimental attachment to Maison does Lunes”

This has to be a troll comment.

I haven’t experienced this production in person yet, but it’s not going to be the standard going forward - neither is Webber’s atrocious take on The Wizard of Oz. These are versions/revisions that will come and go. Maybe if the physical production was to the level of the original design, people would remember this version for years to come…but I doubt it will be the case.

I’m someone who (oddly, I know) holds the first few Disney adaptations close to my heart, and while I look forward to seeing this version in person to round out my perspective (as opposed to a computer screen), I’m sure it won’t ruin what the original show is and has always been.

Updated On: 10/11/21 at 12:28 PM

"No Matter What" is now optional and there are optional cuts for dance breaks. The only official cuts are "Maison De Lunes" and "The Battle."

Is this the version currently being performed on tour in the UK? As long as "A Change in Me" is still in I'm good. Now that those songs are cut maybe there will finally be enough room to record the Overture on any forthcoming cast album. Assuming the Overture hasn't been cut. 

CATSNYrevival said: ""No Matter What" is now optional and there are optional cuts for dance breaks.The only official cuts are"Maison De Lunes" and "The Battle."

Is this the version currently being performed on tour in the UK? As long as "A Change in Me" is still in I'm good. Now that those songs are cut maybe there will finally be enough room to record the Overture on any forthcoming cast album. Assuming the Overture hasn't been cut."

The current UK tour just has a few bars of A Change in Me played as more of a prelude than a full overture. It's really too bad. Beauty and the Beast has (or should I say HAD) a great overture.

 

Thanks darquegk for mentioning this. Super disappointed to read about these changes, especially since they don't really seem to better the show in any way. I was involved in a production pre-covid that never happened but I guess we'll have to go along with the new changes for our post-covid show. Weird.

Maison De Lunes & No Matter What have been gone from the show since Disney Theatrical reworked for the NETworks Tour over a decade ago.

Maison De Lunes and No Matter what are fantastic songs. Sad they're not being done anymore. I'd love to see a BATB revival with the original set and all the songs. That show was pure magic when it was on Broadway. 

fashionguru_23 said: "Don't me started on the fact that Networks had every actor say the first line of lyrics as dialogue, and then the second line be have spoken/sung to then carry on singing. What?! So horrible."

Was the creative team taking inspiration from Joel Schumacher's film adaptation of The Phantom of the Opera? Lyrics in musicals are meant to be sung, not spoken.

I personally think it is a positive move.  I know it ran for 10 or 11 years, but I thought the production was very stodgy from the beginning, and I saw it right at the beginning.  Don’t know which was first but, compared to The Lion King (which I also have issues with), it just seems so bloated and unexciting.  I saw it years later and felt the same way.  Even worse, it was on tour and the production values were lousy.  If the elimination and other changes bring it closer to the spirit of the original movie, I am all for it…may even see it, which is something I never thought I’d say about any production of Beauty…

TheatreFan4 said: "Maison De Lunes & No Matter What have been gone from the show since Disney Theatrical reworked for the NETworks Tour over a decade ago."

God that tour was horrible.

I’m surprised about The Battle. I guess I can see how the climax works without it, but that’s an odd change. Maison Des Lunes doesn’t add anything and Gaston already has plenty of music without it, so that’s a pretty logical cut. I’m fine with No Matter What being optional. It’s a sweet moment, but it’s also not a big loss if it’s absent.