Johnny T. as Lumiere- Page 3

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 1/3/07 at 8:21pm

I bought the $40 tickets in the mezz...usually I don't like the mezz, but the Lunt-Fontanne is an exception.

I also saw Johnny T. I disagree slightly and think he needs to work on his accent a bit, but he was funny and had wonderful stage presence. I enjoyed watching him in Be Our Guest. Go see him!

[SuzyQzy]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 4:55pm

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Johnny as Lumiere

[mirramar]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 5:19pm

I took my mother to see BATB a few years ago b/c that's the only show out at the time that was "clean" enough for her taste.

I liked the cartoon much better!
Even with Johnny T in it, I don't think I could sit through it again.

[broadwaystar2b]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 5:51pm

I saw the show on the 23rd, the second to last show with Sarah and Donny and David Spangethal was on for the Beast.

I too was very apprehensive about seeing the show and really only went to see Johnny. I have to say though that that cast had such incredible energy and chemistry that it really put almost all of the other shows we saw on that vacation to shame. It's still a beautiful story with wonderful characters that (for this performance anyway) were never overshadowed by the special effects and spectacle.

It was the first time I have seen the show were the title characters seemed real (and believe me, I have seen it far too many times than I'd have ever liked to). I would have never known that David was an understudy if I was unfamiliar with the show, and his performance was one of the first times I have ever seen the Beast played like a 3 dimensional being. I completely believed in his emotional journey with the character and he has an absolutely incredible voice and presence. Sarah was lovely and played Belle like a believable human rather than falling into the trap these Disney characters have and doing an exact imitation of the film. And the chemistry of the two of them together was completely convincing and very sweet.

Every one of the main objects (Mrs. Potts, Babette, Madame de la Grande Bouche, et. al) were excellent in their own right and all of them had great chemistry together onstage (I know I'm saying chemistry a lot, but I don't have another appropriate synonym) Jonathan was wonderful as Cogsworth and Donny was clearly having an absolute blast as Gaston and it's nice to see some stunt casting that actually worked well onstage.

As for John, I may be biased, but he was marvelous. Like Donny, he was obviously having fun with the role and he had wonderful (I won't use chemistry!) connection with everyone. His Lumiere had very clear relationships to every other character; very sweet with Belle, total chums with Cogsworth, appropriately submissive to the Beast but willing to stand up when necessary, and of course, completely horny with Babette. His accent was very much exaggerated Chevalier-esque french and it worked very well. "Be Our Guest" brought the house down. If there is one criticism I have with Johnny, it is that he seems to be cursed to never have normal use of his right hand on Broadway

I have no idea how the new cast is, but I had a wonderful time seeing the show again and it was overall a very pleasant surprise.
Updated On: 1/4/07 at 05:51 PM

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 6:15pm

*extremely jealous that you got to see an understudy Beast* I would have loved to catch that.

But glad you enjoyed it!

And I definitely overused the word chemistry as well

And I saw his pic up by the theatre, I was hoping/figuring someone would get around to getting that on the internet. Thanks guys!

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 6:44pm

If only Michael Shawn Lewis would play the Beast again...

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 1/4/07 at 9:19pm

then i'd go see it.