I think she looks wonderful. And by the way, if you have to preface a comment with "not to be rude," that generally isn't a good start. The "Granny and the Beast" comment is very disrespectful.
I think it's great that she's doing it again! I'm going to be in SoCal next week, and I very nearly bought a ticket to see this on my one free evening, but I opted for Annie at the Hollywood Bowl instead. Still, Egan is great and I wish I could have seen both.
The wigs and costumes look cheap, but even the Broadway production looked kinda tacky. No one has yet solved the mystery of costuming someone to play a fork.
I'd love to hear Susan sing "A Change in Me" with the belted ending. She sings the original version on her album with the more somber ending. I wonder which one they're using.
For what it's worth, if Wikipedia serves, Terrence Mann was in his early 40s when he played the Beast, so not very much younger than Susan Egan is now. Egan was (and, well, still is) roughly 20 years his junior.
What's funny is that Susan looks much more like Belle than other young actresses who played Belle on Broadway/tour. I think it's because in the animated movie, Belle looks so mature and grown-up, despite her being 17. Again, all my opinion.
It's only a one-week regional production, who cares how old she is? She looks fantastic! How I wish I could see this! I could very easily suspend my disbelief a little in order to watch a gifted performer I've always been a fan of return to a role that launched her career.
I actually can't get over how great she looks though! Yes the sets and costumes are a little cheap, but it's not got the Disney money behind it.