Theater Review - 'Beauty And The Beast'

Theater Review – ‘Beauty and the Beast’

Produced by Star Playhouse – Commack

Reviewed by Jeb Ladouceur

‘Beauty and the Beast’ is one of those phenomena that Broadway producers usually only dream about. This Walt Disney musical adaptation of an old French fairy tale, first gave audiences a look-see in Houston, and after a generally favorable reception there, the show opened on Broadway in 1994 … with Susan Egan and Terrence Mann in the title roles.

Reviews in sophisticated New York were disappointingly mixed at best, but audiences obviously liked the production more than did the critics (though Frank Rich’s raves in the New York Times probably saved the show from a premature demise) because the musical became the tenth-longest running hit in the history of the Great White way! That translates into 5,500 performances in thirteen years. ‘Beauty’ has now grossed one and a half billion dollars, having played in thirty or more countries … and cities ranging from New York, to Moscow, to Shanghai and Melbourne, Australia.

So much for the influence of tepid critiques.

The story, upon which Linda Woolverton’s adaptation is based, is a familiar one: A cold and selfish Prince is punished for his offenses by being magically transformed into an ugly creature. One of the Prince’s misdeeds is the imprisoning of a beautiful young woman in his castle, and the only way the Prince can become his handsome self once again, is to win the heart of the lovely girl.

Michael Eisner had taken over the reins of Disney Studios ten years before, and while he required considerable persuading, Eisner finally agreed to launch ‘Beauty and the Beast’ as Disney’s first Broadway venture. Clearly, Eisner had not been ill-advised.

This show, with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, is a feel-good production that is well-staged by the cast and crew of Commack’s exceedingly impressive Star Playhouse. In particular, the lead characters are ideally cast (Kelsey Kyle is Belle, and Kevin Callaghan plays the homely Beast who is the Prince) in a musical that is appropriate to the forthcoming holiday season. 

The stars of ‘Beauty’ (directed by Michael McAuliffe) will thrill children and please adults … after all, it was more than a kiddie show that earned its way into the rarified company of such plays as ‘Cats’, ‘Les Miserables’ and ‘Phantom of the Opera.’ That said, I can think of no better way to introduce youngsters to legitimate theater than to take them to see this highly professional production. The message will be clear to them … it’s this … what’s really important about a person, is that which is on the inside; one should never be judged by one’s appearance alone.

But there’s a caveat that parents of youngsters would do well to consider. The Star Playhouse is so lush … the seating is so commodious … even the parking is so ample and convenient to the well-appointed lobby … that kids should be advised immediately on their arrival, that the building they are entering is far more than your average theater. Additionally, ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ as staged by this repertory company, is a special show which, like the magnificent venue itself, they are unlikely to see surpassed … even on Broadway.

Indeed, this musical is characteristic of the quality which has come to define Long Island theater.

 Award-winning writer, Jeb Ladouceur is the author of a dozen novels, and his theater and book reviews appear in several major L.I. publications. His recent hit, THE GHOSTWRITERS, explores the bizarre relationship between the late Harper Lee and Truman Capote. Ladouceur’s newly completed thriller, THE SOUTHWICK INCIDENT, was introduced at the Smithtown Library on May 21st. The book involves a radicalized Yale student and his CIA pursuers. Mr. Ladouceur’s revealing website is www.JebsBooks.com

Comments

[Cindi Sansone-Braff]

Jeb is one of the best theater reviewers out there.