Gammage Goers
A panel of ASU Gammage theatregoers shares their opinions throughout the season.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
October 19 - 24, 2010
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Disney's Beauty and the Beast
BaruchOnce upon time, there was a huge Broadway musical smash hit. After a fifteen year run and many productions all over the world in numerous languages, the original creative team reassembled to recreate the magic. They streamlined the show for a new national tour, chose an outstanding cast to play in dreamy new scenery and costumes, and voilà, it ends happily for all who drink of its beauty.
In a war-weary world bogged down by constant dilemmas and dower soothsayers, an admitted escape to Disney’s magic kingdom is a treat for the eyes, the ears, and the heart. Beauty and the Beast laughs at itself. It’s world is vain and garish, selfish and provincial. Then, all at once it is stunningly gorgeous, kind, and cuddly.
The new sets, much more colorful and intoxicatingly intricate, if not as heavy as the original Broadway version’s, are almost other worldly -- this is a good thing. They’re whimsical but not comic book. A tendency toward phantom-esque décor with groupings of candles is actually a clever and effective touch. The Phantom comparison is inevitable, anyhow: the young beauty and a tortured male form, longing for redemption that only she can bring. On Broadway I found the beast more menacing at first. This one seems most eager to learn. Perhaps that was abbreviated but the magic works seamlessly.
The lighting is very effective, changing hues from primeval delight in greens and blues to heavenly purples, pinks, and blues. The rose itself is an exquisite color, not exactly pink or red but almost iridescent; hauntingly alive!As in last production at Gammage, Young Frankenstein, this Beauty has an exceptionally talented and versatile cast, capable of a myriad of stunts and styles. The ensemble’s energy and enthusiasm really spills over into the audience, literally throwing colorful streamers into the packed house more than once. The leads were probably the best available for a tour such as this, vocally speaking, combined with each character’s physical demands. Both the beast and Gaston were of exceptional height with much prowess and finesse. This may be a fairy story but it takes strong, well-trained legitimate voices to sing these emotional yet lyric and musical outpourings. They never disappoint nor does the lovely Belle, our heroine, who really lets it all out for her second act heart-wrenching ballad, A Change in Me.
It was quite obvious from the wild applause after the finale, that each leading and supporting player was genuinely appreciated. Probably the most enthusiastic screams were bestowed on Gaston, the over-macho and dashing, smashing anti-hero with a beastly heart beneath his smug appeal.
Of course, the pièce de resistance in this show is its lavishness, especially in the production numbers, Be Our Guest and Human Again. The choreography and sumptuous musicality are even surpassed by the swirling colors and dazzling luxury of the costumes. This is what Broadway is all about…and it’s alive! I definitely won’t spoil the stagecraft in the transformation of the beast to the handsome prince. It is very impressive… and it’s all here, on tour, for us to enjoy right here in the Valley of the Sun. Thanks to the magic of Disney as well, dreams do come true and the beautiful heart of the rose lives happily forever after!
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Close Encounters of the Beastly Kind
By BillOne of the greatest things about being a grandfather is sharing the things I love with my five grandsweeties. This includes my lifelong passion for the performing arts and the theater in particular.
I took my oldest granddaughter, Emma, to see “Beauty and the Beast” at the Gammage when she was just three. Despite some trepidation and a scramble onto her mommy’s lap when the lights went down, she’s been a theater-obsessed kid ever since. Now 11, Emma’s seen more than a dozen shows with and without me.
I eagerly await the moment when the grandkids are old enough see “A Winnie the Pooh Christmas Tail” at the Valley Youth Theater and then, finally, their first “big” show at Gammage. For Ava it was “The Lion King.” For Brody, “Chitty Chitty Bang Bang.” Sophie’s introduction was “Mary Poppins.” And this year it was Mia’s turn and, as fate would have it, we were back where we started – in an enchanted castle in the middle of the forest.
On Saturday, all four grandgirls, their mommies and I headed for Gammage to see a matinee performance of the Gammage’s wonderful production of “Beauty and the Beast.”
The show was great, as expected. But I must admit that I drew even more pleasure from what I saw in Row 18 than from what I saw on stage. Regular glances to my left and my right revealed four pairs of eyes wide open, transfixed with the vision of actors on stage, breathing life into beloved characters and a tale as old as time.
I’ll steal my daughter’s line: “It’s a shame we had to pay for the whole seat … I think the girls were only using the front three inches most of the show.” That’s a better review than two thumbs up any day.
Standing ovations, bravos, cheers and a few damp eyes (not mine, of course!) accompanied the curtain call. But our day wasn’t over. On our way out of the theater we stopped for a quick peek into the pit and watched the orchestra members pack up their instruments. After all, it takes real musicians to make a real musical.
I posed the girls for a photo in front of the stage. “Smile and say Gaston,” I said, referring to the egotistical character who tries to capture Belle’s heart, but ends up merely stealing every scene he’s in.
An older couple approached us. “Did you like Gaston?” the man asked the girls, his face beaming. “He’s our grandson! Would you like to meet him?”
Programs and pens in hand, my troop followed the (other) happy grandpa’s directions to the stage door. There, the girls met Gaston (Nathaniel Hackmann of Scottsdale) and several other cast members including The Beast himself, who Mia admitted was not so scary sans makeup.
Even though they had another show to do in just a few hours, the actors could not have been more friendly, relaxed and approachable. They signed every autograph, posed for every photo and answered every question, providing a fairytale ending to a great afternoon.
Baruch's view of Beauty and the Beast was fantastic. It is always good to listen to others on their view of a production. His descriptions of the stage, the actors was very detailed. Thank you Baruch for your wonderful point of view of Beauty and the Beast.
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