BWW Reviews: An Enchanting Evening with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST at Dr. Phillips Center

The French fairy tale made famous by Walt Disney Pictures in 1991 comes to life on the Dr. Phillips Center stage. Disney fans and musical theater fans alike enjoy the enchanting story, award-winning music and lighthearted humor. What better city to see BEAUTY AND THE BEAST than in Orlando home of the "Happiest Place on Earth"?

In 1994, BEAUTY AND THE BEAST became the first animated film to be adapted into a Broadway musical. I remember seeing the Broadway show as a 5th grader. It was the first time I ever saw a live theater production. Seeing the NETworks National Tour brought all those nostalgic memories back. Now, a whole new generation of kids are seeing this production live. The story is timeless and this production holds true to all the elements that make the animated filim so great.

I'm sure that I do not need to remind you of the story and you could ask any little girl under the age of 10 to remind you if necessary. The story appeals to people because it is a feel good musical with a "happily ever after ending." The story appeals to the idea hope and proves that things aren't always what they seem. With a little patience, kindness, and generosity even the most monstrous creature can change.

You may recall some of the most famous songs from BEAUTY AND THE BEAST including: "Belle," "Be Our Guest," and of course, "Beauty and the Beast." It's all there and it's so satisfying. "Be Our Guest" is a show stopping number with high energy dancing and colorful scenery. Some of my favorite choreography involves anything with noise and precision. In "Gaston" the cast uses metal cups that clang together to provide background noise. The result is a precision-driven dance number that is so fun to watch. Some songs that are not in the animated film are my most favorite. "Human Again" done by the Enchanted Objects as they wish to be human again and for the first time in years have hope that it may happen. It's a song with great orchestrations. "A Change in Me" is Belle's coming of age song and showcases Belle's belting power.

The sets were interesting, but nothing breathtaking. Belle's little French town was quaint and well done with little details. The sets worked because they were multi-sided and could spin depending on whether or not we were seeing the inside or outside of the building. The Beast's castle has a series of "metalwork" that spins and connects as needed. I was not impressed by the wolves used in the forrest. I have a 100-pound German Shepherd who looks more fierce than the puppets used in the show.

Last week I interviewed ensemble member Brent Wakelin who grew up and went to school here in Central Florida. Be sure to spot Brent as he plays the Bookeeper (wearing a beard) and a Salt/Pepper shaker during the show. Along with Brent, the ensemble cast supports the show in a manner that fills the production. They have high-energy and overall a pleasure to watch.

My favorite character of the evening was Lumiere (Patrick Pevehouse). Pevehouse totally embodies Lumiere and his eyebrows are amazing. You may recall that the most distinctive features of the animated Lumiere is his candle hands and his eyebrows. This Lumiere has all of that. The dynamic between Cogsworth (Samuel Shurtleff) and Lumiere is slightly imbalanced because Pevehouse totally owns his character and the stage. The duo is charming and fun to watch. If you love puns, pay attention to any scenes that the pair has together. It's delightful.

Another crowd pleaser was Cameron Bond as Gaston. He is smug and so good to hate with his misogynistic rhetoric. Bond has one of the strongest voices in the entire cast, as well as, good physical comedic timing.

Jillian Butterfield plays Belle as a sweet, ingenue who is dissatisfied with her small town life. Butterfield has a good voice and her acting embodies the character's defiance. Opposite Belle was Ryan Everett Wood as the Beast. As the Beast, Wood plays him lighter than in previous productions that I've seen. The Beast is still scary at times, but he's much more sensitive and has more human qualities. It is easy to feel sympathy for the Beast and funny to watch him flirt with Belle. There is good chemistry between Belle and Beast, so the love story portion is believable.

The costumes are very close to the animated film, except with more intricate detail. My favorite is Lumiere's candlestick costume, which does well to accentuate his vertical lines. Belle's iconic blue dress has an amazingly bodice. Belle's yellow ball gown is beautifully poofy and fits into every little girl's fantasy.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is only here until May 17th with matinees on Saturday and Sunday (times vary) and is going to be a very popular show for adults and kids. The show is not sold out, so you still have a good chance to see it. Then after seeing the show you can head down the road to visit New Fantasyland at Disney for the ultimate symphony experience. Why? Because we can! #OrlandoLife. For tickets to the show and more information visit http://www.drphillipscenter.org/.

Photo credit: Broadway Across America

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