Review: Imagination Stage's Production of DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Boasts a Strong Cast Singing Memorable Tunes

Whether it's Seussical, A Year with Frog and Toad, or now Disney's Beauty and the Beast, Imagination Stage has a pretty good track record of presenting family-oriented Broadway musicals for area children. Its current production of Beauty and the Beast -like the others - features a strong cast of singers who are often seen on the area's most prominent musical stages. In fact, it's the cast Director Kathryn Chase Bryer assembled that makes this 'streamlined' version of the popular fairytale musical one to take the littlest Disney fans to see. Alan Menken's music and Howard Ashman and Tim Rice's lyrics certainly help of course (the book is by Linda Woolverton).

Jessica Lauren Ball may not have the classic look of the Belle kids might know from the critically-acclaimed Disney movie or perhaps other stage productions, but she has a voice that befits any Disney princess. Her rendition of "Home" - one of the few songs written expressly for the Broadway musical that's retained in this 75-minute (not including intermission) licensed version - is particularly strong and heartfelt. While I would have liked Belle's innate feistiness to shine through a bit more in her performance, she gives a performance that's full of compassion and kindness, which is also befitting of this heroine.

As the Beast, Matthew Schleigh doesn't have much to sing (numbers like "If I Can't Love Her" unfortunately aren't included in this version), but one still can't help but appreciate his performance. He captures the emotional transformation of the Beast quite well as Belle becomes a greater part of his life.

Other cast members are convincing in their primary roles (with the exception of Ball, the other eleven cast members play at least two roles). As Gaston, Tiziano D'Affuso is appropriately self-absorbed and has one of the purest voices in the cast. As Belle's well-meaning, but quite eccentric father, Keith Richards demonstrates Maurice's individuality and the love he has for his bookish daughter. David Landstrom overcame some mic troubles on opening nights and gave one of the more entertaining performances as Gaston's sidekick Lefou. Energy is never lacking when Landstrom was onstage.

Maggie Robertson and Sarah Anne Sillers bring the comedy as the girls madly in love with Gaston and as the Wardrobe and Babette in the Beast's enchanted castle. Robertson's high soprano voice is also particularly strong and memorable. Speaking of comedy, Jobari Parker-Namdar and Matt Dewberry give strong performances as Lumiere and Cogsworth, respectively. They play off each other quite well so every scene they are in is very entertaining. Rachel Zampelli is believable as the kindhearted teapot Ms. Potts and her rendition of the classic title song "Beauty and the Beast" is one of the best sung numbers in the production. She watches over the littlest adorable teapot, Chip (a role shared by Grace Bullard and Vivian Elise Poe) with concern. Ian Anthony Coleman's strong voice serves him well in a myriad of smaller roles.

The creative team deserves some kudos as well, especially Matthew M. Nielson. While this production does not use a live orchestra, Mr. Nielson did an incredible job of orchestrating a track that captures the beauty and intricacy of Menken's music. Eric Abele takes inspiration from the Disney movie and elsewhere with his costumes. They are sure to enchant any child. Jason Arnold's lighting design provides crucial support to the Beast's important transformation scene, and Pauline Grossman's choreography ensures that "Be Our Guest" is one of the more memorable production numbers. (This scene, I might add, was not plagued by poor blocking choices like others - no matter where you were sitting in the theatre, you could see the action and no backs were to the audience.) Samantha Vieth's scenic designs establish setting quite well. On opening night, the scene transitions were a little rough (the cast members move/rotate the set pieces), but they're likely to get smoother as the run progresses.

As much as I - a self-professed musical theatre nerd - may quibble about the decision to present MTI's streamlined version the show that eliminates a large chunk of the exquisite music, I will say that it's probably more appropriate for a theatre aimed at the youngest of theatre patrons. This production is a good introduction to Beauty and the Beast. Adults will appreciate the strong voices and engaging story. The littlest patron will be enchanted.

Running Time: 90 Minutes, Including an Intermission

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST plays Imagination Stage - 4908 Auburn Avenue in Bethesda, MD - through January 15. For tickets, call the box office at 301-280-1660 or purchase them online.

Photo Credit: Margot Schulman (L-R: Jessica Lauren Ball, Matthew Schleigh)

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