Love is in the air in Beauty and the Beast
The AJN reviews the popular Disney musical Beauty and the Beast, which has been given a new lease of life and is now playing in Melbourne.
THE hit Disney musical Beauty and the Beast opened its Melbourne season at Her Majesty’s Theatre on June 29 in a spectacular production that has lost none of its appeal over the years.
The original Australian production opened in 1995 and played for two years in Melbourne and Sydney, and while this version has new sets, updated costumes, computer-animated projections and some magical effects that could have come from Harry Potter and the Cursed Child, the love story at the heart of the action takes centre stage.
The musical starts with a recorded narration by actress Angela Lansbury, who died in 2022 aged 96, that quickly brings the audience up to speed with the witch’s spell on the prince.
Starring in the lead roles are effervescent Shubshri Kandiah as Belle and Brendan Xavier as the fearsome-looking beast, and both excel whether they sing, dance or act.
Beauty and the Beast has plenty of plum support roles that makes the musical sizzle, led by the staff at the castle who also came under the witch’s spell and were transformed into enchanted objects.
Leading the way is Lumiere (Rohan Browne), the candlestick-armed footman who loves to flirt and brings humour and commentary to the unfolding romance between Belle and the beast.
He is ably assisted by wind-up butler Cogsworth (Gareth Jacobs) and Jayde Westaby as Mrs Potts, who gives a superb rendition of the title song.
Five children are sharing the role of the teacup Chip with Zanda Wilkinson performing on opening night.
Alana Tranter makes the part of the wardrobe Madame Armoire humorous while coquettish Babette (Hayley Martin) dances around as a feather duster.
All the enchanted objects join Belle and the ensemble in the production number, Be Our Guest, which keeps the dancing going for about 10 minutes and would have been a fitting finale except that it was performed towards the end of the first act.
Another plum role in the production is Gaston, a handsome but brawny man who causes all the single women in the town – except Belle – to swoon.
Jackson Head is cast in the role, but on opening night it was Jewish actor Rubin Matters – one of the Gaston understudies – who was strutting the stage.
Matters has performed in musicals including The Wizard of Oz and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang and shone on opening night.
This musical has fine performances, costumes, staging and timeless songs by composer Alan Menken and lyricists Tim Rice and Howard Ashman.
Beauty and the Beast has already been staged in Sydney and Brisbane and is set for a long run in Melbourne, with tickets currently on sale into November.
Beauty and the Beast is at Her Majesty’s Theatre, Melbourne. Bookings: beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au
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