Beauty and the Beast

Something magical can happen when seeing a big-name, big-budget show for the first time. That magic is compounded if you're lucky enough to see a show with impressive costumes, sets, lighting, and special effects in its permanent home. So unless it's the first run of the national tour or it somehow has a phenomenal budget, something gets lost in translation for many touring shows. That said...

Disney's Beauty and the Beast, 
Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice

Orpheum Theatre, Minneapolis, MN

I think I saw Beauty and the Beast in the movie theater twelve times when it came out in 1991. That's not even an exaggeration; my friend Beth and I went every Sunday night for months, and there was at least one week when we sat through both the 7:00 and 9:00 showings. It is safe to say that I love Disney's Beauty and the Beast. I have seen the stage production before and fell in love with the clever costuming, over-the-top production numbers, and faithfulness with which the animated film was translated to the stage. I had no doubt that I would thoroughly enjoy what I was going to see at the Orpheum tonight. In fact, I laughed, I cried, and I came home happy.

My only qualm with this touring production has to do with its special effects. I know that they're probably not going to be everything I want them to be in my head and that mounting a travelling production has its own special set of challenges. I even know that I was probably so captivated by the stage adaptation the first time I saw this show that I wasn't as critical as I might otherwise have been. At the same time, merely going briefly black before revealing a magical transformation does not make me believe in theatre magic. It makes me glance around to see if everyone else is as nonplussed by the attempt. The audience members should not giggle during the Beast's transformation into the prince because it is so ridiculous (even though I don't really like that scene in the movie either--the light shooting from his fingers is weird). These things take away from what is an otherwise delightful evening of theatre.

When I saw The Wizard of Oz at the Orpheum a couple of years ago, I was startled at the number of little girls in blue gingham dresses or sparkly red shoes. Tonight there were more little princesses than I could count, and some of the princesses' moms were startlingly fancy as well. All the joy and nostalgia Beauty and the Beast has to offer is there in this production, but that's in large part owing to Alan Menken's music and the original animators. The production is fun and entertaining, perfect for a child's first theatrical experience.

Disney's Beauty and the Beast is playing at the Orpheum Theatre until October 21, 2012. Click here for ticket information.

Next scheduled show: Our Town at Andover High School. Can that be? My show is up next? Good heavens, I hope not.