This review aired on KBAQ
CHALLENGING “BEAUTY & BEAST” IS REMARKABLE IN GILBERT
”DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST”
Hale Centre Theatre
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” is a huge stage extravaganza. It is especially challenging for a community theater but Gilbert’s tiny but spunky Hale Centre Theatre presents a remarkable production.
Before the opening night performance began, producer Dave Dietlein admitted to the sold-out opening night audience that he wasn’t sure what was going to happen. What transpired is a spirited, creative production mounted in a small theater-in-the-square space that effectively conveyed the show’s magic spell.
The production is blessed with an excellent cast who delivered believable interpretations of the characters that populate the story about young Belle and her unfortunate tangle with the local Beast. The Beast, once a dashing Prince, fell under an evil spell when he rejected a disguised beggar woman who was a beautiful princess. Under the same spell, the Beast’s castle staff became inanimate objects. To break the spell, the Prince must fall in love with a lady who returns his affections. Based on the popular cartoon, the show reveals Belle’s unexpected love for the Beast that ends the spell.
The Beast’s staff has become candlesticks, clocks, closets, and teapots, but they see Belle’s potential to end the spell. The show is packed with wonderfully tuneful Alan Menken songs and the book spins an infectious storybook romance. To be sure, the manipulative plot’s final marriage is expected but what fun to escape into this fanciful world. Many subordinate characters add to the merriment.
Director Tregoney Shepard, a Broadway veteran, keeps the tale moving rapidly and set designer David Dietlein creates the storybook kingdom on the theater’s small stage with wonderful scenic props that are shifted masterfully by the cast. The elaborate costumes use creativity to craft the objects that represent the Beast’s staff. Cambrian James’ spirited dances rely too much on constantly swirling circular patterns that grow repetitious.
Best in the large cast is Linsey Maxson’s Belle. She captures Belle’s spirited spunk and her pleasant voice soars through the lovely tunes. Her real life husband Tyler Maxson plays the Beast/Prince. He’s best as the skulking, petulant Beast and his magical transformation back to the Prince leaves little to the imagination.
Other strong performances come from Jere Van Patten as Cogsworth, the clock, Thomas Brower as the very French Lumiere, the candle, and Janae Thomas’ lovable Mrs. Potts, the household’s mindful teapot.
Hale Centre’s delightful “Beauty and the Beast” continues through August 29. For tickets, call the Hale Centre Theatre’s box office at 480-497-1181.
Grade: B