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Beauty and the Beast
Kerry Butler and Chuck Wagner in the Toronto Production of Beauty and the Beast
This is another musical that I first got to know about through a Tonys broadcast. They did a medley of songs from the show, and I went out the *next* day and bought the CD, because I had just fallen in love with it. I’ll admit I was skeptical about the transition from Disney animated film to Broadway stage, but now I have to say that I am totally convinced. I’ve seen this show three times, and the CD remains one of my favourites.
Random thoughts on the CD(Original Broadway Cast):
Two words: Terrence Mann. Mann as the beast is breathtaking. He’s one of my favourite actors to begin with (Les Mis, Cats, Assassins), and he won my heart completely as the prince turned into a beast. His “If I Can’t Love Her” (not coincidentally, my favourite song!) still brings tears to my eyes on a regular basis, and no one says “told you so” quite like Terrence. However, Terrence is not the only reason you should run out and buy this CD. Susan Egan as Belle is terrific, and the rest of the cast sparkles. There isn’t a single song or character I don’t love. The songs from the movie have only been improved, and the six new songs written for the stage version are even better. Plus, I have never heard orchestrations like the ones played on this CD. My dream job is now to play flute, french horn *or* trumpet in the orchestra of Beauty and the Beast - I don’t care which! :-)
Chuck Wagner as The Beast
Random thoughts on the show:
I was already *very* familiar with the music and story when I went to see this show for the first time, so I was able to really sit back and enjoy the staging. For sheer entertaining spectacle, there is *no* show like BatB. Some people argue that there’s no depth to this show, but that’s not why I go to see it. I go to be dazzled and entertained, and this show delivers every time. Besides, this show teaches us not to judge someone by their looks and that love is the most important redeeming quality a person can have, and what better lesson in the world is there? I’ve seen it three times, each time in the Princess of Wales theatre in Toronto, which is itself almost worth the price of admission (the bathrooms have won several awards!!!). The costumes, the sets, the choreography (and special mention *must* go to the beer stein dance during the “Gaston” number -- WOW!) - everything is perfection. Well, the set wasn’t perfection the third time I saw the show, but they got it working again after only 20 minutes, so I can’t complain too much! :-) The first time I went to see BatB I was really concerned that the man playing the Beast wouldn’t live up to Terrence Mann’s performance on the CD. Boy, was I in for a shock. Chuck Wagner, who created the role of the Beast in Toronto, was phenomenal. From the first time he appeared on stage to his final kiss with Belle, I was spell-bound by his performance. He totally made me fall in love with the Beast, and he sings like an angel. I saw Chuck play the role twice, so of course the third time I was worried that his replacement, Steve Blanchard, wouldn’t live up to him. Wrong again. :-) Steve’s Beast was just as wonderful as Terrence’s or Chuck’s. Everyone else in each production I saw was wonderful as well, but they were all overshadowed by the power of the performances by the two men I saw as the Beast. I understand Chuck is now playing the Beast on Broadway, and he says he will be “as long as they will have him”, so if you’re in that area, run, don’t walk, to get tickets to this amazing show!
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