Beauty and the Beast: Disney Fairytale Musical a Lavish Production

Fairytale musical, fairytale theatre - Beauty and the Beast and the Regent on Broadway were well matched at Friday night's opening.

It's certaily a lavish show, with its Disney-inspired, Weta Workshop-made costumes, special effects, 56 actors, 40 strong backstage crew and romantic orchestral music.

The story has been around for cenuries but got a new airing when Disney turned it into an animated movie, which in turn inspired the stage musical.

In order to save her father's life, beautiful Belle must stay in a castle where everything, including its ruler, the Beast, is under a magic spell.  Only a love that can see beyond his ugliness will save him.

Its messageis threefold; it's OK to be different, never judge a book by its cover, and true beauty means more than just a handsome face.

The Abbey Musical Theatre with Regent on Broadway Promotions, along with director/choreographer Dean McKerras and musical director Barry Jones has turned out another first rate piece of ensemble theatre.

Though it's a stand alone musical with its own iconic characters, now and then it throws up strong traces of bygone musical comedies; a pinch of White Horse Inn in its village scenes, a nod to Busby Berkeley in the Be My Guest number - even a touch of Phantom.

The key character is Belle, who has to be beaitufil, feisty, graceful and an excellent singer.  On all counts Louise Flynn is spot on.

Her wonderfully growly Beast (Dean O'Flaherty), while not quite the enormous monster of the film, has presence and pathos.  And Richard Shaw'sGaston is sheer, force of nature energy.

Supporting players, including Lumiere (Scott Andrew), Mrs Potts (Sue Philips) and Cogsworth (Mark Kilsby) make the most of every appearance, while wearing heavy andcomplicated costumes, no mean feat in itself.

Seven year old Oliver Lodge (Chip) almost steals the show during his brief scenes and curtain call, but last night some of his lines, and those of Hayden Giles (playing Monsieur D'Arque) were inaudible because of sound glitches.

Beauty and the Beast is a family show, probably be best appreciated by slightly older children, say, over nine or 10.

It's definitely worth a visit - after all, on a wet winter day a little magic never goes amiss.