Beauty & The Beast
|
1st - 6th December 2014
Director: Keith Burgess
Musical Director: Dan Francis Choreographer: Louise Wilson CastBelle - Beth Robinson
Beast - Christian Wedlock Gaston - John Payne Maurice - Danny Kenderick Lumiere - Steve Nottage Mrs Potts - Samantha Finch Cogsworth - Baz Underhay Lefou - Mark Turvill Monsieur D'Argue - Mathias Keyser Babette - Laura Marshall Madame de la Grande Bouche - Janet Turner Narrator - Ken Sharp |
Red Team
Chip - Fia Giles
Ella Hardiman, Annie Lewry & Tilly Scrimshaw
Ella Hardiman, Annie Lewry & Tilly Scrimshaw
Green Team
Chip - Oliver Skeens
Bethany Metcalfe, Fern Shaw & Hazel Shaw
Bethany Metcalfe, Fern Shaw & Hazel Shaw
Chorus
David Annett, Wayne Byrom, Melanie Campbell, Louise Elliker, Vanessa Evans, Esther Harding, Jenny Jones, Pamela Lee, Richard Lee, Claire Leonard, Bob Noble, Claire Shilling, Angela Springett, Sophie Underhay, Natalie Vivian, Sue Warren & Rita Woods
NODA Review
This fairy story was originally adapted for the stage and presented at the New York Palace Theatre in 1994 and then opened in London at The Dominion Theatre in 1997. I have seen the musical a couple of times before and never really taken to it, however I thoroughly enjoyed your production.
Ken’s narration was good, the cloak was lifted off the beggar women magically and the opening was a colourful one.
In my notes I wrote at this point, the very start of the show, that the underscored dialogue couldn’t be heard clearly. Unfortunately that state of affairs continued and in fact the loudness of the orchestra was a problem throughout the evening, resulting in some of the solos being unintelligible. I do understand that it’s difficult for the brass section in an orchestra to play softly but was it absolutely necessary to have them? I heard many other people in the audience commenting on the loudness of the band; the majority of them are there to enjoy the vocal ability of the company not listen to an orchestra!
So having got my main problem out of the way I will continue in a more positive vein.
Maurice the inventor made a great entrance in his car, (I’ll bet that was fun to put together too) and Danny Kendrick was good in the role of Belle’s father.
Beth was delightful as Belle. She acted with sincerity, her scenes with The Beast toward the end of the show were most touching, her singing and diction were first rate. ‘No Matter What’ with her father was beautifully performed by the two of them.
The Beast started as a scary creature, arrogant and commanding but eventually we saw the slow and rather clumsy change in his character as he came to care for Belle, and Christian Wedlock portrayed the unfortunate man very well. His singing voice was good but in the lower register of ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ he was overpowered by the sound from the orchestra.
The peculiar inhabitants of the Castle were especially enjoyable and top of the list was Steve who made a fantastic Lumiere. His forte is comedy and I loved his rather camp performance which he clearly enjoyed doing, and his French accent was faultless.
Cogsworth, not nearly such a fun part to take but Seb Underhay made a decent job of it. He had trouble with the door which kept flapping open and that was probably a bit distracting for him.
Samantha Finch’s voice is excellent and she was good in the role of Mrs Potts but because of the orchestra and because she didn’t face the audience her solo in the feast scene was difficult to hear.
I believe it was Sofia playing Chip on the evening I attended and she spoke clearly and confidently.
Babette the saucy maid who was rapidly turning into a feather duster, (my guest had not realised that her costume was a feather duster and I suspect a number of people didn’t) was played with style and poise by Laura Marshall and the exchange between she and Steve was notable.
As the opera singer turned chest of drawers Janet Turner was very good but she was the only member of the cast without a suitable hairpiece.
Johnathan was suitably cast as Gaston, a heartthrob to all the girls except Belle. Flexing his muscles and full of his own importance he portrayed the conceited young Lothario strongly . His song in the tavern with Le Fou was particularly good.
In that role of Gaston’s sidekick, Mark Turvill acquitted himself well allowing Gaston to always shine whilst he appeared a bit of a fool.
The scene of the meal in the Enchanted Castle was brilliant. It took me a while to work out what the dancers were representing (again my guest had no idea!) but that whole scene was magical.
Natalie, Louise and Jenny had fun parts to take as the Silly Girls and they made the most of the opportunity to be OTT.
The smaller roles of Monsieur D’Arque and the Enchantress, played by Mathias Kayser and Claire Shilling respectively, were nicely done.
The other members of the cast ensured that the crowd scenes were busy and interesting and their singing was good.
Sound effects were good too (particularly the car starting) and the lighting was well plotted and operated.
Back stage crew worked quickly and efficiently but there was a lot of noise backstage when Belle was looking around the castle.
There were very good technical effects including removing the cloak, the revolving truck for the Castle Door and the curtain being pulled up to reveal the bookshelves. The use of the glitter-ball added to the Beast’s transformation moment, very Disney, and his ‘change’ happened without any hiccoughs.
Make up was fine and hairpieces were appropriate as were the properties.
Keith Burgess made it a magical production.
Your programme cover is striking and the contents set out for ease of reading and I have sent them off to be entered in the NODA poster/programme competition as Jim requested.
Thank you for inviting me to see ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (I bought the book for my granddaughter today on the strength of your production!)
I wish you all at WWAOS a very happy Christmas and a successful theatrical year ahead.
E. Gloria Smith
NODA South East Regional Representative – District 12.
Ken’s narration was good, the cloak was lifted off the beggar women magically and the opening was a colourful one.
In my notes I wrote at this point, the very start of the show, that the underscored dialogue couldn’t be heard clearly. Unfortunately that state of affairs continued and in fact the loudness of the orchestra was a problem throughout the evening, resulting in some of the solos being unintelligible. I do understand that it’s difficult for the brass section in an orchestra to play softly but was it absolutely necessary to have them? I heard many other people in the audience commenting on the loudness of the band; the majority of them are there to enjoy the vocal ability of the company not listen to an orchestra!
So having got my main problem out of the way I will continue in a more positive vein.
Maurice the inventor made a great entrance in his car, (I’ll bet that was fun to put together too) and Danny Kendrick was good in the role of Belle’s father.
Beth was delightful as Belle. She acted with sincerity, her scenes with The Beast toward the end of the show were most touching, her singing and diction were first rate. ‘No Matter What’ with her father was beautifully performed by the two of them.
The Beast started as a scary creature, arrogant and commanding but eventually we saw the slow and rather clumsy change in his character as he came to care for Belle, and Christian Wedlock portrayed the unfortunate man very well. His singing voice was good but in the lower register of ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ he was overpowered by the sound from the orchestra.
The peculiar inhabitants of the Castle were especially enjoyable and top of the list was Steve who made a fantastic Lumiere. His forte is comedy and I loved his rather camp performance which he clearly enjoyed doing, and his French accent was faultless.
Cogsworth, not nearly such a fun part to take but Seb Underhay made a decent job of it. He had trouble with the door which kept flapping open and that was probably a bit distracting for him.
Samantha Finch’s voice is excellent and she was good in the role of Mrs Potts but because of the orchestra and because she didn’t face the audience her solo in the feast scene was difficult to hear.
I believe it was Sofia playing Chip on the evening I attended and she spoke clearly and confidently.
Babette the saucy maid who was rapidly turning into a feather duster, (my guest had not realised that her costume was a feather duster and I suspect a number of people didn’t) was played with style and poise by Laura Marshall and the exchange between she and Steve was notable.
As the opera singer turned chest of drawers Janet Turner was very good but she was the only member of the cast without a suitable hairpiece.
Johnathan was suitably cast as Gaston, a heartthrob to all the girls except Belle. Flexing his muscles and full of his own importance he portrayed the conceited young Lothario strongly . His song in the tavern with Le Fou was particularly good.
In that role of Gaston’s sidekick, Mark Turvill acquitted himself well allowing Gaston to always shine whilst he appeared a bit of a fool.
The scene of the meal in the Enchanted Castle was brilliant. It took me a while to work out what the dancers were representing (again my guest had no idea!) but that whole scene was magical.
Natalie, Louise and Jenny had fun parts to take as the Silly Girls and they made the most of the opportunity to be OTT.
The smaller roles of Monsieur D’Arque and the Enchantress, played by Mathias Kayser and Claire Shilling respectively, were nicely done.
The other members of the cast ensured that the crowd scenes were busy and interesting and their singing was good.
Sound effects were good too (particularly the car starting) and the lighting was well plotted and operated.
Back stage crew worked quickly and efficiently but there was a lot of noise backstage when Belle was looking around the castle.
There were very good technical effects including removing the cloak, the revolving truck for the Castle Door and the curtain being pulled up to reveal the bookshelves. The use of the glitter-ball added to the Beast’s transformation moment, very Disney, and his ‘change’ happened without any hiccoughs.
Make up was fine and hairpieces were appropriate as were the properties.
Keith Burgess made it a magical production.
Your programme cover is striking and the contents set out for ease of reading and I have sent them off to be entered in the NODA poster/programme competition as Jim requested.
Thank you for inviting me to see ‘Beauty and the Beast’ (I bought the book for my granddaughter today on the strength of your production!)
I wish you all at WWAOS a very happy Christmas and a successful theatrical year ahead.
E. Gloria Smith
NODA South East Regional Representative – District 12.