BEAUTY AND THE BEAST
Today in 1994 was the day that Disney premiered the full-scale theatrical adaptation of their animated film, Beauty and the Beast, on Broadway. Here is a poll to commemorate the 15th anniversary of that day: I’ve filled my answers in here; you can add yours by copying and pasting the questions and supplying your own set of answers!
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? I was disappointed when I saw the stage show for the first time. I guess that this is because much of the new material is padding rather than material that enriches what what was already on the table. I think the spectacle of the production is fabulous, but in terms of the writing – it’s a bit “doughnuts for dinner”, as they say.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? It has always been “Belle” and I think it always will be. It is a thrilling introduction to the characters and the world in which Belle finds herself. In my opinion, the song is one of the greatest establishing numbers in contemporary musical theatre. In just a few minutes, one is able to completely understand the lead character, the world in which she finds herself, and her relationships with the characters that surround her. It’s an amazing piece of writing.
3. What is your favourite lyric? “New and a bit alarming / Who’d have ever thought that this could be? / True that he’s no Prince Charming / But there’s something in him that I simply didn’t see.”
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. I’ve thought about this a great deal and the most jarring number for me is “Home”. First off, it doesn’t fit what’s going on in the scene. Emotionally, Belle should be singing something like “Shall I Tell You What I Think of You?” (from The King and I), but she’s singing an introspective, reflective ballad instead. Huh? And the verse prior to the song proper just isn’t sufficient as a bridge between the two emotional states. It’s the right starting point, but then it doesn’t get Belle to where she needs to be to reflect on the situation in the way that she does. Belle’s only emotionally ready to be introspective in that manner by the end of the sequence, where the reprise is. And even if the song was in the right spot – well, then we’d still have the terribly mawkish and at times pompous lyrics to deal with. It’s songs like this where Tim Rice is just no match for Howard Ashman.
5. Who’s your favorite character? In the film, it’s Belle – without a doubt. But given the sub-standard material they’ve created in an attempt to “flesh the character out”, I can’t say the same of the stage version. So I’ll say Lumiere. Nothing is lost in the transition between mediums for that character and the progressive transformation is one new element of the stage show that largely works.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? In terms of the whole body of their work, it has to be the film’s Jerry Orbach. If I had to pick someone from one of the stage productions, I guess I’d go for Andrea McArdle, who is just completely wonderful in just about anything she does.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? Like I said above, I think the spectacle of the official Disney stage production is super.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? I think Disney took one of their richest films and watered it down to create a stage show that is somewhat entertaining in parts but ultimately disappointing. The film is excellent: the screenplay is more polished and literate than most of the other Disney animated features. The use of seasonal weather to indicate atmosphere, mood, balance and emotion is positively Shakespearean. And the intensive way in which the narrative is played out is just mind-blowing; the experiences that the characters are put through make the extreme emotional journey for both Belle and the Beast from initial dislike to love psychologically believable.
The songs and score – besides being just gorgeous little gems of music and lyrics – are so integral to the structure and storytelling of the film that it is impossible to imagine the two in isolation from one another. I love that Disney is clearly not yet stuck within the “Ashman-Menken” formula in this film, as they would be in some of their future releases – the only verbatim parallel in terms of the films is the big sidekick number performed to the heroine (“Under the Sea” in The Little Mermaid and “Be Our Guest” in Beauty and the Beast) and the off-screen choral singing at the end, which is at any rate a tradition that is used in all six of features Disney based on fairy tales. Other than that, the films work in a way that is completely different to one another.
The visuals are also stunning. The opening sequence, with the slow zoom through the forest towards the castle and then the sequence of stained glass tableaus, is breathtaking and there is such detail in the colour palette used througout the film. When you see Belle isolated in her song not only by her character and situation, but also by the fact that she is the only character wearing blue and it all comes together with that music and those lyrics – it’s thrilling.
There are really only two things that have ever really bothered me about the film: first, when Gaston looks at Belle’s book after “Belle” and dismisses it for not having pictures, when we’ve very clearly seen a picture in the book during the song. But I suppose in his very cursory flip through the pages of the book, he could have missed it or he could just be using his dismissal to tease Belle. The other thing that I’ve always had a bee in my bonnet about is that there is no definitive character song for the Beast, but when I watched the film again recently – well, I’m not sure there needs to be. I don’t know how adding such a piece would affect the pacing of the film.
As far as the adaptation goes, I think that the additions are mostly pleasant but – except for “If I Can’t Love Her” and “Me” – I don’t think Tim Rice’s material matches in what Howard Ashman wrote for the songs that were written for the film. “If I Can’t Love Her”, the song for the Beast, is by far the strongest addition to the score and it works for be because, as I mentioned above, this spot is always something that I’ve contemplated as being missing from the film. I don’t think any of the additional material written for Belle particularly extends the character or even serves her well; some good ideas, yes, but as executed, they’re generic pop pieces that only have a superficial connection to the action of the show. You could whip them out of the show and put them in another fairly easily.
Happy Birthday, Beauty and the Beast!
Musical Cyberspace 
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? When taken seriously, the show has a lot of heart, and the cast is filled with so many compelling and interesting characters. There’s something for every type of actor in this work, and once you get a cast together of that much variety, the show just shines.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? I don’t know which song is my favorite: I love “Gaston”, “Be Our Guest”, “If I Can’t Love Her”, “Me!”, “Home” and “Beauty and the Beast”.
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘We shall be the perfect pair, rather like my thighs!’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. No, but I hate the new lyrics for “Home”: ‘What I’d give to return to the life that I knew lately / But I know that I can’t solve my problems going back’ (old) vs ‘What I’d give to return to the life that I knew lately / And to think I complained of that dull provincial town’ (new). The first lyric reflected Belle’s strong and intelligent character, the new lyric makes her seem like a whiner, which Belle is not.
5. Who’s your favorite character? My favourite characters are the Beast and Gaston. Both are very complex and their creation serves the other character greatly.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? I never saw Hugh Jackman do Gaston, but I’d love to see his performance.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? High School 2009. The cast ws so well rounded, not a weak actor in the bunch. Everyone worked together really well, and it was such a close family.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? It’s way better than the film, because it gives all of the characters more depth, making the production a deeper and more meaningful story.
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? Maybe I’m biased, but it was a lot of fun to be in. I found myself speaking in a cute little French accent even when I wasn’t at rehearsals – it’s very easy to get into, and even being in the chorus is so much fun.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? I think I’d have to go with “Belle (Reprise)”. Don’t know why, but the lyrics are so meaningful and I adore how drastically the mood changes – and within a one minute song, no less!
3. What is your favourite lyric? Oh wow, so many. I think if i had to pick the funniest, probably ‘We shall make the perfect pair / rather like my thighs!’. The way our Gaston delivered that line made me shake with laughter. Which was bad because the Silly Girls were frozen on a platform off the stage. Yeah. Got reprimanded for that one.
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. Uh… If I Can’t Love Her (Reprise). It’s so pointless. And, actually, our Beast was losing his voice at our matinee, so the director actually had us skip over the song. It was awesome and took absolutely nothing away from the plot.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Cogsworth. Unless you’re really listening to the show (or reading the script, of course), most people tend to not notice what hilarious lines he has. It’s all in the delivery, obviously, but there’s so much one can do with that role.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? Nick Jonas as Chip. Cause. You know. He’s cute.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? Mine. Even as a high school production, and 90% of our ensemble not knowing how to read sheet music (that was an entertaining day), we pulled it off, and it was so fun.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? I actually like the stage production better. So much more goes on, the characters have so much more dimension – par for the course, I suppose?
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? I adore this show. It was my favorite movie as a child. The songs are great and the story just touches my heart every time.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? “Something There”. Everyone is changing their views on the other people in the show. The Beast is nervous and adorable and the library scene has always been my favorite.
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘If you think that you’ve done is right well then, you’re a fool, think again.’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. “Human Again”. It grates my nerves.
5. Who’s your favorite character? I feel such a connection with Belle but the Beast is a close second because I think he is adorable
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? I don’t think I have one.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? When my high school did it. I know thats not really what the question is asking but we had so many talented people who played the roles so well. I was so proud of that show.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? It all depends on the people in the show. I have seen some absolutely horrible productions. I’ve seen Belle played as a bitch and the Beast being such a wimp. The actors need to learn to play a balance of how they interpret the character while still staying true to the movie.
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? This show brings back childhood songs and characters plus a little bit more.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? My favorite was “Gaston” because it is a great opportunity for a dance number. In the production I was in we did a huge dance number with elaborate beer mug hitting.
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘We shall be the perfect pair rather like my thighs.’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. “A Change in Me” was the worst number because it just seemed to drag on and on and was just a dumb song.
5. Who’s your favorite character? My favorite characters were the silly girls!
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? I’ve never seen it but I have been in one production and it was the first part I’ve ever had.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? It is the perfect adaptation!
PS. Madison, I was a silly girl and a dish too!
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? I’m a huge fan of Disney anyway. I love the music, the characters, the set and the costumes.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? “Belle.”
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘I wonder why I didn’t see it there before.’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. I like all the songs.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Belle for the win.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? Dianne Pilkington when she played Belle.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? All of the performances have been favourites of mine.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? I loved it. It didn’t deviate from the original plot and I was amazed particularly at the staging of the transformation scenes.
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? I love the magic in it. It’s a beautiful love story.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? “The Mob Song.” I saw a local high school production of it and, gawd, their Gaston could sing! The choreography was great. I loved every second of that number.
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘Well, who’d have thought? / Well, bless my soul. / Well, who’d have known? / Well, who indeed? / And who’d have guessed they’d come together on their own?’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. “No Matter What.” I find the number too long.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Gaston and the Silly Girls.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? Annelise van der Pol.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? I loved the aforementioned local high school production I saw. Everyone was so talented.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? Actually, I have never seen the film…
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? I just love the magic that happens in this show. It’s such a beautiful spectacle and a touching story.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? “Home” is my top played song on my iTunes, but once I saw the show live, I’ve figured that it doesn’t really fit into the show. At all. I still like it though. So actually its probably “Belle (reprise)” or “Be our Guest”.
3. What is your favourite lyric? “I want adventure in the great wide somewhere, I want it more than I can tell.” It’s just relatable, though I hate to sound clichéd.
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. When I saw an amateur production of this, I totally wasn’t feeling “If I Can’t Love Her” or the reprise. To me, it just seemed completely boring and weirdly stuck in. And it’s so slow. Just a really frustrating ballad.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Probably Lumiere. It’s such a fabulous character: he’s just so undescribable. Or the Silly Girls. They are so fabulous!
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? I’m not sure, I don’t know too much about the professional productions. Although, Hugh Jackman played Gaston in the Australian production in like 1995.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? Well, the one I saw live. It was just magic and it will always have sentimental value to it. It wasn’t amazing and the Beast was a total bore-fest, but apart from that, it was gorgeous. And the Belle was a beauty, with immense talent.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? I like it better. But then again, of course I’m going to like a theatre show than a film. I just think its got more substance.
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you?
Like:
– Much of the music.
– It’s a, well, beauty and the beast tale, and therefore good in my eyes.
Dislike:
– It has the gall to be aimed primarily at young kids/family rather than at me.
– The new material isn’t of a consistently high standard.
– Depending on how you interpret it, the show’s messages can be rather awful: “Boys, rob a girl of her independence and dreams and chain her to your house, and she’ll fall in love with you!”; “Girls, if you think you’re more special and worthy than everyone around you, that’s because you are!”
– Anybody else think that maybe the Beast should have died, and perhaps his corpse could have turned back into the prince? Anyone? Actually that may not work, but it’d be pleasingly tragic and gothic!
– Sometimes Belle irritates me.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? No strong favourite. Possibly “Belle” because of the way it gets through so much exposition while still staying fun. It also builds beautifully – the initial quiet part is almost as enjoyable as the interlocking parts at the end. My favourite musical moment would be the end of the “Entr’acte” – the “Home”/”Something There” part gets to me.
3. What is your favourite lyric? Same as what most people have written: ‘I can see that we will share / All that love implies; / We shall be the perfect pair / Rather like my thighs!’ Another I like is: ‘I don’t take this girl for granted / There’s no path I haven’t hewn / To her heart: / No seed unplanted, no flowers unstrewn!’ And all the triple rhymes in “Gaston” and its reprise, especially: ‘No one plots like Gaston, / Takes cheap shots like Gaston, / Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston!’
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. I don’t absolutely hate any of them (any more). A few irritate me in various ways:
– “No Matter What”: This makes Belle and her father sound like snobs. And some of the lyrics are bad – ‘And every daughter tends to say her father’s tops! / She pulls out all the stops…’
– “Home”: The music and lyrics are very sappy. However I do like some of the character ideas expressed in this song. It gives Belle a bit more balance and maturity, after we’ve seen her whinging about how special and misunderstood she is compared to the “little people” (“Belle”, “No Matter What”). It’s almost a Luisa-from-The-Fantasticks moment – she learns that she actually had it pretty good before and was being slightly bratty and immature (‘And to think I complained…’)
– “If I Can’t Love Her”: Something about the chorus annoys me, the lyrics seem a little unnecessarily convoluted. Maybe if the tenses were the same – ‘No beauty could move me… if I couldn’t love her’? (I’m not sure if this would work.)
– “Transformation”: The dialogue is cheesy, though perhaps that’s unavoidable given the situation and target audience.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Despite her flaws, Belle.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? Paige O’Hara from the movie – a really charming voice that makes Belle likable.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? The movie? I’ve only seen the Australian stage production – can’t remember much but I thought the staging was a bit boring and static, and the whole design was a bit garish.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? The musical version spreads the story a bit thin. The original material was (IMHO) not strong enough to just be replicated or “sustained” for the length of a full show. I’d want to see it improved, characters given more depth and so on. This happened to some extent, but not enough given the extra time the stage provided.
I don’t see that there’s anything wrong with the tenses in the first place. To change them would render the point of the song moot. He’s saying that if he can’t love her now, then none of those other things could ever move him at any time in the future. It’s the combination of the present tense, modified by the conditional “if”, and the remote or predictive future tense in the earlier phrases that makes the lyric so effective.
1. What do you like about this show? Or, if you’re not a fan, what makes it unmemorable for you? It all boils down to two things: 1. It was the first movie that I ever saw; and 2. I can relate to the Beast. The latter may be why I love it so.
2. Pick your favourite song in the show and tell us why it’s your favourite? “If I Can’t Love Her” and “Be Our Guest”. You can probably guess why with the first song, and “Be Our Guest” is a fantastic showstopper.
3. What is your favourite lyric? ‘No pain could be deeper/ No life could be cheaper/ No point anymore/If I Can’t Love Her/ No spirit could win me/ No hope left within me/ Hope I could have loved her/ And that she’d set me free/ But it’s no to be/ If I Can’t Love Her/ Let the world be done with me!’ That whole part gives me chills.
4. Got a number you just can’t stand? Tell us why. “A Change in Me” just seems like too much of another annoying showcase song for Belle, an excuse for high school girls in the production who ridiculously belt out like they’re Idina Menzel.
5. Who’s your favorite character? Beast. I’m a little obsessed.
6. Who is your favourite Beauty and the Beast-related performer? Ryan Novakovich, who played Lumiere in a community theatre production and was amazing.
7. Got a favourite production? What made it so special? The 2006 Pittsburgh CLO production, because it was the first time I saw how the show could be done outside of the Disney-produced version.
8. What do you think of the show as an adaptation of the film? It’s a good adaptation. Plain and simple.