This production of Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is on tour and is the big festive show at the Wales Millennium Centre, and we really couldn’t have asked for anything more.
I actually want to begin this review with the fact it’s a touring show. Occasionally, we don’t always have the same set, or production as we would if it was settled in one venue, London’s West End for example. This is Disney however, and I can tell you, everything is magnificent. The set, costumes, music and entire staging of the show is as good as you’ll find anywhere. It is a truly magical experience, but then again Disney seem to hold the rights on that one.
The show feels really traditional, with a modern twist, and that works perfectly for a tale as old as time. Take a look at our original feature and you’ll see the history on this story, which actually dates back to 1740, when Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villenueve wrote the first fairytale version of La Belle et la Bête.
This stage version has elements of the live action film which starred Emma Watson (Hermione from Harry Potter), and original, and still one of the best Disney animations.
Belle is brilliantly played by COURTNEY STAPLETON, who we’ve seen a few times over the years, particularly in the musicals Six and Dear Evan Hansen. As Belle she is a down to earth, doesn’t take any nonsense from anyone, girl. As an actress she has it all. She dances brilliantly, sings with the most amazing voice, and really takes on the character. Every girl loves her, and those we spoke to after the show, wouldn’t mind being her either.
Beast is played by ALYN HAWKE who has only recently moved into the role from Emmanuel Kojo, who started this tour.
Beast is a difficult character to get right, but Alyn most certainly does. He’s a spoiled, selfish Prince by birth but transformed into a monster by an Enchantress, leaving him with a massive chip on his shoulder (and no, we don’t mean that one). He may be Princely by nature but naturally scary and rude, and yet has a charm and warmth which draws Belle in till she eventually falls in love.
The Beast make-up isn’t overly scary, which is good news to those who are taking very young children along to the show.
This is a good time to mention Chip. It’s not the biggest role in the show, but certainly one filled with heart and emotion. Chip is always a firm favourite in the movie versions, and more so live. He is an adorable and charming teacup (and Mrs. Potts’ son), who befriends Belle.
Over the run in Cardiff you could see any of the young actors below playing the part, but whichever you get, Chip provides lovely moments in the production.
Chip on stage is definitely one of those Disney magic moments.
Of course, I’m presuming you know the story of Beauty and the Beast, and while most of us do, there are some who will come to this fresh.
It’s simple really – a Prince is cursed to live as a terrifying monster until he finds true love. The village girl, ends up at the beast’s castle, and over time, melts his cold heart, with help from some enchanted servants.
Those enchanted servants are SAM MURPHY as Lumiere (he is only playing the Cardiff dates), NIGEL RICHARDS as Cogsworth , and SAM BAILEY as Mrs Potts. Before you ask, yes, that is the very same Sam who won X Factor back in 2013.
TOM SENIOR is Gaston, who alongside LOUIS STOCKIL as Le Fou, make the perfect pairing. Their big routine to the song Gaston is filled with humour as they bound across the stage with Gaston admiring and beautifying (no pun intended) himself.
SAMANTHA BINGLEY is Madame, EMMA CAFREY plays Babette .
MARTIN BALL is Maurice (Belle’s Dad) and another face you’ll recognise from a host of TV shows, including Holby, Doctor Who and The Inbetweeners.
Completing the cast are Jake Bishop, Pamela Blair, Liam Buckland, Jasmine Davis, Autumn Draper, Matthew Dawkins, Daisy Edwards, George Hinson, Jennifer Louise Jones, Brontë Lavine, Thomas-Lee Kidd, David McIntosh, Aimee Moore, Ashley-Jordon Packer, Emily Squibb, Grace Swaby, India Thornton and Rhys West.
Take a look at the video below to see the entire cast in action as they got together earlier this year for the first rehearsals for the tour.
What is so lovely about this Beauty and the Beast is that it touches all of our senses. It looks incredible. There’s moving scenery and a lot of set pieces, which really transport you through the show in the most magical of fairytale settings. The lighting and effects, combined with the transition from scene to scene warrants the standing ovation the show received on its own.
The costumes are everything you would expect from Disney, and so much more. Belle’s ballgown is staggering, almost like it has a life of its own. It shines and shimmers and is completely hypnotising, as you can see in the picture at the top of the page. We were aware of a young girl behind us whispering ‘can I have one‘ to her Mum and Dad – we suspect a visit to the ‘merchandise’ stand was on the cards for them.
What we said earlier about this being both traditional and modern is best shown in the way Lumiere is portrayed. Sam Murphy fills those candlesticks so well in this role, particularly in the big production number ‘Be Our Guest’, which is truly spectacular.
Before he was enchanted, Lumiere was the castle’s maître’d. as a human he was clearly a bit of a showman, as a candelabra, he truly lights up the stage (sorry).
We’ve heard that this routine was created with Gavin Lee in mind. Gavin is playing Lumiere on most of the other dates on the tour and is recognised as one of the great tap dancers anywhere in the world. Which is why he won the Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical and Tony Award Nominated actor.
I remember many years ago I did a lot of work on the Mary Poppins World Premiere at the Bristol Hippodrome (18th September 2004). Gavin was Bert and we had the pleasure of seeing him rehearse in London, and at the opening night. He was fantastic then, and even more so now.
But be assured, with Sam Murphy in this role, we are in extremely safe hands, candlesticks, feet – oh, you know what we mean.
Matt West directs and choreographs the show, with the new dance numbers created by David Chase. The scenic designer is Stan Meyer, costume designer Ann Hould-Ward and lighting designer Natasha Katz. Michael Kosarin and Danny Troob are the musical supervisor/vocal arranger and orchestrator.
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast originally opened on Broadway in 1994. It feels like a long wait before we finally have the show here in Cardiff. But with a spectacle such as this, packed with movie like special effects, and Disney magic sprinkled all over it, the wait is well worth it.
Anyone who has been to a Disney Theme Park will know just how inventive their Imagineers are. They have excelled themselves with Beauty and really brought magic to life. They thrown it all into this show with the use of rear projection, animated wolves, video, exploding bottles, huge party poppers and so much more. But at the end of it all its the cast who make Beauty a Beast of a show.
Each and every one of them are incredible. They are full-on for the two and half hours the show runs (with a 15 minute interval). And to hear those incredible songs sung on the Donald Gordon Theatre stage is something really special.
This is an ensemble piece for sure, but we must give special credit to Courtney as Belle. You think you’ve seen every possible version of this character but Courtney adds another dimension to her. Maybe it’s her superb vocals, or enthusiastic dancing, but I think it’s the warmth and compassion she brings to Belle which had the audience in total of awe of her portrayal.
It’s a really easy finish to this review – get your tickets, grab the best seats your budget can stretch to, and take as many members of the family along as you can fit into the car. It is terrific from start to finish.
We come to this as ready made converts to a bit of Disney magic, and boy have they brought a stage full of it to Cardiff this festive season.
Disney’s BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is at the Wales Millennium Centre through to 15th January 2022. Tickets are on sale now, but as you can imagine performances are selling fast. To get yours, go HERE.
Once you have your tickets (and things are all done electronically these days), you need to follow all Welsh Government COVID guidelines. The theatre is really good at ensuring these are adhered to and guide you through the process as you go.
And a reminder, you can see our special feature on the story of Beauty and the Beast, with 25 fun facts you need to know before you see the show, right HERE.
