BEAUTY AND THE BEAST – The Musical at Pantages Theatre
Reviewed by Amalisha HuEck
Pure magic! The cast is bursting with talent! Truly electrifying experience!
The enchanting story is well accompanied by exciting intensity of all the musical and dancing numbers. Astonishing vocals are fun and full of joy; the entire ensemble is amusing and wonderful, indulging in a magic of romance and love. I enjoyed the show enormously. It went beyond my expectations.
Belle (Kyra Belle Johnson) is held captive by the Beast (Fergie L. Philippe) at his beautiful castle, who has been cursed by an old beggar woman by denying her a shelter on a cold, dreary night. She gave him a gorgeous rose, which has been placed under the glass bell and unless the curse is broken by true love, before the last petal of the rose falls, the prince shall live in vain until the end of his days. Along with him, the prince’s entire staff is transformed into household items, the chest, the plate, the clock, the candles. A little boy is made into a saucer. Charming and enchanting!
Those living under the same roof in Beast’s castle go out of the way to make Belle’s residence comfortable and happy. They all see an opportunity to break the curse if true love happens, and the opportunity of becoming human again follows. There is not much time left. It is beautiful to watch how strong chemistry between two people, and step by step advancement is making everything possible.
Lovely story of BEAUTY and The BEAST is one of the most gorgeous love stories ever told. Based on Jeanne-Marie Leprince de Beaumont’s 1740 novel, this tale was animated in 1991 at Disney Animation Studios and appeared for the first time as a stage musical in 1994 at the Palace Theatre. Until it closed in 2007, production did 5,461 performances. Remarkable!
Kyra Belle Johnson is full of sparks, with a soulful voice, true beauty and confidence. She is lovely to watch and listen to. Every high note she reaches with ease and with clear voice. Phillipe is charismatic and his emotional delivery goes well with his performance skills. Proud and forceful Gaston (Stephen Mark Lukas), the town villain, who sets his eye on Belle, because of her beauty is rocking on that stage. Everyone’s craft in dancing, singing, and acting is joyful, energetic, and un-forgetful experience.
The cast also includes Aaron Kaburick as Belle’s father Maurice, Kate Wesler as Enchantress, Ben Sears as a Bookseller, Danny Gardner as Lumiere, Christina Rose Hall as Mrs. Potts, Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Harry Francis as Le Fou, Holly Ann Butler as Madame, Cameron Monroe Thomas as Babette, and Beatrice Goddard Beggs, Levi Blaise Coleman, Spencer Dean as Monsieur D’Arque, and Kanoa Edgar are sharing the role of Chip. Village Lasses are Melaina Rairamo, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel and Kate Wesler.
This dazzling, timeless tale with a modern twist under the direction of Disney Theatrical Group, Andrew Flatt as managing director and Anne Quart as executive producer is a must-see production.
Directed and choreographed by award-winning director and choreographer Matt West (Lestat, A Chorus Line, Trolls Live, Little Shop of Horrors), all the leads and the entire ensemble members Benjamin Cheng, Spencer Dean, Julian Marcus De Guzman, Michael Dikegoros, Masumi Iwai, Darrell T. Joe, Emily Larger, Melaina Rairamo, Grace Marie Rusnica, Ben Sears, Jasmine Pearl Villaroel, and Kate Wesler, are making this production a huge success.
A costume designer Ann Hould-Ward created extraordinary, truly amazingly beautiful costumes. Stanley A. Meyer is a master of scenic design, and Natasha Katz is a lighting designer. Musical supervisor and arranger is Michael Kosarin, video and projection designer Darrel Maloney, sound designer is John Shivers, orchestrator Danny Troob, and music director and conductor David Andrews Rogers.
Beauty and the Beast has been performed in thirty-seven countries and translated into seventeen languages. The amazing book was created by Linda Woolverton’s, with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and filled with iconic music by Alan Menken.
The iconic Hollywood Pantages Theatre, formerly known as RKO Pantages Theatre and Fox-Pantages, located at 6233 Hollywood Boulevard, LA, CA 90028, since its opening in 1930 has hosted many gorgeous productions, with spectacle and lots of stage magic. This enchanting performance of Beauty and The Beast, with 20-minute intermission is a MUST-SEE Production.
I love this production so much that I will see it again.
For tickets please call (323) 468-1700 or go to https://www.broadwayinhollywood.com