Category Archives: Beauty and the Beast
If I Can’t Love Her
“If I Can’t Love Her” from Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
This is not from the production I blogged about earlier around Christmas 2010. Sadly, I have no video footage of midget LeFou scuffling around the stage. This is from the summer before when I played the Beast at Ashtabula Arts Center. An outdoor stage in the middle of summer on the far side of nowhere working on a shoestring budget. Community theatre bliss.
Not the best recording or performance, but it’s still one of my favorite songs.
Beauty and the Beast Reviewed!
Easy to Find Beauty in FAA’s ‘Beast’
By John Benson
Correspondent@News-Herald.com
The magic of Broadway visits the Fine Arts Association with the theater’s production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” running weekends through Dec. 20 in the Corning Auditorium.
Billed as its holiday show, the classic tale of discovering beauty from within acts as an apropos anti-materialistic-themed story that fits perfectly into the season of giving. Based on the 1991 Disney film, which was nominated for the Academy Award for best picture and features music by Alan Menken with lyrics from Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, “Beauty and the Beast” is a special highly choreographed FAA affair that shows off the many talents of the 32-member cast.
Leading the way is polished actor Joe Monaghan, who effortlessly captures the revolting self-image of The Beast and thus makes his subsequent journey to unselfishness believable and a joy to witness. Even though “Beauty and the Beast” is a family show, there are times The Beast, with his fangs and horns and freaked-out voice, can be downright frightening.
As for the misunderstood Belle, actress Kelly Monaghan (married to Joe) offers the much-needed vivaciousness and passion to her character, not to mention a heavenly voice that makes her song “A Change in Me” something special. Then there is the comical Garrett Coombs, who turns in a Johnny Drama-like performance of the egotistical Gaston. Hilarious moments find the self-centered and boorish character flexing his muscles and saying things like, “I use antlers with all of my decorations.” Also, when told by the object of his desire that he is “positively prime evil,” he deadpans “Thank you, Belle.”
Adding to the comedy is Gaston’s short sidekick LeFou, with actor Trey Gilpin mimicking the character’s diminutive size by wearing undersized cloth legs attached to his belt and walking the entire time on his knees.
In many ways scenic designer Ben Needham steals the show with a marvelous revolving set that not only exposes the multi-level castle but also includes the small village scenery.
From the eerie fog to the magical rose and lifelike wolves, Needham again has set the bar high for future FAA shows. Also, the special effects are nearly equal to the average PlayhouseSquare production.
Furthermore, as if the ante wasn’t high enough for this popular Disney cartoon-turned-musical, the show includes magnificent hand puppets used to portray the fun cartoon roles such as the enchanted candlestick Lumiere (Brian Marshall) and the enchanted clock Cogsworth (Dan DiCello). Dressed as the human counterpart to their inanimate objects, the nearly two dozen puppeteers frolic around stage without ever taking the attention away from their hand props.
Just as the beggar in the opening scene tells The Beast, “Beauty is found from within,” the Fine Arts Association’s “Beauty and the Beast” offers families a fun-filled holiday adventure that not only entertains but offers a keen reminder about the things that truly matter in life.
Disney’s “Beauty and the Best” continues weekends through Dec. 20 in the Fine Arts Association’s Corning Auditorium, 8660 Mentor Ave., Willoughby. For tickets, which are $25 for adults, $23 for seniors and students and $10 for children 10 and younger, call 440-951-7500 or visit www.fineartsassociation.org.
Source: http://www.news-herald.com/articles/2009/12/04/life/nh1767253.txt
Pictures – Beauty and the Beast
Production photos courtesy of Kathy Sandham
Be Our Guest
Brian Marshall as Lumiere and Ensemble
If I Can’t Love Her
Joe Monaghan as the tortured Beast
Gaston
Garrett Nichols as Gaston and Trey Gilpin as LeFou with Ensemble
Be Our Guest
Kelly Monaghan as Belle with Ensemble
Beauty and the Beast opens at Willoughby Fine Arts
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast – Willoughby Fine Arts Association
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
Director: Pierre-Jacques Brault
Music Director: Lori Elias
November 27, December 4, 11 &18 at 7:30 pm
November 28 & 29, December 5, 6, 12, 13, 19 &20 at 2:00 pm
Tickets: $10-$25
Buy Tickets or call 440-951-7500
Cast:
Belle – Kelly Monaghan
Beast – Joe Monaghan
Lumiere – Brian Marshall*
Cogsworth – Dan DiCello
Mrs. Potts – Maria Thomas Lister
Madame de la Grande Bouche - Sandy Kosovich Peck
Babette – Jennifer Myor
Chip – Bill Wetherbee
Gaston – Garret Coombs
LeFou – Trey Gilpin
Maurice – Pat Mazzarino
Msr. D’Arque – Andy Morales
Silly Girls – Kelsey Bowens, Allyson Leisure, and Hayley Tupaz
Ensemble – Siobhan Carroll, Erin Donovan, Chanell Farrow, Dan Hildebrand, Korbin Lashley, Amy Mango, Kate Michalski, Erika Noble, Jocelyn Pettitt, Maggie Segall, Matt Super, Caleb Venman, Sam Welch, Alexandra Wells, Ben Whitney, and Christian Robert Woodrow
Artistic VIPs:
Stage Manager – Ann Hedger
Tech Director – Paul Gatzke
Costume Designer – Caitlin Van Neil
Set Designer – Ben Needham
Sound Designer – Richard Ingraham
*Appears courtesy of Actors Equity Association
