★★★★☆
Far off places, magic spells, a prince in disguise – all the hallmarks of the perfect fairy tale. Beauty and the Beast is one of my absolute favourite stories, blending heart and humour, wrapped up in the gorgeous aesthetics of the French Rococo period. Willoughby Theatre Company’s latest production brings this all to the stage in a dazzling and talent-packed show that will leave you absolutely delighted.
Disney’s theatrical production of Beauty and the Beast almost perfectly aligns with the 1991 animated film, with a few additional songs that add beautiful emotional depth to the narrative.
Belle’s desire to pursue a life beyond the simplicity of her provincial village isolates her from the masses. But it is her independence, courage and tremendous capacity for love that inspires hope for redemption in the residents of a cursed castle, including the stone-hearted Beast.
Director Court Cassar has staged a phenomenal production. The success of this enormous-scale show is a testament to his directorial skills. What I loved most was the attention to detail that went into filling the stage with life and colour, across both the design and cast performances.
Choreographer Sally Dangar brings iconic scenes and songs to life, with precise and intricately coordinated movements that evoke true joy and wonder. Peter Hayward masterfully leads the orchestra and cast as Musical Director, sending Alan Menken’s timeless music soaring through the theatre.
The complexity of the sets and costumes is absolutely commendable. Cassar’s set design sees the use of scrims and large moving pieces to create the village, castle and woods. The recurring symbolism of the rose and its thorny branches transforms the stage.
With a cast this size and some tremendously complex characters and musical numbers, costuming all the roles is an impressive undertaking. The coordination team, comprising Catherine MacKinnon, Donna Fitzgerald, Nikole Music and Melissa Wilcox, must be mentioned for their outstanding job.
The cast is phenomenal, and it was a delight to sit in the audience and feel the community support for everyone who played a part in bringing the production to the stage. Every performer is so clearly invested in the world-building and storytelling.
Molly Owen portrays Belle with an incredible blend of fiery independence and emotional nuance. She brings such beautiful vocals, movement and characterisation to the stage, making Belle truly her own.
Tom Kelly is phenomenal as the Beast. His physical and vocal characterisation perfectly reflect his monstrous nature. As the Beast opens up to Belle, it is so lovely to see this melt away to reveal the awkwardness and tenderness beneath.
The characters of the castle are the perfect narrators, comedic relief and witnesses to the blossoming love that drives the story.
Lumiere, played by Jerome Studdy, is a standout with delightful wit and a playfulness that is so joyous to watch. Luke Davis as Cogsworth plays off this beautifully. It is so much fun to see how his stubborn, curmudgeonly attitude is slowly worn away as he allows himself to hope for a better future.
Emily Kimpton is a delightful Mrs Potts, bringing motherly warmth and heart to the stage in her interactions with Belle and the other castle inhabitants. Her son Chip, played on opening night by Mia Manion, adds charming insights to the story.
Georgia Kokkoris and Emerson Goodenough, who play Madame de la Grande Bouche and Babette, respectively, are phenomenal performers. Their soaring vocals and tremendous physical character skills bring so much life to these roles.
From the village, Andrew Benson is the perfect Maurice. He brings a delightful eccentricity to the character and is so warm and endearing in his interactions with Belle.
Caleb Hamwood plays Gaston impeccably. His blend of cruelty and stupidity make him so distasteful, with the payoff at the end all the more satisfying.
He is followed around by his loyal sidekick LeFou, a role incredibly performed by Samuel Dobb. His comedic timing and physical humour perfectly play out on stage.
The three La Fille De La Ville are portrayed by the talented Abby Van Balkom, Chloe McWilliam and Isabella Palamara. They are so much fun to watch as they chase Gaston through the village, desperate for his affection.
The ensemble is amazing, and with forty four of them in total, it is wonderful to see so much talent fill the theatre. It was so delightful to see every performer give their characters such detailed backstories and motivations, all playing out behind the main action on stage.
I would like to take the opportunity to praise the incredible hard work of the backstage and tech crews, as well as the professionalism of the performers, as they navigated a few tech issues on opening night. Their effectiveness and adaptability are a testament to the community that has built this show.
Willoughby Theatre Company’s Beauty and the Beast is a beautiful adaptation, with a cast and crew bringing all the heart of the original story alongside delightful new design and character choices to the dazzling stage. This tale as old as time is only here for a short time, so I highly recommend seeing it while you can!
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is presented by Willoughby Theatre Company. It runs to 26 April, at The Concourse Theatre, 409 Victoria Avenue Chatswood NSW 2067.
Tickets: https://aucentury.sales.ticketsearch.com/sales/salesevent/152281
Website: https://willoughbytheatreco.com.au/show/disneys-beauty-and-the-beast/
Socials: https://www.instagram.com/willoughbytheatreco/
Photo credits: Grant Leslie Photography
