BWW Reviews: Academy's BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, 'A Tale as Old as Time'

Beauty and the Beast played to an excited audience of lots of children and their parents or doting adults at the Academy of Music in Philadelphia. Chances are that everyone in the building had seen the 1991 feature film.  The first animated movie ever to be nominated for a best-picture Oscar and, certainly, everyone knew how it was going to turn out in the end. But two decades later, it's still an unentertaining ride.

After playing for nearly 18 years on Broadway, there's still something incredibly charming and funny about the Beast awkwardly courting Belle. Dane Agostinis dons the beastly fur and Emily Behny plays the 'dream role' of Belle. Both are solid actors. Behny seemed to be a bit weak vocally for quite a while and came to life with a belting "A Change in Me" in act two. Agostinis' "If I Can't Love Her" remains the most impressive solo of the show aside from the always lovely "Beauty and the Beast" beautifully sung by Mrs. Potts (Julia Louise Hosack).  The arrogant cartoonish Gaston (Matt Farcher) and his sidekick, Lefou (Jimmy Larkin) are crowd favorites.  Michael Haller and James May round out the cast playing Lumiere & Cogsworth the 'enchanted objects". Haller delights as does the robust Madame de la Bouche played by Jen Bechter. "Be Our Guest" remains the showstopper and is well represented here too.  

Disney's Beauty and the Beast features the animated film's Academy Award-winning score with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, with additional songs with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. The book is written by Linda Woolverton. Disney's Beauty and the Beast has become an international sensation that has played to over 35 million people worldwide in 13 countries.

The timeless tale of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped in a spell placed by an enchantress. If the Beast can learn to love and be loved, the curse will end and he will be transformed to his former self. But time is running out. If the Beast does not learn his lesson soon, he and his household will be doomed for all eternity.

If you've been fortunate to see the Broadway production with its elaborate sets you may be a bit underwhelmend by Stanley A. Meyer's folding scenery. But in all fairness, this touring company has to pack and go in a whirlwind of citiy stops as do most of these non-equity traveling productions. However, costume designer Ann-Hould-Ward's dazzling wardrobe more than makes up for the shortcoming quite well. The "transformation of beast- to- prince" is extremely exciting as well.

This family production is absolutely appropriate for youngsters old enough to behave themselves in the theater. The tour moves on to Washington DC on June 12 and plays throughout the year with the last stop as of this date slotted to land in Las Vegas in April of 2013. For more information about the tour visit www.beautyandthebeastontour.com.

Beauty and the Beast played at the Academyof Music from June 4-10.  For upcoming Broadway events coming to the Kimmel Center Presents visit www.kimmelcenterorg/broadway.

Photo Credits: Joan Marcus