Theatre Review: Beauty and the Beast | Spotlight Theatre

Last night we saw the opening performance of Spotlight Theatre’s “Beauty and the Beast”. This morning, we're heading off to London to see yet another show so this may just be the fastest turnaround of any review I have ever done.

So let’s get to it!

“Beauty and the Beast” is (surprise, surprise) the smash-hit Disney musical based on the Academy Award winning 1991 film of the same name.   This tale as old as time follows our heroine Belle, a bookish outcast who stumbles across an enchanted castle filled with an eclectic bunch of talking household objects and their mysterious, monstrous master.  Directed by Amanda Hall, who is also the founder of Spotlight Theatre, this version of "Beauty and the Beast" is very faithful to the original while still having some inventive and original elements that I really enjoyed.

Samantha Hedley gave a “beauty” of a performance as the feisty yet kind-hearted Belle.  Samantha had a clear, strong voice that was showcased perfectly in her big solo numbers “Home” and “A Change In Me” Belle is such a familiar, beloved character but Samantha really put her own spin on the role and made it something fresh and new.

In a fun coincidence, the Beast was also played by a “Sam”, this time Sam Barson.  Sam brought a lot of gravitas to the Beast’s character, being an imposing figure on stage, however he also managed to bring out the Beast’s softer, more vulnerable side as well.  

Sam was another strong vocalist, and his emotional rendition of the stunning “If I Can’t Love Her” was the perfect ending to the first act of the show.

Oliver Smith was flawless as Gaston, in a way that only Gaston could be.  He was a larger than life character, full of arrogance and attitude who absolutely knew how to milk the laughs out of every one of his lines.  He was clearly a firm audience favourite, and his big musical numbers “Gaston” and “The Mob Song” were some of the highlights of the show.

Patrick McChrystal gave a masterclass in comedic acting as Lefou, Gaston’s bumbling sidekick. Whether perfectly delivering the punchline to a gag or throwing himself into the physical comedy, Patrick nailed every single moment he was on stage.  Pure perfection - there’s really nothing more I can say.

Charlotte Barrington, Megan Leahy and Emily-Hope Wilkins were exceedingly silly and utterly fabulous as Les Filles la ville.  They flitted and fluttered around the stage in perfect harmony and each really committed to the characters and provided many laughs.

The enchanted objects were a delightful bunch, and while each one gave a stellar individual performance, it was a particular treat when they were all working together.

David Page proved he is clearly a consummate showman, as the fabulously flamboyant Lumiere.  He oozed stage presence and charm in every line and particularly shone in the show-stopping “Be Our Guest”.  I especially enjoyed David’s chemistry and banter with Cogsworth. 

Joe Butler was utterly hilarious as the uptight Cogsworth.  She perfectly captured Cogsworth’s pompous attitude and mannerisms.  She was another shining example of precise comic timing, never failing to land a punchline or make the audience laugh.  I especially enjoyed the chemistry and banter between Lumiere and Cogsworth.  Individually they were brilliant - together they were iconic!

Stephanie Beara was over the top (in the best way) as the flirty, feather-duster Babette. She really threw everything into the role, with heaps of energy and she was not afraid to be ridiculous, which really worked for this character.

The caring, motherly teapot, Mrs Potts was portrayed wonderfully by Laura Thurman.  Laura had a great rapport with all of the other characters and provided a gentle, soothing contrast to the silly antics of the other enchanted objects. She also sang the classic song 'Tale as Old as Time ", which was a beautiful scene filled with Disney magic.

Laura Ellis was pure operatic perfection as Madame le Grande Bouche (literally “the lady with the big mouth”).  She was so funny when reminiscing of her glory days, before the curse, and hit some seriously high notes in the group numbers like “Human Again”.

Emily Holder was simply adorable as Mrs Pott’s son/tea-cup, Chip.  She performed this role so well that she actually seemed much younger than she really is, and did the whole thing precariously balanced on a tea tray.  What more could you ask for?

Adam Collishaw gave a lovely, solid performance as Belle’s father, Maurice. He has some really natural comedy skills that brought this loveable character to life and provided some early comic relief in the story. He had a clear understanding of comedic timing and was a clear character of wisdom for Belle.

All other roles in the show were portrayed by the sizeable ensemble, who also joined in all of the group numbers.  The ensemble had wonderful energy and enthusiasm and really worked together as a unit to bring the world of “Beauty and the Beast” to life.  There were no weak links and no matter where you looked there was always something new to watch and enjoy.

Under the musical direction of Vicky Moroziuk, the ensemble produced a beautiful, rich sound. A highlight for me was the rousing finale rendition of "Tale as Old as Time", which really soared and (maybe) brought a tear to my eye.

The big, show-stopping musical numbers were when they really got to steal the limelight, especially with the exciting choreography by Kristian Cunningham.  I particularly appreciated the range of different dance styles used throughout the show, all of which the ensemble handled superbly.

The use of body-doubling in the Act 2 song "Human Again", depicting the objects together with their human forms was really creative and was one of my favourite scenes in the show.

Overall,  I think this was a beautiful production of a beautiful show.  (And no, I make no apologies for the number of times I’ve used the word “beautiful”.  The imposing, intricate set, which moved and transformed throughout the show was perfectly complemented by the moody and atmospheric use of lighting.

The fabulous costumes for principal characters and ensemble alike were vibrant, colourful and tied the whole look of the show together perfectly.

This would be a fabulous first-time theatre experience for little Disney fans, but is also a wonderfully enjoyable performance for grown-ups alike. The show is running until this Sunday and is well worth grabbing a ticket if you can, as they are selling very quickly!

Tickets are on sale here.

Thanks again to Amanda and the cast and creative team of "Beauty and the Beast". Wishing you a fabulous show weekend and I can't wait I see you all again at Christmas for panto time!