Review: BEAUTY AND THE BEAST - Excellent Performers Brought Down By Technical Issues

DISNEY'S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, currently playing at Georgetown's Palace Theatre exhibits some truly wonderful performances from many of the actors, unfortunately it is the technical aspects of the show that are less than stellar.
Before Disney, the story of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was just another fairytale. Written by Jean-Marie Leprince de Beaumont the French story is a beautiful tale of learning see beyond the superficial to find a love strong enough to break an evil spell. In 1991 when the Disney film was released, it was magical, the first animated movie ever nominated for a Best Picture Oscar. The musical soon followed in 1994 and ultimately became the ninth longest running show on Broadway.
The show opens with Prince Adam being turned into the Beast (Ismael Soto) cursed by an Enchantress (Sarah Anne Hoagland) disguised as an old woman whom he treated with cruelty. The scene shifts and we meet Belle (Kristin DeGroot) as she makes her way through the village where she is considered an eccentric beauty. Seizing on the superficial, town bully, Gaston (Phil Rodriguez) declares that Belle alone is beautiful enough to be his wife and won't take no for an answer. After her father is caught trespassing by the Beast, Belle offers herself to take his place as captive in his enchanted castle. Servants of the former Prince have been cursed as well. We meet Lumiere (Creighton Moench) a talking candelabra, Cogsworth (Curt Olson) a clock, Mrs. Potts (Elizabeth Etter) a teapot, all of which continue to be faithful to the Beast and hope to be returned to their human form. Songs like BE OUR GUEST and BEAUTY AND THE BEAST are universally beloved and have become iconic.
Phil Rodriguez's performance as Gaston is top notch, he gives just the right touch of macho entitlement and has a beautiful voice. As Belle, Kristen DeGroot is lovely and charming. Other standouts include Curt Olson as Cogsworth, Creighton Moench as Lumiere, Buddy Novak as Lefou and Ismael Soto as the Beast. The acting performances are well done, unfortunately it's the technical aspects of the production that are disappointing. Granted BEAUTY AND THE BEAST is one of the most difficult shows to stage in modern theatre but so many technical aspects of the Palace performance were problematic. Lighting cues were late throughout the entire evening, slowing the flow of the show. Uncostumed stagehands changed sets well enough, but to send them out to remove a table or place a bench during a magical musical moment is distracting in the extreme. The set is beautiful and clever but there's a point when it all feels too much, the stage looks crowded and the actors cramped. In the larger numbers like BE OUR GUEST the chorus is virtually shoulder to shoulder and the choreography looks pared down to accommodate the close quarters.
Ultimately the problems with BEAUTY AND THE BEAST can be laid at the door of Director Ron Watson. Attention to detail and dedication to a more seamless production would be advisable in the future.

BEAUTY AND THE BEAST Music by Alan Menken, Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Book by Linda Woolverton
The Palace Theatre, Georgetown, TX
RUNNING TIME: 2 Hours 20 minutes with one intermission.
TICKETS: $28 with discounts for seniors, students and children - georgetownpalace.com

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