Review: ‘Beauty and the Beast’ at the Benedum Center is a dazzling Disney fantasy
8 / 10
Johnson has the songbird trill of a Disney princess with a richness to her voice that makes songs such as Act Two’s “A Change in Me” soar. Her delivery is often sincere, but she also delivers a wryness that shows off Belle’s wit. Philippe’s Beast is extremely human. He possesses a beguiling innocence that makes him more believable as scared than as scary. And we can’t forget our charming castle subjects/objects, who often steal the show. Javier Ignacio as Cogsworth, Kathy Voytko as Mrs. Potts and especially Ben Sears as Lumiere illuminate the dreary castle with humor and warmth.
