Menken’s ‘Beauty and the Beast’ returns to Saenger Theater
By BRIAN TURK, Special to the CCJN
Alan Menken gained notoriety in the early 80s for his work with lyricist Howard Ashman on the off Broadway musical Little Shop of Horrors, but the Jewish composer is best known for the scores he has penned for Walt Disney animated films. Menken first dipped his toes in the Disney waters with The Little Mermaid, again working with lyricist Ashman, and his dual Academy Award wins for best original score and best original song (“Under the Sea”), quickly immersed him in a sea of success with Disney. Menken has won the Oscar for both best original score and best original song not only for his work on The Little Mermaid, but also for his compositions for Beauty and the Beast and Aladdin.
The majestic Saenger Theatre is hosting the last three days of night and afternoon performances for the six-day run of Disney’s Broadway adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, and the packed house on opening night proved just how broadly appealing this Broadway production is.
There were young girls dressed as princesses and other youth drawn to the Disney production, but also a large amount of theatre lovers and regular Saenger patrons, who just enjoy sitting under the stars on the domed ceiling of the theatre no matter what is on stage. Reactions of both young and old suggested the enchantment of the story and the night at the theatre were both at the highest levels.
The story begins with a prince who shuns away an old beggar woman in need of shelter whom has nothing to offer but a single rose. When the prince showed his ugly side by turning her away, the sorceress in disguise transformed the prince into a beast. A spell was cast on his servants turning them into various housewares, and his castle became a dark fortress. The Beast’s only view of the outside world is through a magic mirror, and the rose presented as a gift became a symbol of his faulty behavior. The rose, encased in glass, would bloom until the prince’s 21st birthday, and unless he learned how to love and be loved before the last petal softly fell, he would remain a beast forever.
Belle, the town bookworm and daughter of an eccentric inventor, finds her way to The Beast’s dark fortress while searching for her lost father. Finding her father imprisoned by The Beast, Belle offers herself in his place. Thus begins the relationship between the angry beast, the beautifully and proper Belle, and the cursed castle which oppresses them both. Scenes changed between the village that considered Belle and her father strange, including Belle’s aggressive admirer Gaston, and the prison like castle, as Menken’s score inspired fear, faith and falling in love.
Belle, played by Hilary Maiberger, resisted the advances of the chiseled Gaston while in the village, and stood up to the crass and boarish ways of The Beast while detained in the dark fortress. Gaston, played by Tim Rogan, pushes Belle away with his arrogance. He cannot countenance rejection.
Meanwhile, The Beast, played by Darick Pead, is slowly tamed by the charming presence of Belle, and the encouragement of his housestaff-turned-household items. The maitre d, Lumiere, now a candlestick is played by Hassan Nazari-Robati. He is one of the shining stars of the production. Nazari-Robati lit up the stage with his energy and gave a radiant performance through the night, encouraging his master to soften his approach in hopes Belle would be the one to break the curse on the castle and it’s inhabitants.
Belle eventually warms to The Beast’s willingness to change and his hideous looks cannot hide his internal beauty. The Beast’s anger subsides, and he accepts that the only way to break his chains of unhappiness is to change his ways.
The power of Menken’s dramatic score is felt throughout the performance, with tension to heighten the moments of fright and lush instrumentation is used to highlight the romantic moments.
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” continues at the Saenger Theater tonight and tomorrow night with performances at 8:00 p.m. Matinees will be seen tomorrow and Sunday at 2:00 p.m.
