Disney’s Beauty And The Beast
The Chicago Shakespeare Theater Disney's Beauty and The Beast production is a delightful outing at Navy Pier. The show is revised to a family musical of 75 minutes, just enough time to entertain any rambunctious little rugrats. Written in 1740 by French novelist Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve, the story of Beauty and the Beast has been abridged, rewritten, and republished worldwide. Disney's version is based on a book by Linda Woolverton, the first woman to have written an animated feature for Disney (1991), becoming the first animated film nominated for the Academy Award for Best Picture. Woolverton also co-wrote the screenplay of The Lion King (1994) and added story material for Mulan (1998). With lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Beauty in the Beast, adapted into a movie, is an enchanting love story that captured the hearts of little girls who dreamed of becoming a princess one day.
Audrey Hare and Jason Michael Evans perfectly captured the essence of their characters, Belle and the Beast, providing a charming contrast between the kindness, cruelty, and confusion of love and acceptance. You can always see the glimmer in the eyes of the little future princesses, desiring to be Belle, with their cute outfits and adorable smiles, but I've always wondered if the little boys comprehend the concept of being the Beast. The cast energy on stage was amazing, which engaged the attention-deficient pint-size critics'. Featuring James Earl Jones II, who played Cogsworth, who was excellent as the head of the household staff (I loved the tick he added as the clock). Christopher Kale Jones, the flamboyant candelabra as Lumiere, Mrs. Potts, played by Rebecca Prescott; David Sajewich (Gaston), Michael Kingston(Maurice) Le Fou, played by Sam Linda; Harriet Nzinga Plumpp (Madame de la Grande Bouche)Maya Rowe as Babette and Chip, which has alternating children actor performances, Evie Hsu and Layla Joan, was performed brilliantly by Layla Joan.
The production team did a fantastic job with the video background transforming a book into scenic views of the castle, local town, and other places in the play, which captivates kids more than elaborate staircases or flooring. As the clock ticks and the petals fall from the rose, the enchanted household of eccentric characters eagerly awaits to see if Belle and the Beast can learn to love. The message of love sometimes overshadows the story's true meaning of teaching kids to value inward characteristics over superficial qualities—something we adults also need to remember. Many believe that Beauty and the Beast's story dates back thousands of years, gleaming from past mythical stories from different cultures. Yet, its storyline is still a musical romantic fantasy enjoyed worldwide, winning children's hearts with its timeless tale and common acceptance thread. The captivating saga demonstrates that no matter the circumstances, beast or beauty, we are more alike than what makes us different—remembering that there can be a beast in our beauty and Beauty in the Beast.
And in today's changing education environment of teaching our youth, it's a superb and timely lesson in understanding the search for acceptance and accepting who we are.
4 STARS ****
Chicago Shakespeare Theater
Disney's Beauty and the Beast
Book by Linda Woolverton
Directed and Choreographed by Amber Mak
July 13 - August 20, 2023
