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Described by Anika Vervecken
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Book by Linda Woolverton
“Tale as old as time, song as old as rhyme.” Can Belle teach the Beast to love, before it is too late? Discover the magic behind the castle walls in this brilliant adaptation of the Academy Award–winning animated film. This beloved fairy-tale spectacle will thrill you with its show-stopping musical numbers, astonishing sets, and lavish costumes.
BRIEF SYNOPSIS
Based on the smash hit 1991 Disney movie and dating back to a late 18th-century classic French fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast tells the story of Belle, a beautiful and intelligent young woman who feels out of place in her provincial French village. When her father is imprisoned in a mysterious castle, Belle’s attempt to rescue him leads to her capture by the Beast, a grisly and fearsome monster, who was long ago trapped in his gruesome form by an enchantress. The only way for the Beast to become human once again is if he learns to love and be loved in return. There is a time limit, too: once a magical rose loses all of its petals, all hope will be lost and he will stay a Beast forever. The Beast’s enchanted household–populated by such beloved characters as Mrs. Potts, Lumiere, Cogsworth, and Chip–watch anxiously as Belle and the Beast grow to understand and befriend one another. Their feelings grow ever deeper as the clock ticks and petals continue to fall off the enchanted rose–will they confess their love for one another before it is too late?
The action begins once upon a time in a small French village…
CHARACTERS
In the Village:
Belle is a bold, free-thinking young woman with a love of books and adventure.
Maurice is Belle’s doting father and an eccentric inventor.
Gaston is a man with big muscles and a bigger ego who wants to marry Belle.
Lefou is Gaston’s lowly sidekick.
The Silly Girls are smitten with Gaston, swooning and squealing at the sight of him.
Monsieur D’Arque is the scheming proprietor of the local insane asylum, the Maison des Lunes.
Other Villagers include Bookseller, Aristocratic Lady, Fish Man, Egg Man, Sausage Curl Girl, Baker, Marie, Lady with Cane, Lady with Baby, Candle Man, Hat Seller, Milkmaid, Shepherd Boy, Tavern Patrons, Townsfolk and Mob.
In the Castle:
The Beast is an enchanted Prince under a spell that is slowly turning him into a Beast. His castle is also enchanted with all its inhabitants in a state of transformation as well.
Lumière is a suave French Maître d’ in the process of turning into a candelabra.
Cogsworth is a tightly-wound English Butler turning into a grandfather clock.
Mrs. Potts is a matronly Cockney cook turning into a teapot.
Chip is Mrs. Potts’ young son who is turning into a teacup.
Babette is a flirty French maid turning into a feather duster.
Madame de la Grande Bouche is a former opera diva turning into a wardrobe.
Guillaume is a houseboy turning into a doormat.
Other enchanted people/objects include Gargoyles, Napkins, Plates and Cutlery.
In the Forest:
An Old Woman/Enchantress, Wood Nymphs and Wolves
REVIEWS
“The Arts Club’s sparkling Beauty and the Beast is a gorgeous creation, funny and genuinely moving.” –The Vancouver Sun
“There’s a moment in the show that kills me in every production. As the Beast is desperately trying to behave like a gentleman, he struggles to use his soupspoon at dinner. His paws make it difficult. Then Belle puts down her spoon, picks up her bowl with her hands and drinks directly from it. And then I cry. Every time. Because he’s good and she knows it.” –Colin Thomas
“Right away I was enchanted” –Jo Ledingham
SUPPORT MATERIALS
Beauty and the Beast – SONG LIST (Word doc)
Beauty and the Beast – SYNOPSIS (Word doc)
