At The Stanley until January 6, 2019
Tickets from $39 at 604-687-1644 or artsclub.com
Posted December 8, 2018
Just when I thought I was too old to fall under the spell of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast again, I discovered I was wrong. I thought I’d seen it all before. But this year – out of nostalgia for the days when I took grandchildren, velvet-dressed and bow-tied, to opening night – I decided to risk it.
Right away I was enchanted by Alison Green’s fairytale set with its sweet little cottages and later, with the Beast’s fabulous but sometimes scary castle and nasty-looking dungeon. When the wolves beset Belle, the lighting effect (by Gerald King) of snow falling in the forest is beautifully chilly. And Belle’s castle bedroom is like a little jewel box.
With characters that have been put under a spell and turned into things like clocks, candelabra, teapots, feather dusters and cabinets, costume designer Barbara Clayden’s imagination goes flat-out Disney. Dancers have knives, forks and spoons coming out of their heads, Cogsworth (Shawn Macdonald) is encased in a clock, Lumière (Graham Coffeng) has candles for hands, Mrs. Potts (Susan Anderson) wears a teapot tunic, Babette (Shannon Hanbury) is all a-flutter with feathers and Madame de la Grande Bouche (Meghan Gardiner) sports a very pretty cabinet for a torso. And, of course, there are Belle’s beautiful gowns – especially the last one – a dazzling bon-bon of primrose yellow and white.
Some of the cast of the Arts Club 2005/2006 production of this show are back (some in different roles) but new to the show and absolutely delightful is Michelle Bardach as Belle. Bardach is non-stop sparkle, and her voice – speaking or singing – has a smile in it. You may remember her as Sophie in the Arts Club production of Mama Mia! She simply effervesces even when Belle bemoans living in this tiny nothing-ever-happens village where she lives with Maurice, her father (Bernard Cuffling). Bardach’s big number is “A Change In Me” which she delivers with heart-melting soulfulness.
Jonathan Winsby doesn’t even have to transform from the beast into the handsome prince for us – and Belle – to fall in love with him. In fact, back when only eight years old, my granddaughter thought that since Belle had fallen in love with the Beast, he didn’t need to turn into a prince. Life is not all about princes and princesses; life and love are about warts and all. Winsby is absolutely thrilling when he sings, “If I Can’t Love Her”. He brings the curtain down on Act 1 and gives everyone 20 minutes to bring their heart rate back to normal during intermission.
Kamyar Pazandeh is all swagger as the would-be lover of Belle. It’s all audiences can do to stop from booing him – as Gaston – but his impressive voice and even more impressive biceps (which Gaston shows off repeatedly) keep us in line. Not to objectify Pazandeh, but the guy is built.
Choreography was originally Valerie Easton’s and is revived by Scott Augustine, production choreographer. With almost two dozen performers on stage, the big song and dance numbers fill the Stanley stage from wall to wall, floor to ceiling. Highlights are the dinner scene with dancing knives, forks, spoons and plates and the tavern scene with a tricky routine involving beer steins.
Kudos go to eight-year-old Elizabeth Ford as both Chip and the Narrator. She not only sings and dances but she does some impressive flips and acrobatics. Every morning after the show this pint-sized pro goes off to Charles Dickens Elementary School where she is in Grade 3.
Live music under the direction of Ken Cormier comes as if by magic from the studio way up behind the balcony. Band members are Sean Bayntun, Henry Christian, Ken Cormier, Martin Fisk, Sasha Niechoda and Andrew Poirier.
Under the direction of Bill Millerd, Arts Club Artistic Director Emeritus, this show is enchanting and colourful, heartwarming and uplifting for the whole family. A story about seeing the best in others is probably a timely reminder for those who want to get on Santa’s ‘nice’ list.