REVIEW: Be our guest at this ‘Beauty’

By Mark A. Nobles/special to the times-review

March 19, 2008 07:00 pm

— The Plaza Theatre Company occupies what would politely be described as a “cozy” space just south of downtown Cleburne. “Cozy” being reviewer code for pretty darn small. It’s not exactly the room one would expect to witness a cast of thousands in a type of theatrical spectacle. It just wouldn’t seem possible to produce a grand, densely populated, Broadway-style production such as “Beauty and the Beast” in such a “cozy” atmosphere.
Well, don’t tell that to directors’ JaceSon and Tina Barrus and choreographer Michael Sylvester. Their staging of “Beauty and the Beast” is breathtaking and a wonder. A little more than 40 actors are credited in the program, and many wear costumes almost as large as a Mini Cooper. Those of you familiar with the Disney animated feature on which the play is based are aware the cast of characters includes many people slowly turning into household items such as a clock, candlestick, wardrobe, carpet and tea pot in addition to the better part of the population of a small village. Because this is a musical, all of them spend most of their time on stage singing and dancing about.
Sylvester also performs as a villager and as the carpet. When he’s on stage the young man is a whirling dervish. It is a wonder to behold Sylvester twirling, bounding and doing cartwheels while all about him other cast members bob and weave. During the more populated numbers, such as “Gaston,” watching all the cast members twirl and sing is like watching the University of Texas marching band performing on a ping pong table.
The beauty in this production is Christine Atwell in the role of Belle. If you have children at home and have heard the DVD repeatedly being played from the TV room, Atwell will give you a feeling of deja vu. Her voice is pitch perfect, and she has a girl-next-door beauty that is ideal for the part. Jonathan Kennedy as the Beast is mesmerizing. His slow transformation throughout the play from menacing brute to kindhearted prince is utterly believable and touching. His voice is commanding whether it’s a bellow or a whisper. Curt Mega plays the pompous and true villain Gaston full tilt. He may be overmatched in the vocal department compared with Atwell and Kennedy, but that really says more about the latter pair’s outstanding voices than a lack on Mega’s part. Mega has a commanding personality that suits the scenery-chewing part of Gaston, and he wrings every last comic ounce from it.
While the three leads carry this production, the real stars may be the costumes. It must have taken a small army to build and sew these elaborate creations. G. Aaron Siler as Cogsworth, and Gregory Burton as Lumiere march and prance about as if they were hermit crabs, perfectly at home in their bulky shells.
It is in fact a credit to the skill level of all the actors who portray the enchanted servants of the prince that they all seem perfectly at home in their trappings, as if the costumes actually were natural extensions of their bodies.
The show bursts to life from the opening number as Belle walks through the village and everyone parades about her. Judy Keller as Mrs. Potts nails “Beauty and the Beast,” the signature song from the show. Special kudos must go out to young Sebastian Merrifield, who plays Chip. His vocal tone and inflections are perfect, and his facial expressions are priceless. This is a good thing as his face is the only body part visible in the costume. The absolute show stopper is Lumiere and the other Enchanteds’ rendition of “Be Our Guest.” The energy will knock you to the back of your seat.
Plaza’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” is a sensory delight. It’s visually breathtaking, the music is spectacular, and it will tax you physically because it is so dazzling and spread out your head will feel like it is swiveling on a stick trying to take everything in at once.

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