Beauty and The Beast Manila: 5 Reasons Why Disney Lovers Should See This Musical
Let’s face it: most of us were Disney babies growing up. Unforgettable tales like The Lion King, The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Mulan, among others, have been immortalized over countless replays on our VHS tapes as we memorized every line and lyric, and fawned over the flawless animation.
So, when you take a timeless animated classic, such as the 1991 Academy Award-winning film Beauty and the Beast, and breathe an entirely different life into it onstage, out emerges a surefire formula for a winning musical that captures the hearts of its audiences worldwide.
If you think you know all there is to know about Beauty and the Beast, think again. Here are 5 reasons why you Disney lovers absolutely need to see this musical in Manila.
Beauty and The Beast Manila: 5 Reasons Why Disney Lovers Should See This Musical
5. There are all-new songs in the musical that aren’t in the film.
Generations love the iconic score penned by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, but this production has all-new, never-before-heard songs exclusively written and performed for the stage. Musical numbers such as “Home”, “If I Can’t Love Her”, and “A Change In Me” are all poignant and unforgettable, providing more insight to the characters in ways the film version does not. While it would be fun to sing along (in your head) to the all-time favorite numbers that you grew up with as a child, you will be delighted to know that Beauty and the Beast Manila has other pleasant surprises in store, as well, even for the most avid Beauty and the Beast fans out there.
4. The musical stars a stellar cast.
A musical is nothing without its cast, and thankfully, these talented performers deliver. Not only do they bring justice to beloved onscreen characters on the stage; they bring in an entirely different dimension that elevates the entire story. One of the breakout stars, Hassan Nazari-Robati as the flamboyant Lumiere, is so delightfully over-the-top as an overly flirtatious candelabra that he sets every scene he is in on fire with twice the charm and fun as in the movie. Of course, the sweet Hilary Mailberger as the provincial town’s resident odd girl Belle has a voice so golden that it brings in that trademark Disney princess quality to her voice, taking it home in every note she hits.
Gaston and his comic sidekick Lefou are hilarious as ever, like perfect caricatures, with Lefou sounding exactly like he did in the movie, and Gaston acting hilariously cartoonish as the self-involved, narcissistic man-about-town. The ensemble of Beauty and the Beast Manila is also phenomenal, nailing the choreography and song numbers, whether as idyllic village townsfolk or as magical utensils that come to life in the show-stopping “Be Our Guest”.
3. The stage design is a spectacle.
With a vivid, cartoonish stage design, one really feels as if the animated movie is coming to life with bright and colorful props and pieces that perfectly set the mood of every scene as it shifts. In a flash, the picturesque “provincial town” where Belle comes from turns into the Beast’s gloomy castle seamlessly with the clever use of backdrops. Every prop and object used is whimsical and ornate; the food served in the “Be Our Guest” sequence (soup do jour, hot hors d’oeuvres, and the grey stuff!) looked every bit as appetizing in the movie in an animated, exaggerated way.
Also, remember Beast’s transformation scene in the film where he turns from beast to human? While everyone knows how and why it happens, to see the magic literally and figuratively happen on stage is an entirely different animal. You’ll just have to see it to believe it.
2. Bigger roles, different takes.
The vanity dresser that basically serves as Belle’s personal assistant in the film, waiting on her hand and foot is Madame de La Grande Bouche in Beauty and the Beast Manila, a vain, airheaded but well-meaning former opera star who laments on her size and repeatedly brags about her glorious past. The flirty french maid-turned-feather duster now also has a name, the coquettish Babette. Both have more expanded roles in the show than seen in the film, who pack a whole lot of laughs and overall enjoyment that was not seen in the film.
And of course, who could forget the Beast? While some may be surprised to find out that he isn’t as large and as scary as in the movie (he talks with a more natural voice in his lines, too), there is a certain humor and vulnerability to him that makes the character all the more endearing. The Beast subjects himself to humorous actions, giving him a more “human” side.
1. It makes you appreciate the film all the more.
This one puts an end to the “film or stage musical?” arguments. The show does not promise to be better than the film, but it definitely elevates your experience when watched. While it revives a good sense of nostalgia, there are new and exciting elements onstage that are not seen in the film. The cast is wonderfully vibrant and energetic, and able to infect the audience with their good vibes. In a sense, the story is also explored and given more insight in ways that the movie lacks.
Beauty and the Beast Manila
Runs from January 10 to February 1, 2015 at the CCP Theater, Pasay City.
Get your tickets at www.ticketworld.ph
