Like a favorite animated film leaping from the screen, “Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” bounded into San Francisco with its beloved songs, technicolor costumes and magical effects.
The North American touring production, which opened July 16, plays through Aug. 9 at the Orpheum Theatre, and then in San Jose Sept. 8-13.
That this show is still enchanting audiences more than 30 years after its debut as Disney’s first Broadway musical is testament to the staying power of this “tale as old as time” about a spunky young woman who unlocks the heart of a Beast and his cursed castle. It serves as both a nostalgic trip for adults who fondly remember the original 1991 movie and a wonderful introduction to live theater for Disney princess-loving children, several of whom marked the occasion of opening night in their yellow Belle dresses.
Magical from the opening scene
The production quickly telegraphs the magic about to unfold in its opening scene as an enchantress disguised as a hag curses an arrogant young prince, turning him into a beast and dooming his servants to become inanimate objects. Only true love can break the spell, with the ticking time marked by an iconic magical rose gradually losing its petals.
The sets are sparse, with the production relying heavily on projected backdrops, which gives the show even more the feel of a cartoon come to life. The design also highlights the spectacularly detailed and clever costuming that bring the once-human objects into three-dimensional splendor.
Most of the actors’ performances also hew closely to the original source material, a safe choice when presenting a classic. Kyra Belle Johnson is lovely as the bookish but strong-willed heroine Belle, who yearns for more than the strictures of her provincial life. Her clear, bright voice is a perfect match for the ballads “Home” and “A Change in Me,” among the songs added to the original movie’s score. Steven Mark Lukas remarkably recreates the film’s misogynistic yet comically oafish villain Gaston, down to his biceps and perfect teeth. The musical number “Gaston” is one of the show’s most crowd-pleasing song-and-dance numbers.
Danny Gardner, Javier Ignacio and Christina Rose Hall are all endearing as the main trio of servants – the lascivious candlestick Lumiere, the tightly wound clock Cogsworth and the maternal teapot Mrs. Potts, immortalized by the late Angela Lansbury.
The Beast Stands Out
But the standout performance belongs to Fergie L. Phillipe, a “Hamilton” Broadway alum, whose Beast is by turns terrifying and tender, scary and silly, and who humanizes the role far beyond its celluloid original. Watching as he, and Belle, shed their prickly defenses and find their common humanity is indeed heartwarming.
Also memorable is the showstopping “Be Our Guest,” which utilizes the production’s projection backdrop to recreate the film’s colorful trippy Busby Berkeley-esque dance sequence as the castle’s enchanted tableware comes to life, punctuated with a rousing tap number by the cast.
The show is recommended for ages 6 and up. Beyond a runtime of two and a half hours, which may challenge some children’s attention spans, there are periods of darkness and flashing lights, as well as two projected scenes depicting attacking wolves. Every patron must have a ticket, and booster seats are available on a first-come, first-served basis.
The details
“Disney’s Beauty and the Beast” plays through Aug. 9 at the Orpheum Theatre, 1192 Market St., San Francisco. Tickets are $41-211. For more information and tickets, visit
us.atgtickets.com/whats-on/san-francisco.
It returns to the Bay Area Sept. 8-13 at San Jose’s Center for the Performing Arts, 255 Almaden Blvd.
Janine DeFao is an associate editor at Bay Area Parent.
Photo by Matthew Murphy.
