Beauty and the Beast: The Musical ★★★★★ The London Palladium | Jun 24 - Sep 17, 2022


The transformation of Disney's delightful film into a theatrical experience is absolutely astounding. From the first words of the prologue delivered by Angela Lansbury, the audience enters the enchanted world of the tale as old as time, and the visual effects are simply awe inspiring. The pace of the piece never falters as we are swept away on Belle's adventure by Jonathan Gill's confident musical musical direction. Courtney Stapleton and Shaq Taylor bring powerful voices to the parts of Belle and the Beast in their signature songs, "Home" and "If I Can't Love Her," and they manage to nuance their archetypal characters. However, the highlights remain the wonderfully over-the-top production numbers such as "Gaston" and "Be Our Guest." Gavin Lee is simply terrific as Lumière, and Tom Senior is a wonderfully egotistical Gaston. Sam Bailey and Nigel Richards shine as Mrs. Potts and Cogsworth. Indeed, the whole cast capture the spirit of this fairy tale confection, and Matt West's direction and choreography both set a tone and create a mood that is bound to enthrall audiences of all ages. The humour is broad and the age-old story still resonates, so if you're looking for a magical evening in the theatre this summer, search no further than Beauty and the Beast: The Musical.

Rated: ★★★★★

Reviewed by J.C.
Photo by Johan Persson © Disney

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