Review: Why Beauty and the Beast could be the best musical theatre production Adelaide’s ever seen

Beauty and the Beast the Musical has started what is certain to be a fairytale run at Adelaide Festival Theatre. Here’s what our reviewer made of the opening night performance.

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How do you make a tale as old as time new?

We all know the story of the prince who was turned into a beast and must love, and be loved in return, to break the spell.

But we have never seen it like this, in what could very well be the best musical theatre production to ever tour Adelaide.

Win tickets to see Disney’s Beauty and the Beast musical at the Adelaide Festival Theatre

Disney’s blockbuster reimagining of Beauty and the Beast the Musical is nothing short of a revelation – about love and life, and theatrical staging.

With her sweet voice, Shubshri Kandiah, who audiences will remember as Princess Jasmine in Aladdin, is the perfect Belle, the brave bookworm who blossoms to become (the thinking man’s) princess.

Shubshri Kandiah and Brendan Xavier in Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical. Picture: Daniel Boud

As the Beast, Brendan Xavier shows he has the vocal chops with his solo number If I Can’t Love Her in act one, alternating between being beastly and like an excitable puppy as he learns to be loveable – and that he too deserves to be loved.

The charming chemistry the two leads share isn’t immediately obvious but that’s the point; their love is supposed to be a slow burn that takes them by surprise.

Reminiscent of a young Jim Carrey, thanks to his exaggerated facial expressions, Jackson Head is a scene-stealer as the egomaniacal, chauvinistic villain Gaston. We love to hate him.

Jackson Head as Gaston. Picture: Roy VanDerVegt

Jayde Westaby is also a standout as Mrs Potts, who pours her heart out in a tender rendition of title song.

That said, all the cast give star performances and gel well.

The songs range from heart-tuggers to wonderfully witty joy rides, both of which move the narrative along; there’s not a filler among them.

And, as you would expect with a big-budget Disney show, there are elaborate costumes galore – no less than 300 – and scintillating sets, such as the Beast’s castle which has the enchanted rose …

Shubshri Kandiah and Brendan Xavier in Disney's Beauty and the Beast the Musical. Picture: Daniel Boud

Which brings us to the special effects, some of which might be a tiny tad scary for some little ones – so be ready with a reassuring cuddle.

Beauty and the Beast starts with a bang – two wow-factor tricks in the opening minutes – and continues to thrill throughout, with impressive inexplicable illusions, no doubt, created using cutting-edge technology.

But the real bells and whistles, no, make that, true magic of the show is the number Be Our Guest, which is like a musical-within-a-musical.

Be Our Guest is an extravaganza. Picture: Supplied

With Rohan Browne’s Lumiere taking the lead, the Busby Berkeley-style spectacle, which is also full of Ziegfeld Follies-esque fun, runs for no less than 11 minutes. The awesomeness has to be seen to be believed.

It is simply good old fashioned entertainment with lots of frills – and worth the admission price alone.

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast the Musical is playing at the Festival Theatre until July 6.

beautyandthebeastmusical.com.au

Originally published as Review: Why Beauty and the Beast could be the best musical theatre production Adelaide’s ever seen