Disney'sBeauty and the Beast
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Moniz, Gilbert
Photo by Ed Krieger
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By Joseph N. Feinstein
The Cabrillo Music Theatre in Thousand Oaks is home for this magical theatrical experience's two week run which was extended with an extra two performances, testifying to its popularity. This is neither Broadway, where it ran for over 5,000 performances, nor Hollywood, and the top price was fifty-one dollars. All the music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice remain intact. Ashley Moniz portrays a Belle who is sweet, intelligent, and lives with her inventor father, Maurice (Jack E. Curenton). She is pursued by the vain, village heart throb, Gaston (Matt Merchant). Chris Warren Gilbert gives a convincing performance as the young prince who has been doomed to live out his life as a beast until he can love and be loved in return.
A sixteen piece orchestra, under Tom Griffin's direction, accompanies the action with care and precision. All the enchanted inhabitants of the castle: the teapot (Lisa Donahey), candle (Joshua Finkel), salt and pepper shakers (Bradley Horwitz and Steven Ferezy), doormat (Daniel Ross Noble) and wolves (San Atkin, Estevan Valdes, Steven Ferezy, Bradley Horwitz) dance
with the fine choreography of Peggy Hickey. The direction of Lewis Wilkenfeld keeps this cast of more than thirty moving effortlessly about the giant stage.
The play, based on the animated Disney movie, combines an old-fashioned story with an admixture of songs, dances, and much slapstick. Through pratfalls, double-entendres, and guaranteed laughter-producing shtick, the several characters keep youngsters interested and laughing. Could anyone ever fault Disney with not knowing how to make children happy?
The glorious dancing to such familiar music as "Be Our Guest" and the singing of the Oscar-winning title song, plus several more written especially for the stage production, attend to the adult audience's need for solid entertainment as well. The lessons of forgiveness, manners, courtesy, kindness, and the value of books and reading take center stage within the play's action, helping all of us reevaluate what is truly important in life.
After concluding its thirteen-year run on Broadway, the play's cast and administrators take their own sage advice: "If it's not Baroque, don't fix it!" The distinct excitement and value of Beauty and the Beast remains intact for a whole new generation's pleasure and joy.
Cabrillo Music Theatre @ Thousand Oaks Civic Arts Plaza 2100 Thousand Oaks Blvd. Thousand Oaks 91362 Tel. 805-449-2787
Future Attractions: Seven Brides For Seven Brothers - Oct. 26 - Nov. 4; Ain't Misbehavin' - Jan. 4 - 13, 2008; Jekyll & Hyde - March 7 - 16; Singin' In The Rain
(includes rain) - July 25 - Aug. 3.
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