What is Being Attempted?
The story begins with one stormy night when an enchantress curses a vain Prince and turns him into the monstrous Beast (Joey Webster). The only thing that can break the charms is the love of a young woman. Many years later, a maiden named Belle (Devin Jennings) gets into his enchanted palace as a prisoner and falls in love with the Beast.
However, a hunter from Belles’ village named Gaston (Brandon Herron) wants to murder the Beast, but love triumphs and the Beast is converted back to the human body. The environment of the venue may be characterized as a comfortable theatre hall full of spectators from the age of six to 65 and older. People were dressed in casual and dressy clothes. I had a program, which provided brief information on the play being produced, the timeframe, and the theater details. I did not have any expectations.
How Well Has the Attempt Succeeded?
The production was rather eye-catching and successful: costumes, music, and singing. The play of actors was outstanding and coordinated, namely, they worked in collaboration to create crowd scenes. The actress playing Belle and dressed in the blue dress with the white apron was quite convincing and true to life, showing her smart outlook and kind heart as well as the vibrant voice, thus touching the viewers’ souls. The Beast’s character may be noted due to his sensitivity and attempts to be a gentleman for Belle.
Since he wore the mask, the Beast expressed his feelings and emotions through voice and posture that aligned well with his image. To keep the attention of the audience, the actor playing Gaston used the entertaining mimics and voice to create a caricature. Gaston, who acted as the antagonist of the main character, also used laugh and mannerism simulating a brave man, yet his image was comical. He was dressed in black boots and pants along with the red shirt with the gold collar. The actors applied a full range of expressive means, including voice changes, mimics, laugh, posture, etc.
Design elements were elaborated thoroughly – spectators observed alive candlestick, teakettle, and duster – the servants of the Prince. The stage props were detailed, but simple, thus allowing them to focus on the characters. The costumes were creative and colorful. They were chosen considering the epoch and the genre of the play so that viewers have the opportunity to be involved in the story as if they were the participants.
Throughout the play, lightning was dim and bright. At some points, it was like a spotlight on one or two characters of the play. It was primarily used to emphasize dramatic effects in such scenes as the Beast’s transformation, the night before Belle’s caption, and so on. The orchestrated lightning helped to achieve the perfect sound during the whole play to make every word and every scene meaningful. The set was designed masterfully and changed accordingly, making the perception of the play more easy and full. As for the director, it is possible to note that he delivered a resounding play and succeeded in unleashing the great power of the fairy tale.
Was the Attempt Worth-Making
The deportment regarding this play is admiration and the desire to view it once again. The atmosphere was welcoming and pleasant. I felt that I participated in some scenes, especially in the climax – the struggle against Gaston and other villagers. There were competent actors, who played outstandingly, attracting my attention to tones, emotions, and any important details. My favorite part is when Belle meets the alive yet unanimated objects. The only recommendation I can provide concerns the main actress playing Belle. Even though her role was performed well, it seems that there was some restraint in her actions. For example, when the Beast was angry, it would be better if her fear were more persuasive. Nevertheless, I would pay upwards for this spectacle and recommend my friends to visit it.