Disney professional spectacular - REVIEW

WHEN the nights draw in and you are forced to retrieve your winter coat from the back of your wardrobe, you know that some form of cheering up is in order.And there is nothing more magical and heart warming than a Disney production especially if it’s

WHEN the nights draw in and you are forced to retrieve your winter coat from the back of your wardrobe, you know that some form of cheering up is in order.

And there is nothing more magical and heart warming than a Disney production especially if it’s one of your favourites.

I really needed a sprinkling of fairy dust on Tuesday night and this show provided just that.

An absolute treat on the eyes and ears, Peter Frosdick and Martin Dodd's offering for UK Productions Ltd, was just delightful and captured the true magic of Disney.

The story follows the plight of a beautiful young maiden who forsakes her freedom to release her father from captivity in a castle, which is home to an angry spell-bound beast.

While there, she tames the feared master of the house and the pair fall in love, breaking the spell cast over the prince many years ago.

I absolutely love this story especially all the dancing cutlery and the choreography was superb throughout this show, particularly the tanker-clinking tavern routine.

The lighting and special effects made you feel like you were in the heart of the action which was a little unnerving when the wolves came out of the wood.

Ashley Oliver, who played Belle, was born to play this part, with a beautiful sweet voice and the face of a Disney heroine, I could listen to her sing all night.

Shaun Dalton was a joy to watch as the Beast with his childish strops and awkward mannerisms. One of the highlights of the production was his transformation from beast to prince, using electrifying lighting and trapeze-like tricks. It was as if Hallowe'en had come early.

I truly enjoyed the theatrics of Ben Harlow, as modest Gaston. At first I thought he was a really bad example of ostentatious stage-school breeding but I soon realised that it was part of the act and he kept me smiling throughout.

Lumiere (Phil Barley) the candlestick and his flaming candelabras provided further humour, his brilliance matched equally by Mrs Potts (Marnie Baumer) and Cogsworth (Ashley Knight).

But for me, what makes this musical is the soundtrack and you can’t beat classics like Be Our Guest, Something There and the masterpiece Beauty And The Beast, which is guaranteed to give you goosebumps, especially with the cracking live orchestra.

I'm not at all surprised to learn that this production has been nominated for nine Tony awards including Best Musical because you do not get much more professional and spectacular than this.

Beauty and the Beast is guaranteed to keep the winter blues at bay.

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