jamesq | Disappointing Musicals

The more I think about it, the less satisfied I am with yesterday's performance of Beauty and the Beast.

The sets were deliberately cartoony. Almost all of the actors were chewing the scenery. Basically, they went all out for campiness. I don't think BATB is well served by campiness since it's supposed to be a tale of true love and redemption. The campiness only really worked in one number - Gaston's big number in the bar ("every last inch of me covered with hair!") and that only because it is meant to be a humourous, over-the-top scene in the first place.

Now I didn't hate this show - I mean, I didn't feel that my time or money was wasted. They just could have done a much better job then they did. I've seen people do a better job of putting on this show.

Also, all the "new" musical numbers (stuff that wasn't in the Disney movie) seemed off somehow. Like Tim Rice really did a half-assed job making songs for a show that was really Howard Ashman's baby.

Strangely, the audience gave it a standing ovation. More proof that Calgarians need to watch more theatre.

The whole thing has made me want to watch the movie again. It's also made me want to show people The Tall Guy, if only for it's masterful send-up of bombastic West-end musicals.

Overall I had a good time last night, but my dinner/show companions