Beauty & the Beast, Part 2 - Little Town
Jun. 6th, 2012 09:43 pm![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png){kind=small}
jamesqMusicals have songs, and the point of those songs is to give a very quick information dump to the audience. If all of the information conveyed in a song was given as a narration it would seem hollow and boring; you'd likely skip past it in another form, but a good musical number will make you want to listen to it again and again.
You can go the narrative route in a play, but you really need to work at doing it well. It works best if you have an "outside" character speaking directly to the audience (such as the collector in The Drowsy Chaperone), or one character plays where the character is describing their inner thoughts.
In standard musical theatre, the opening number needs to quickly establish the setting, the main character and the conflict. Conveying the same amount of information in other genres requires showing, rather than telling. A good novel for example would spend the first chapter establishing all of the same information that we get in a five minute song.
Belle (Bonjour), the opening number, establishes the setting and Belle's character first:
Belle lives in a "poor, provincial town" which lacks the stimulation that she desires. The things that interest her (stories mostly, but also the sorts of things that happen in stories) don't interest the people in the village. They ignore her when she tries to engage them in the things she likes and has gotten a reputation for being "strange, no question". In fact the only townsperson she seems to be friendly with is the bookseller.
We see that they have an easy familiarity with each other, the sort that comes from time spent together and similar personalities. He is much like her, albeit older. It must be tough being a bookseller in this poor, provincial town. I suspect the odd looks Belle gets are also directed towards him.
I like to think that she trades basic housekeeping duties to him in exchange for borrowing books. They both seem to take for granted that this isn't questionable behaviour. She probably can't afford many books.
Aside: What book do you suppose she's reading? From the description and the brief picture we see:
...my bet would be "La Belle et la Bête", the traditional fairy tale her own story is based on. Just a little wink from the creators.
So, with a few exceptions, Belle doesn't really fit in with anyone in town. Why is that?
Belle is an introvert. She's shy, prefers reading to interacting with people, and she has a rich internal fantasy life. Is it any wonder that I like her so much? She's a classic nerd!
The song continues, but it's also interesting to watch what's going on. Belle is using her book to not have to talk to people. She walks out of the bookshop right by three would-be suitors and completely ignores them as if she didn't notice them at all. Later, she shows that she's sufficiently aware of her surroundings to keep from being drenched by night soil. She's clearing using the book as a social shield! I know people like that. Hell, I am someone who does that, especially on transit.
Which is not to say that she's mean. She pats children on the head, she's unfailingly polite to the people she interacts with, she still tries to connect with them even though she knows it won't do any good.
Of course, we don't just establish Belle's character in this number, we also establish Gaston's.
So what can we say about Gaston? He's conceited, arrogant and presumptuous! Clearly the villain, but not yet so bad as to be villainous. Right now, he's just a jerk. Also a little foreshadowing, since both the beast and the girl will have to face him. Also, the "silly girls" (seriously, that's how they're referred to in the musical numbers) would probably happily spend some time in a haystack with him. Probably they already have.
We also learn a bit more about Belle: She's the inventor's daughter. At least she comes by her weirdness naturally!
And the number ends, returning from "musical reality" to "narrative reality". Belle looks behind her to see the townsfolk weren't actually doing an elaborate song-and-dance, but are just going about their early morning shop-day business.
For a movie that is 99% hand-animated, the complexity is pretty astonishing. There are large crowd scenes, the costumes are detailed. In long shots we can immediately pick out the main characters. Additionally, there's lots of little easter eggs in the crowd scenes, lending the town additional character. One of the silly girls is wearing bloomers; There's a cat chewing on one of the fishmonger's products; Townsfolk are looking around and interacting with each other, not just moving blankly ahead or just looking at the principles.
We also get the first look at reoccurring "extras". The baker always looks like the baker, the cheese-seller always looks like the cheese-seller. Not just in this scene, but in later scenes. In particular the same people show up later in the tavern sequences and the Mob Song. The people who handled continuity did a very good job.
One five minute song tells us most of what we need to know about the protagonist and antagonist. She's a shy intellectual who feels disconnected from the people around her. They think she's an oddball in a time and place where conformity is considered a virtue. A conceited bore plans on making her his conquest. The town idolizes said bore, so there will be no assistance from that quarter.
You can go the narrative route in a play, but you really need to work at doing it well. It works best if you have an "outside" character speaking directly to the audience (such as the collector in The Drowsy Chaperone), or one character plays where the character is describing their inner thoughts.
In standard musical theatre, the opening number needs to quickly establish the setting, the main character and the conflict. Conveying the same amount of information in other genres requires showing, rather than telling. A good novel for example would spend the first chapter establishing all of the same information that we get in a five minute song.
Belle (Bonjour), the opening number, establishes the setting and Belle's character first:
Little town
It's a quiet villlage
Every day
Like the one before
Little town
Full of little people
Waking up to say...
Bonjour, bonjour
Bonjour, bonjour, bonjour!
Belle lives in a "poor, provincial town" which lacks the stimulation that she desires. The things that interest her (stories mostly, but also the sorts of things that happen in stories) don't interest the people in the village. They ignore her when she tries to engage them in the things she likes and has gotten a reputation for being "strange, no question". In fact the only townsperson she seems to be friendly with is the bookseller.
Bookkeeper: Ah, Belle!
Belle: Hello! I've come to return the book I borrowed!
Bookkeeper: Finished already?
Belle: Oh, I couldn't put it down! Have you got anything new?
Bookkeeper: Not since yesterday!
Belle: That's alright...I'll borrow this one!
Bookkeeper: That one! But you've read it twice!
Belle: Well, it's my favorite!
We see that they have an easy familiarity with each other, the sort that comes from time spent together and similar personalities. He is much like her, albeit older. It must be tough being a bookseller in this poor, provincial town. I suspect the odd looks Belle gets are also directed towards him.
I like to think that she trades basic housekeeping duties to him in exchange for borrowing books. They both seem to take for granted that this isn't questionable behaviour. She probably can't afford many books.
Far off places, daring swordfights
Magic spells, a prince in diguise!
Bookeeper: If you like it all that much, it's yours!
Belle: But sir...
Bookkeeper: I insist!
Belle: Well, thank you! Thank you very much!
Aside: What book do you suppose she's reading? From the description and the brief picture we see:
...my bet would be "La Belle et la Bête", the traditional fairy tale her own story is based on. Just a little wink from the creators.
So, with a few exceptions, Belle doesn't really fit in with anyone in town. Why is that?
Townspeople: Look there she goes
That girl is so peculiar
I wonder if she's feeling well
With a dreamy far-off look
And her nose stuck in a book
What a puzzle to the rest of us is Belle
Belle is an introvert. She's shy, prefers reading to interacting with people, and she has a rich internal fantasy life. Is it any wonder that I like her so much? She's a classic nerd!
The song continues, but it's also interesting to watch what's going on. Belle is using her book to not have to talk to people. She walks out of the bookshop right by three would-be suitors and completely ignores them as if she didn't notice them at all. Later, she shows that she's sufficiently aware of her surroundings to keep from being drenched by night soil. She's clearing using the book as a social shield! I know people like that. Hell, I am someone who does that, especially on transit.
Which is not to say that she's mean. She pats children on the head, she's unfailingly polite to the people she interacts with, she still tries to connect with them even though she knows it won't do any good.
Look there she goes
A girl who's strange but special
A most peculiar mad'moiselle
It's a pity and a sin
She doesn't quite fit in
'Cause she really is a funny girl
A beauty but a funny girl
She really is a funny girl
That Belle
Of course, we don't just establish Belle's character in this number, we also establish Gaston's.
Lafue: Wow! You didn't miss a shot Gaston! You're the greatest hunter in the whole world.
Gaston: I know.
Lafue: No beast alive stands a chance against you. And no girl for that matter.
Gaston: It's true Lafue. And I've got my sights set on that one.
Lafue: The inventors daughter?!
Gaston: She's the one! The lucky girl I'm going to marry!
Lafue: But she's...
Gaston: The most beautiful girl in town. That makes her the best! And don't I deserve the best!?
So what can we say about Gaston? He's conceited, arrogant and presumptuous! Clearly the villain, but not yet so bad as to be villainous. Right now, he's just a jerk. Also a little foreshadowing, since both the beast and the girl will have to face him. Also, the "silly girls" (seriously, that's how they're referred to in the musical numbers) would probably happily spend some time in a haystack with him. Probably they already have.
We also learn a bit more about Belle: She's the inventor's daughter. At least she comes by her weirdness naturally!
And the number ends, returning from "musical reality" to "narrative reality". Belle looks behind her to see the townsfolk weren't actually doing an elaborate song-and-dance, but are just going about their early morning shop-day business.
For a movie that is 99% hand-animated, the complexity is pretty astonishing. There are large crowd scenes, the costumes are detailed. In long shots we can immediately pick out the main characters. Additionally, there's lots of little easter eggs in the crowd scenes, lending the town additional character. One of the silly girls is wearing bloomers; There's a cat chewing on one of the fishmonger's products; Townsfolk are looking around and interacting with each other, not just moving blankly ahead or just looking at the principles.
We also get the first look at reoccurring "extras". The baker always looks like the baker, the cheese-seller always looks like the cheese-seller. Not just in this scene, but in later scenes. In particular the same people show up later in the tavern sequences and the Mob Song. The people who handled continuity did a very good job.
One five minute song tells us most of what we need to know about the protagonist and antagonist. She's a shy intellectual who feels disconnected from the people around her. They think she's an oddball in a time and place where conformity is considered a virtue. A conceited bore plans on making her his conquest. The town idolizes said bore, so there will be no assistance from that quarter.
