For the first time in Brisbane, the tale as old as time has come to the stage at Queensland Performing Arts Centre, and it’s a tale you won’t want to miss.
From the producers of 'The Lion King', 'Mary Poppins', 'Aladdin' and 'Frozen', 'Beauty And The Beast' has officially opened at Brisbane’s Lyric Theatre, QPAC, and it’s the unmissable musical of this year. With spectacular new sets, costume designs and state-of-the-art technology fused with this beloved, classic story, the timeless romance of Belle and her Beast is brought to life on stage by a phenomenal Australian cast.
The show brings to life all the classics from the Disney film we know and love, donning the most spectacular costumes the Lyric Theatre’s stage has ever seen, and whisking the audience away with set designs and visual effects that are second to none.
The musical stars Brisbane’s very own Shubshri Kandiah as Belle, Brendan Xavier as Beast and Rohan Browne in the role of Lumiere. Brisbane’s Jackson Head has stepped into the role of Gaston, Cogsworth is played by Gareth Jacobs and the Gold Coast’s Jayde Westaby is Mrs Potts. Nick Cox joins as Le Fou and Rodney Dobson plays Belle’s father, Maurice, the role of Babette is played by Hayley Martin and Alana Tranter plays Madame.
Most notably, Shubshri Kandiah steals the show in her role as Belle. This is Kandiah's third princess role (previously she starred as Princess Jasmine in the Australian tour of 'Aladdin', and she’s played Cinderella twice in as many years), and her best yet. Her performance is mesmerising as she glides seamlessly across the stage, perfecting the performance in more ways than one. Her voice captivates the audience, as she takes some of the show’s biggest numbers and makes them her own. Her joyful persona radiates across the stage, convincing the audience that there is no one more perfect for the role. And maybe the most awe-inspiring talent is her effortless choreography, as she swiftly joins the ensemble in a variety of numbers including ballroom dancing, the burlesque can-can, and a tap number.
Image © Daniel Boud
The other key cast member who takes the stage as her own is Jayde Westaby in the role of Mrs Potts. It is as if Mrs Potts’ character takes inspiration from Westaby herself, the character’s quirks, nurturing personality, and lovable take on the words and songs is reminiscent of Westaby’s flawless charisma, making her the perfect person for the role. Her voice is faultless and enchanting, with a stand-out performance being the song 'Beauty And The Beast' as we watch Beauty and the Beast fall in love, with Westaby's gorgeous tones.
In addition to Kandiah and Westaby’s performances, Jackson Head absolutely shines in the role of Gaston, particularly in the song, 'Gaston', which is truly a production. With full set and costume changes throughout the song, the audience is whisked from village to tavern without a hitch. Most notably, however, is the flawless choreography of the whole ensemble, as they all tumble and prance across the stage completely in sync with not a single beat missed. As the spotlight falls on Head, his voice is able to inspire and entertain flawlessly, showcasing his strong vocals, and even stronger ability to connect with the audience on both a humorous and emotional level.
Of course, what would 'Beauty And The Beast' be without 'Be Our Guest', an audience favourite for as long as the musical has been gracing stages around the world.
And with new dance arrangements by David Chase, the number is still a nod to the classic performance, however the rendition includes technology-fused ensemble components and a tap number that astounds the audience in the best way possible.
Image © Daniel Boud
The entirety of the refreshed choreography not only brings a new take on the old classics, it incorporates extravagant props and sets that are awe-inspiring and flawless. No one misses a beat, there is no one out of step, which is truly a nod to the expertly selected ensemble that they’ve cast for the musical. Of course, the choreography is complemented beautifully by the over-the-top and ever-shimmery costumes that gracefully sweep across the stage.
As the stage changes from village, to castle, to tavern to woods, there isn’t a moment when the stage isn’t beautifully laced with lights, flowers, or sweeping staircases. The stage design, technology, visual effects and props are nothing like I've seen before, bringing to life the scenes I’ve previously only seen in books and movies. One particularly impressive scene is the wolves in the woods, an integral part of the story, and one I wasn’t sure how they’d navigate. Without casting a single wolf character, they beautifully utilise lights and effects to make the audience feel as if we're right in the middle of a pack of wolves in the woods.
If you’ve seen the 'Beauty And The Beast' musical before, this will still blow you away. With cutting-edge technology, fabulous costumes and big Broadway-style dance numbers paired with the incredible music brought to life by a live orchestra, you’ll feel like a kid again as you’re swept up in the magic that is Disney.
'Beauty And The Beast' is truly a musical masterpiece.
