If you're looking for some oohs and ahs and a feel-good journey, JStage’s vibrant and fantastical production of the Broadway musical Beauty and the Beast is your golden ticket!
Halfway through Act 1, we already felt like giving a standing ovation. Yes, that’s how good this production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST musical is. With designers and collaborators aplenty, the legendary Disney composer Alan Manken and award-winning lyricists Tim Rice (and the late Howard Ashman) would expect nothing short of an extraordinary musical experience like this. And we were not disappointed.
The story of a beast (formerly a prince), who redeems himself with the love of the strong-willed village ingénue, Belle, and thus extinguishes the curse put upon him and his castle by an Enchantress, is a story that first entered the public consciousness in 1740. French writer Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villenueve wrote the fairy-tale fantasy “La belle et la bête,” though it wasn’t until Disney’s animated adaptation in 1991, and most recently the live-action film in 2017, that it has garnered the popularity it has.
Evocative enough for the imaginations of children, and poignant enough for adults, Linda Woolverton’s book, as well as Alan Menken’s iconic score, and Howard Ashman & Tim Rice’s meaningful lyrics, are on magnificent display in this rendition. JStage’s Director Carina Morales has brought the best out of her performers, who can be taken seriously because most actors have a tendency to overact in this make-believe masterpiece when it would be facile to do so.
Additionally, Director Morales, along with Assistant Director Klarissa Mesee, offers a choreography that is always breathlessly vivacious, the costumes intricately stunning, the props magical, and the music as acclaimed and glorious as any musical anywhere. Musical Director Kim Le keeps the audience entranced by ensuring that tunes like “Belle,” “Be Our Guest” and the title number are never devoid of their purpose and poise.
Lindsey VanGerpen has not only defied expectations with her portrayal of Belle, but she also brings a refreshing maturity to the role that raises the dramatic stakes when she interacts with her onstage father Maurice (played by Lanette Gutman), Gaston (William Jordan), and the Beast (Ron Gutterman). Ms. VanGerpen is light on her feet and sings with an astoundingly lovely tone that shimmers and lilts with sincerity and virtuousness, especially during more underrated numbers such as “Home” and “A Change in Me.”
Ms. Gutman surprises with a heartwarming performance that is superbly naturalistic and genuine, portraying a Maurice that is respectable, kind, and sympathetic without being helpless, but rather just in need of a helping hand. Ms. Gutman’s duet with Ms. VanGerpen during “No Matter What” is a significant piece, as it touchingly ingratiates their characters, and makes us care deeply about the events that later transpire around them.
As the misunderstood, isolated, and beleaguered Beast, Mr. Gutterman is an absolute revelation, emoting with a roaring intensity and somberness that comes through his makeup. It’s an affecting performance as he can be terrifying at times, yet lovable and funny – particularly when Ms. VanGerpen’s Belle reads “King Arthur” to him in his library in Act II. Not to mention, Mr. Gutterman’s baritenor voice is also bellowing and thunderous, underscored by a distinct melancholy that reverberates with theatergoers. One of his most notable moments was when he bares his downtrodden soul during “If I Can’t Love Her,” hitting that high and sustained note at the end of the final lyric, “Let the world be done with me.”
As the self-absorbed and macho Gaston, Mr. Jordan is not only as good or better than his animated counterpart, but even brings to mind Luke Evans’ Broadway take on the character. Flanked by his obsequious and often abused sidekick Lefou (played with slapstick skill by Gavin Hamze), Mr. Jordan’s charisma is off the charts as the perfect love-to-hate personality, his arms flexing and his voice booming with bluster and bravado.
Mr. Jordan is also terrific at using non-verbals to get across his character’s conceitedness, so much so that his preposterously amusing poses earn applause from the appreciative audience. From a vocal standpoint, even while amusingly manhandling Belle amid “Me,” or showboating in fantastic choreographic harmony with the ensemble during his eponymous song (“Gaston”), Mr. Jordan’s timbre fires out like a mellifluous cannon in what is a visual and aural rhapsody.
Of course, there are the surreal and timeless characters, who, as household objects, pay the penance as collateral punishment in the Beast’s castle (the set for this looks formidable and immersive). The first is Haven Hanson’s Lumière, who, with candlesticks as arms, and a charming accent to match, is delightfully memorable when he shares barbs with Cogsworth (Emma Price) or flirting with the alluring Babette (played with great spiritedness by Kristin Cortines).
Mr. Hanson has the audience’s rapt attention in the palm of his wick, acting more like an emcee with an engagingness that connects even at the back of the auditorium. He is at the forefront of the crowd-pleasing “Be Our Guest,” which dazzles with dancing cutlery and condiments, featuring flips and kicks, along with a revolving procession of other Enchanted Objects.
Ms. Price’s distinguished and droll Cogsworth has substantive moments with Mr. Hanson’s Lumière that touch on a hope to be “Human Again” and a recurring repartee that involves humorous puns about the tightly wound Cogsworth being “ticked off.” Never one to disobey the Beast, he spends most of his time trying to talk Lumière out of whatever convoluted plan he's devising, yet maintaining the unique ability to be both gentlemanly and farcical.
Another noteworthy performance is from Cynthia Wilson, who makes for a noble and generous Mrs. Potts, sweetly singing the title song, and sharing a heartfelt relationship with her cupboard-housed son, Chip (an adorable Aaron Chao).
Last, but not least is Chelsea Iacono’s portrayal of the Italian soprano and vanity armoire, Madame de la Grande Bouche, while Alyssa Ultreras, Tatiana Brown and Marissa Reynolds as Gaston’s adoring Silly Girls also deserve recognition among a cast that has no weak links whatsoever. (Note: This trio of girls are called the "Bimbettes" in the film and "Silly Girls" in the musical, but they're unofficially known by many other monikers, such as the "The Tavern Girls," "The Village Girls," "The Babettes," "Triplets," and sometimes even "Barmaids," "Gaston's Entourage," or simply "Tavern Wenches").
Overall, JStage’s highly indelible production of BEAUTY AND THE BEAST far exceeds expectations. Led by Lindsey VanGerpen, whose performance is itself a triumph of the human spirit, the collective unity of her cast mates and creative team has delivered a sensational show, overcoming a predictable plot, and rising to be just as emotionally resonant as if it were being experienced for the very first time.
JSTAGE PRESENTS, DISNEY’S BEAUTY AND THE BEAST, THE BROADWAY MUSICAL; Now Playing October 26th through November 3rd at the Isadore C. and Penny W. Myers Theatre at the Merage JCC Orange County, 1 Federation Way, Irvine, CA.
Directed by Carina Morales; Assistant Director Klarissa Mesee; Musical Director Kim Le; Stage Manager Jenny Formica; Music by Alan Menken; Lyrics by Howard Ashman & Tim Rice; Book by Linda Woolverton; Originally Directed by Rob Roth; Originally Produced by Disney Theatrical Productions; Directed by Carina Morales; Assistant Director Klarissa Mesee; Music Director Kim Le; Production Designer Haven Hanson; Stage Manager Jenny Formica; Producer Nicole Rosenson.
CAST: Lindsey VanGerpen as Belle, Ron Gutterman as Beast, William Jordan as Gaston, Haven Hanson as Lumiere, Emma Price as Cogsworth, Cynthia Wilson as Mrs. Potts, Gavin Hamze as Lefou, Lanette Gutman as Maurice, Chelsea Iacono as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Kristin Cortines as Babette, Aaron Chao as Chip, Alyssa Ultreras as Le Fille de la Ville1/Featured Dancer, Tatiana Brown as La Fille de la Ville2/Ensemble, Marissa Reynolds as La Fille de la Ville3/Ensemble, Joseph “RJ” Jones as Monsieur D’Arque/Ensemble, Jiana-Marie Perez as Enchantress/Featured Dancer, Xenia Willis as Dance Captain/Featured Dancer, Jessie Borelli as Featured Dancer, Katelyn Osborn as Featured Dancer, Camille Vargas as Featured Dancer, Aubrie Ofner as Ensemble, Gabriel Myers Prunty as Ensemble, Natalie Rumiantseva as Ensemble, Sheryl Sloate as Ensemble, Avi Wilk as Ensemble, Allison Bergman as Ensemble, Jeremy Gorelick as Ensemble, Jaime Hoover as Ensemble, Seraphina Malkenhorst as Ensemble, Kayla Rush as Ensemble, Dominique Salazar as Ensemble, Linoy Felice as Ensemble, Zoe Gaytan as Ensemble, Maya Hertz as Ensemble, Shayna Kaylor as Ensemble, Delphine Treussard as Ensemble, Cole Schneider as Ensemble, April Viehmann as Ensemble, Blake Brunton as Ensemble, Emma Colcord as Ensemble.
Continuing Performances: Wednesday at 7:00 PM; Saturdays at 2:00 PM and 8:00 PM; Sundays at 2:00 PM. For Tickets: JCCOC.ORG
Chris Daniels
Arts & Entertainment Reviewer
The Show Report
Photo credit: @photosbybobke
Comments