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Disney took a great animated movie and turned it into a good stage musical.
The result, "Beauty and the Beast," played to an appreciative audience on Tuesday night at the Capitol Theater. Odds are that everyone in the building had seen the 1991 feature film — the first animated movie ever to be nominated for a best-picture Oscar — and, certainly, everyone knew how it was going to turn out in the end. But two decades later, it's still an entertaining ride.
It's the story of a beautiful misfit, Belle (Emily Behny) who doesn't quite fit into her small village and has big dreams. And an arrogant prince who was turned into the Beast (Dane Agostinis) — whose castle and servants were enchanted — until he learned to love and be loved in return.
As is often the case with Broadway Across America productions, "Beauty and the Beast" is a very nice production. Not hugely inspired, but with occasional flashes of brilliance.
Working in its favor is the music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman. Even after all these years — and it's been almost 18 years since it opened on Broadway — there's magic in "Be Our Guest" and "Beauty and the Beast." (The latter won an Oscar as best song; the film also won for best score.)
Not all the music added for the stage production, which Menken wrote with Tim Rice, is up to that standard, but a couple of songs — "Human Again" and "Home" — are very good.
The production is handsomely mounted, with great costumes and lots of color — an excellent way to take animation and bring it to life.
And it is, believe it or not, laugh-out-loud funny in spots. The arrogant Gaston (Logan Denninghoff) and his sidekick, Lefou (Andrew Kruep) are crowd favorites, even if they are, ahem, cartoony figures.
(Gaston's transition from comic foil to evil villain intent on killing the Beast is more abrupt on stage than it was onscreen.)
But there's still something incredibly charming and funny about the Beast awkwardly courting Belle.
"How will I know when the moment's right?" he asks.
"You'll feel slightly nauseous," replies Cogsworth (James May), his servant-turned-clock.
Both Behny and Agostinis are good, solid professionals. If there was a cast member who stood out, however, it was Michael Haller, who played Lumiere.
Yes, it's a family production. And it's absolutely appropriate for youngsters old enough to behave themselves in the theater.
It was a bit of a rough go for some of the kids on Tuesday night, however, simply because of the length. The 1991 version of the movie ran 84 minutes; the stage production runs two-and-a-half hours, with a 20-minute intermission.
"Beauty and the Beast," if not a great musical, is certainly a good one. Very entertaining. Lots of fun.
You'll be humming the tunes with a smile on your face as you exit the theater.
More beauty
P A touring production of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" comes to town.
When • Continues through Sunday. Friday, 8 p.m.; Saturday, 2 p.m. and 8 p.m.; Sunday, 1 p.m. and 6:30 p.m.
Where • Capitol Theatre, 50 W. 200 South, Salt Lake City.
Info • $32.50-$77.50. Call 801-323-6800 or visit http://www.beautyandthebeastontour.com or http://www.magicspace.net/saltlakecity for more information.