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More Beauty Than Beast — ACE Does Disney
Reviewed By Melissa Bearns
EugeneWeekly.com
With typical verve and flair, Actors Cabaret packs more action, glitter and glam onto their tiny stage than you could ever imagine in their fun-loving adaptation of Disney's Beauty and the Beast .
Half love story, half comedy, different aspects of the show will appeal to you depending on your age. Adults will love the smart jokes and double entendres sprinkled throughout the dialogue. The performance will also remind you how funny the story is. An unofficial poll of kids in the audience revealed that they prefer the magical characters and creative costumes. Regardless of your age, Beauty and the Beast is quite a show.
When it comes to costumes, ACE excels. The enchanted, half-human characters living in the castle appear in fabulous attire, each unique, funny, and perfect for the character. Transformed into a feather duster, Babette (Brittney Endicott) is hysterical with her faux French accent, all glamour, sparkles and feathers. As Mrs. Potts, matron and mom of the castle, Maida Belove charms us, exuding good-humored warmth.
But Lumiere (Tyler Holden), a man transformed into a candelabra, and Cogsworth (Gaylord Walker), a human clock, steal the show. Recently seen in the highly successful ACE production of Seussical , the two have an onstage energy that zings back and forth between them as they argue and banter throughout the performance. Greg Mathans puts in a laudable performance as Gaston, a guy you'll love to hate.
As Belle, Siri Vik captures our hearts and imaginations. Whether rebuffing unwanted attention from the insufferable Gaston, caring for her eccentric father (Matt Bonham) or befriending the Beast, she plays the plucky character with sass. Kevin Boling captures the internal struggle of the Beast perfectly, flashing from anger and despair to hope. His performance pulls at our heartstrings and clearly draws a parallel between the Beast's internal transformation and his external form.
The set is simple yet effective, keeping our focus where it belongs: on the actors and their attire. In one of the finest scenes, Director Joe Zingo and Producer Jim Roberts fill the stage with dancing silverware, booty shaking napkins, and plate after plate of larger-than-life papier-maché food. Beauty and the Beast is all good fun with a happy ending, just the way it should be.
The show continues through March 13. Log on to www.actorscabaret.org for more info.
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