As the theatre approaches its 90th birthday, the Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company offer us a timeless tale that’s a celebration in itself.
As children in yellow ballgowns eagerly took to their seats, there was no denying which production we had in store. Whether you’re a fan of the 1991 animated classic, the original 1994 Broadway show or the live-action 2017 remake, I would be hard-pressed to find anyone who hasn’t heard of Beauty and the Beast.
The Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice classic shows how love can bloom even in the most unexpected of places.
Beauty and the Beast is at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre from Tuesday 4 to Saturday 8 February 2025.
As with many opening nights, there may have been a few technical hitches or wigs slightly amiss as we journeyed to a small provincial town in France, but the talent and enthusiasm were not in short supply. Director Kathryn Lay was focused on ‘preserving the magic of the classic film’, and I certainly felt they upheld its authenticity throughout this production.
So who was our Belle of the Ball? Jennifer Jones portrayed our leading lady with real gumption, offering unwavering energy and brilliant chemistry with her male counterparts. Her vocals were delicate, allowing numbers such as ‘Home’ and ‘A Change in Me’ to bring a softness to an otherwise pacy plot.
And what a contrast it was to our enraged beast, Adam Gill, with a monstrous-turned-moving performance of ‘If I Can’t Love Her’, which enabled the audience to head off to the interval seeing something there that wasn’t there before, a glimpse into Belle’s own transitional thinking.
Speaking of transitions, whilst the staging was simplistic in its design, I did appreciate the elements of surprise throughout – even eliciting audible gasps from the audience as we reached the magical climax of the tale.
But whilst the Beast may appear as our villain, we soon discover an even bigger baddie in our egotistical Gaston (Jim Paterson), accompanied by his simple-minded sidekick Lefou (Kit Stroud). If there’s one thing you know about Stroud is that he will embody every role he plays immaculately well, and this bumbling fool was no different.
This production was well designed by the creative team – complimented by Lorna Newby’s directing and choreography assistance, and effective costuming (Julie Fisher, Lichfield Costume Hire, and Newby Leisure). And this costuming was certainly no easy feat, with the ensemble undertaking a plethora of different roles, dressed impeccably for each one.
Whilst the Beast’s castle may be short of life, those scenes are where the show came alive due to the ingenious casting. Whether it was Anthony Gardner’s endearing Cogsworth, Heather Stead’s ostentatious Babette or Stan Richardson’s cheeky Chip (alternating with Paige Sidebottom), they created sensational scene-work.
However for me the stand out portrayals must be Tom Menarry as our flamboyant Lumiere and Jennifer Dommeck as our bubbly Mrs Potts. Their solos, including the vibrant ‘Be Our Guest’, ‘Human Again’ and the title track ‘Beauty and the Beast’, were a delight to witness. The success and quality of the music on offer was due to the talented orchestra led by musical director/composer Martin Lay – they mastered a complex score effortlessly.
The Joseph Rowntree Theatre Company offer a celebration of community in their productions and Beauty and the Beast is no different, a family friendly show worth the visit.
A tale as old as time, but timeless in its appeal – head on down to the Joseph Rowntree Theatre this week to turn the page on this magical story.
Beauty and the Beast is at the Joseph Rowntree Theatre until Saturday 8 February. Tickets are £16 and are available via their website here.