Beauty and the Beast

It's a tale as old as time, but new life was pumped into it with the Broadway Across Canada production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast, now showing at the Jubilee Auditorium. As always, BAC delivered a tremendous evening of entertainment, suitable for all.

Any Disney production is going to be a bit magical, and this certainly was no exception. From the minute they wake up to say "BONJOUR", you're pulled into a world of music and romance and mystery, completely transported from your seats by the beautiful staging and singing. As with its last tour, this production of Beauty and the Beast succeeds in wholly immersing you inside an animated movie. Also as with its last tour, the Chip trick was masterfully done, and the final transformation of Beast back into Prince Adam was executed flawlessly. (Also, great points to the wolves!)

Ryan Everett Wood's Beast was campy and comical, while still delivering an emotional powerhouse of a performance on "If I Can't Love Her". As Belle, Jillian Butterfield was an absolute delight - cute, dreamy, and, well, a beauty. Cameron Bond's Gaston was both menacing and funny (and those arms!) Brent Wakelin as Cogsworth made the most of all his time on stage, Emily Jewel as Mrs. Potts was spot on, but tonight, no one could hold a candle to Patrick Pevehouse's incandescent performance of Lumiere.

Go see it while you can (it's only here a few days) - and be sure to subscribe to Broadway Across Canada as they are delivering an amazing 2015-16 season including Lion King, the Wizard of Oz, and Once.

This has been a bobert review.