Beauty and the Beast at Marple Newtown High School

Theater: Marple Newtown High School
Show: Beauty and the Beast
Seen: February 29, 2008
Reviewer: TJ Gunther

When Belle woke up that morning, do you think she expected to save her father from a terrible looking Beast, who turned out to be her true love? Marple Newtown High School’s production of Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, although it didn’t answer this question, made a daring effort to tackle the challenge of a large show.

Starting in Disney World as a short performance, Beauty and the Beast was transformed into a hit Broadway musical. The show, based on the Disney film, was extended with new songs to fill the time provided by a stage show. The story follows as Belle, a misunderstood towns-girl, helps a horrible Beast find his human side. However, another man, Gaston, has set his eye on Belle and won’t admit she doesn’t like him.

The strongest aspect of the performance was the consistently tight singing by both leads and the ensemble. With help from the wonderful, primarily student orchestra, the musical numbers became the anchor of the show. However, the number with the most emotional impact was the Beast’s (Stephen Howarth) Act I closer, “If I Can’t Love Her.” Howarth’s singing captured the emotional distress of the Beast after he realizes he has ruined his hopes of being human.

The ensemble did a good job staying in character while on stage, although there were a few problems understanding what people said due to unclear diction. Gaston (Yann Wester) offered a standout performance. From his voice to his movements, he allowed his ego to fill the stage every time he entered. Belle’s (Alex Jamison) voice sounded the best of the actresses, but her solo pieces were where she stood out.

The stage crew seemed like a well-tuned clock run by ninjas. Each scene change brought the crew running onto the stage to push, pull, grab or place objects without any noticeable lag on the pace of the show. They were a success, since their involvement in the show often went unnoticed.

Marple Newtown High School’s Beauty and the Beast featured a collection of strong vocal singers and some memorable characters. They were able to remind us all that it is inner beauty that matters, not appearances.

by TJ Gunther of Academy of the New Church