Disney Beauty and the Beast Musical, Marina Bay Sands, Singapore

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast musical opened in Singapore at the Mastercard Theatre at Marina Bay Sands last Saturday. Sophie and I had the pleasure of being invited for the gala premier and we were treated to an enchanted evening where this classic Disney love story came to life before us.

Being a true blue Disney fan, I’ve imparted my love for these classic love stories to Sophie from a young age, so it’s no wonder that she knows the story of Beauty and the Beast and is well familiar with tunes like Be our Guest and Something There from the movie.

 

Having being nominated for best picture as an animated film, I wondered how Beauty and the Beast musical would hold its weight especially in the grand scene Be Our Guest where it was a razzle dazzle cabaret display of dancing cutlery and dishes of every kind.

I had high expectations for this especially since the last musical I watched at the same theater was Phantom of the Opera last year.

Right from the start, I was captivated by the vibrant energy from the cast in the second song where Belle is introduced. The town scene was exactly how I imagined it to be where the buzzing market places echoed with shouts of Bonjour from everyone as they are caught gossiping about the beautiful but peculiar Belle who stood out like a sore thumb. The clever use of revolving stage props had me captivated as the actors sang and danced in perfect choreography.

Speaking about choreography, another song that showcased the casts’ flawless dance moves was the tavern scene where the villagers try to cheer up a downcast Gaston with their nifty mug-clicking and toe-dance moves. That was the most memorable scene of the night for me and from the applause, I’m gather it’s one of the crowd’s favourite too.

Belle played by Hilary Maiberger was a star with her portrayal as the kind-hearted and brave but also head-strong maiden who’s a misfit in town with her lofty dreams of escaping to far off places like in the books she read. Not only did she fit the bill of being a beauty, her voice was incredible and gave me goosebumps especially when she sang A Change in Me.

Beast played by Darick Pead for me was a tad disappointing, because I was expecting a more menacing and fearsome portrayal. Although Darick portrayed the role of the borrish and bad-tempered beast well, I thought that the humour bits did his character a huge discredit though it did make him more unassuming.

But I did like the tender moments between Belle and the Beast as romance slowly blossomed between the two of them without realising it when they shared a book together and waltzed under the stars after their 2nd attempt at dinner.

I was wondering how they were going to pull off the part where the Beast transforms to a Prince. The execution was somewhat like a scene from magic show where the Beast was spun around and around and even went 360 degress at one point. But you’ll have to see for yourself to discover how the spell was finally broken to reveal his true self.

The other members of the cast like the Brawny Gaston, dippy Lefou,  motherly Mrs Potts,  charming Lumiere, flirtatious Babette, uptight Cogsworth and melodramatic Wardrobe fitted their character to a T and added much laughter and fun to the evening!

Initially I was doubtful if Sophie would last through the musical as it was 2.5 hours with a 30 minutes intermission in between.

But I guess my worries were unfounded as she fully appreciated the performance and even said that she loved it especially when it came to her favourite part, Be Our Guest. The song was no doubt a dazzling display of dance along with vibrant costumes and props that made the song come alive in a grand fashion like how it was in the movie.

 

But more than just the theatrical magic on stage, the musical brought home the message of looking beyond one’s appearance and seeing what lies beneath one’s heart. And that everyone should be given a second chance at a shot to change for the better as evident by the Beast’s transformation, of not just his appearance but his heart and character as well.

Beauty and the Beast was truly an enchanting musical that delivered in all aspects from set design to costumes, choreography and definitely the vocals as well. If you’ve always been a fan of the animated movie, don’t miss this Broadway musical which promises to win the hearts of both young and old.

 

Beauty and The Beast Musical
Venue: MasterCard Theatres, Marina Bay Sands
Dates: 21 Mar 2015 – 3 May 2015
Ticket Price:  S$65, $85, $115, $145, $170, $190, S$460 {Box seats 4 pax}, S$760 {VIP Box 4 pax}
Show Times: 8pm (Tues to Fri), 2pm & 8pm (Sat), 1pm & 6pm (Sun)
Tickets may be purchased from BASE Entertainment Asia, Marina Bay Sands or Sistic.

 

 

* A Juggling Mom received complimentary tickets to watch the gala premier of Beauty and the Beast. No monetary compensation was received. All opinions are honest and are my own. Photos are used with credits to BASE Entertainment.

Tagged: Disney, Media Invite, musical