Theater Review: 'Beauty and the Beast' is Monstrously Big Fun

By: Bob McKinney/Special to Bristol Herald Courier | TriCities.com
Published: April 03, 2008

Wohlfahrt Haus Dinner Theatre has a huge stage, and its present production, Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” fills every cubic inch of it with very impressive sets, two dozen lavishly-costumed actors and non-stop music and excitement.

Sure, it’s the Disneyfied version so it bears sparse resemblance to the traditional French fairytale, but, hey, one doesn’t necessarily go to a dinner theater for authentic renderings of ancient oral literature.

A handsome, yet thoroughly spoiled prince (Matthew Frusher) refuses shelter for the night to an old woman who, it turns out, is a beautiful spirit. She lays a hex on the inhospitable nobleman, turning him into an ugly beast.

The only way he can return to being a human, she tells him, is to fall in love with someone and have that person fall in love with him, hideous face, furry body and all.

And he has to have this happen before all the petals fall off a magic red rose the spirit leaves behind.

Shortly thereafter, Maurice (Ted Reid), a whacky village inventor, gets lost in the woods, is attacked by a pack of vicious wolves and manages to find safety in the beast’s castle.

He is taken prisoner and slapped into a dungeon. Apparently the beast/prince still hasn’t got into “Welcome Wagon” mode. The entire castle, as it turns out, is cursed, and the human servants of the beast are rapidly turning into non-human objects such as teapots, dressers, clocks and candlesticks.

Maurice’s beautiful, but bookish daughter, Belle (Christina Murscheno) goes looking for dear old dad, finds the castle and agrees to take her father’s place in the dungeon.

She has to promise the beast that she will not try to escape or venture into the castle’s west wing where the beast spends most of his time.

From there on out the story follows the traditional line but with plenty of twists and turns coupled with lots of humor, some pretty good songs, bunches of sight gags and a slew of imaginative costuming.

Of course, everything works out by the final curtain.

This is, after all, Disney. Kids of all ages should love it.

The large cast also includes Jordan Richards, Andre Diniz, Sam Little, Faith Boles, D. Justin Jewell, Tara Michelle Newinsky, Morgan Rudolph, Matthew Helton, Daisy Sturgill, Griffin Jenkins, Josiah Blount, Shane Terry, Sarah Shaffer, Katie Cheek, Heather Camper, Candice Brechbiel and Caroline Simmons.

Special kudos to the set designers and builders. “Beauty and the Beast” plays through June 15.

For times, dates and reservations, call (888) 950-3382.

Theater Review: 'Beauty and the Beast' is Monstrously Big Fun

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