Beauty and the Beast Live on Stage! is a Broadway-style musical at the 1,500-seat Theater of the Stars, on Sunset Boulevard, at Disney's Hollywood Studios, Walt Disney World. It is based on the popular animated film
Beauty and the Beast (the show opened just days after the films' release), including many of the original songs and characters.
The 25 minute show opens like the Broadway musical: A beggar woman asks a spoiled and selfish prince if he will allow her to stay in his castle for the night from the bitter cold, in exchange for a single rose. The prince turns her away. Because his heart is cold, the beggar woman punishes the prince by transforming him in to an ugly, scary, hideous, Beast. Everyone in the castle gets a punishing transformation as well. The prince can only break the spell by learning to love another, and earning their love in return. Years later, Belle is walking in the quiet little French village where she lives. The other villagers agree that Belle is beautiful, but she is also no ordinary character. Gaston, the handsome young hunter of the town, tells Belle he loves her and asks her to marry him. ("Belle" / "Gaston"). Belle politely refuses. Soon though, "under a series of mysterious circumstances", Belle finds herself inside the Beast's enchanted castle. She is confronted by the magical castle inhabitants, Cogsworth (a mantle clock), Lumiere (a handsome candelabra), Mrs. Potts (a kind and gentle teapot), and her son, Chip (a charming little teacup).
Cogsworth thinks that they made a mistake by allowing Belle inside, but the others believe she could be the one to break the curse. So they throw her a feast and, simultaneously invite her to "Be Our Guest". The Beast abruptly ends the celebration and expresses his fear that Belle could never learn to love him. Belle, on a tour through the castle, enters the West Wing and discovers the rose.
The Beast is furious at Belle, because he told her never to enter the West Wing. All of this causes Belle and the Beast to argue. But the others advise Beast to be a gentleman, because Belle could be the one to break the curse. The castle's charming inhabitants discover that there is "Something There" that wasn't there before ("Something There"), and the two fall in love. We return to the tiny French village where we started, and Gaston declares that Belle has rejected him for the last time. He convinces the villagers that the Beast is a monster, and the village is not safe until he is dead. So they decide to "Kill The Beast!" ("The Mob Song") The townspeople take over the castle, ruining everything in sight. Gaston fights the Beast, and Belle appears just to see Gaston make his final blow. Seeing the Beast nearly dead, Belle admits she loves him. This breaks the curse, and the Beast is magically transformed back into the handsome prince. The entire cast returns for a final dance, and declare that the love of "Beauty and the Beast" will thrive forever. Instantly, Belle and the prince reappear in their traditional costumes. ("Beauty and the Beast")
During the curtain call, Belle and the Prince give a lucky person in the audience a rose.
It is a wonderful production that not only our daughter enjoys but it also keeps the attention of her two younger brothers. And is a nice half hour break in the middle of the day. Grab some ice cream and enjoy the show.
