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REVIEW: Beauty & The Beast
Tobacco Factory Theatres, Bristol. Until Sun 14 Jan
We begin deep in the forest, in the grounds of a castle inhabited by a fearsome beast, cursed to look as ugly on the outside as he is appealing on the inside. Beyond the trees live three sisters and their father, who have fallen on hard times. The fortunes of all are about to change when youngest daughter, Belle, ventures into the forest.
Drawing inspiration from the original French fairytale, director Alex Byrne’s version of ‘Beauty and the Beast’ takes place in rural France, accompanied by lots of Provençale-style music played by the multi-talented cast.
The set is minimal, with scatterings of autumn leaves and hanging vines adorning the stage, while props are used cleverly: just three wooden boards serve in various guises as the cottage floor, the door to the castle and the long wooden table for dinner with the beast.
Sara Lessore is a charming Belle, presenting a kind and tolerant nature without tipping over into sickliness. There's real warmth between her and the beast, played by Martin Bonger with a vulnerability and humour beneath his beastly exterior which I haven't seen in other adaptations.
As Belle falls under the beast’s influence, the weekly meals she has with him are a particular highlight, with musical number ‘Chocolate Mousse’ just as catchy as Disney’s ‘Be Our Guest’. The selection of terrible jokes the beast tells Belle to win her affections are hilarious, and it is genuinely touching to see her warm to him.
Other laughs come courtesy of Belle’s ghastly sisters Latrice and Anastasia, played with relish by Samantha Sutherland and Elliot Davis. This fabulous production from the Tobacco Factory offers humour, warmth and a celebration of love, tolerance and kindness – just what’s needed for a very merry Christmas. (Ellen White)