Review: 'Disney's Beauty and the Beast' at the Warner

“LeFou, I’m afraid I’ve been thinking.”

“A dangerous pastime.”

“I know.”

Torrington, CT - The Warner Stage Company opened their 2016-2017 season this weekend with a majestic production of ‘Disney’s Beauty and the Beast’ on their mainstage in Torrington. A whopping 1300 patrons showed up for the first Sunday matinee, including many young ladies dressed in their Disney finery in hopes of posing with a costumed cast member following the performance. The lady in charge, Sharon A. Wilcox, reminded the older members of the crowd that it has been ten years since the Warner has done this show. The Warner Theatre smartphone app (which certainly wasn’t available a decade ago) contained a coupon for $1 off the magical roses on sale in the theatre’s lobby.

It is the Disney version of the “tale as old as time” about the intelligent and beautiful Belle who feels out of place in her provincial French village and the prince who has been transformed by a wicked enchantress into a beast. The servants of his castle are also under the spell while the enchanted rose is running out of petals, and the boorish Gaston has his eyes on Belle. The soaring score by Alan Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice propels the story along beautifully.

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Only three performance remain of this Disney classic at the Warner. It may be performed by community theatre volunteers, but it could easily pass for a Broadway production. The very young will get swept up in the beauty of it all and adults will appreciate the high quality of everything about this production. Go see it!

Photo Credit: Luke Haughwout ©2016 The Warner Theatre