Arts
Club Theatre Company
Disney’s Beauty and The Beast music
by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, book by Linda
Woolverton
Dates and
Venue December 7, 2017–January 13, 2018, Tue –
Thu at 7:30pm, Fri & Sat at 8pm, Wed at 1:30pm, and Sat & Sun
at 2pm; )Holiday showtimes: Sat, Dec 30, at 1pm & 6pm) | Stanley
Industrial Alliance Stage
Reviewer Ed Farolan
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast is a proven favourite among audiences and creative teams alike. And Bill Millerd, after 40 years directing for the Arts Club Company, has picked another favourite that delighted the matinee audience composed of children, parents and grandparents most of whom were in their Sundays suits, even if it was a Saturday.
This is probably Bill's last directorial stint since he has passed on the reins of the Arts Club to the young and vivacious Ashlie Corcoran. In fact, in the beginning and at the end of the show, an announcement was made for the Bill Millerd Artist Fund to help local artists develop their skills. Donations were collected at the door on the way out.
Jonathan Winsby, who previously played the villainous Gaston, is Beast in this production, while this loveable "I-hate-him" character is played by Kamyar Pazandeh. The the lovely and fragile Belle is played by Shannon Chan-Kent whose lyrical operatic voice delighted the audience.
Susan Anderson as Mrs. Potts sang the theme song "Beauty and the Beast" so well that you could hear the audience still humming the song after the show.
Kudos to the supporting actors: Peter Jorgensen as Lumieres, Shawn Macdonald as Cogsworth, Vincent Tong as LeFou, Meghan Gardiner as Madame de la Grande Bouche, Anna Kuman as Babette, Mat Baker as Monsieur D’Arque, Bernard Cuffling as Maurice, Nolen Dubuc as Chip, as well as the Ensemble and the Orchestra. Special accolades to Musical Director Ken Cormier and choreographer Scott Augustine from the original choreography of Valerie Easton.
© 2017 Ed Farolan