Disney Beauty And The Beast Jr

PTI’s production of Disney Beauty And The Beast is a ground-breaking initiative. The entire production team, on and off stage, are aged between 6 -27 years old. This is Next Gen Theatre in action.

It is a bold move for a theatre company to entrust a major production to the fate of so many inexperienced persons. However, a calculated risk given all the creatives and technical crew had experienced mentors, and a sensible move for a theatre company intent on future-proofing their organisation. In that area alone, this production was already a great success before the curtain went up last night on the preview performance.

That performance left no doubt that the PTI Next Gen Production is a huge success on a creative level as well.

Matt Billington, the 18-year-old, first time Director, has shown great prowess as a theatrical story teller. Perhaps his instincts have been helped and honed from the many shows spent on the lighting design and operating teams for past PTI shows. It certainly has given him an eye to what looks good on stage, particularly in ensemble placement and setting the scene to suggest character tension, status and relationship to each other. Matt has obviously spent time with each cast member individually working out a character and story line from the leads to the smallest of role. Matt’s direction has a great sense of pace and suspense.

James Grant’s choreography is well pitched to the capabilities of the cast and I particularly enjoyed the first company number dance in the market.

The vocals are particularly strong throughout the entire cast. The first time Musical Director Josh Williams has done well here.

The set, designed by another newcomer Oliver Prince, is an imposing, revolving structure and is multipurposed. With Set Dressing and Props in the hands of Natalie King, the whole stage look is imaginative and clever.

Many of the costumes were hired, but Costume Designer Liz Pronk, still has had room to stamp her mark on the costumes and is another new talent.

The entire cast are just pure joy and engaged and strong throughout. There are a few to single out perhaps for special mention.

Monica Ellmers gives a fine vocal performance as Belle, with nice transitions through the terrified and furious captive, to open-mindedness to allow her to recognise the Beast’s true heart and love worthiness.

Julz Wagner, as the Prince turned beast, has the difficult task of connecting both to the characters and to the audience through an extremely large mask. He does an excellent job conveying the frustration, anger and vulnerability of his situation solely through his speaking voice and his body language.

All the named roles are well filed, with special mention to Sasha Matsumoto (Lumiere), Madison Wood (Cogsworth), Sophie James (a very cute Chip) and a very nice cameo by Abby Hewitt who played Maurice. Aaron Cathro (Gaston) Joseph Shoveller (Lefou) were audience pleasers.

Pauline Vella