Disney’s Beauty And The Beast (From Ilkley Gazette)

Disney’s Beauty And The Beast, Yeadon Amateur Operatic and Dramatic Society, Yeadon Town Hall, until Saturday, March 19

11:42am Thursday 17th March 2011 in Leisure

For anyone who might have wondered how this huge show could work on Yeadon Town Hall’s stage, keeping most importantly continuity and Disney glamour, you must go and see Beauty And The Beast.

Director David Kirk, working with the Darnbrough family, has brought about an amazing set design using the risers at the back of the stage which have not been used to such effect for quite some time.

There is a typical Disney palace, the upper staging sparkling beautifully and unusually draped. Excellent lighting by Paul Dennison also highlights this visually-stunning feature.

The on-stage set changes worked swiftly, the stage crew helped by the cast moving and covering at all times. David has done a fantastic job, and together with choreographer Rachel McGuire and the excellent 11-piece orchestra under the direction of John Webb, Yeadon Amateurs have a formidable production team.

The large company work hard throughout. The singing is excellent and scenes dazzle with some beautiful and effective costumes, some designed by Sonia Lord, others by Cherie Sharpe.

The story of Beauty And The Beast tends to be confusing and the narration at the start should not be missed.

Pippa Barton as Belle (Beauty) is outstanding, singing, acting and dancing through the part beautifully. Rob Durkin as Beast is a professional singer and his voice is perfect for this role. Pippa and Rob both have also appeared with Ilkley Amateurs.

There is a strong and thoroughly entertaining performance from Jonathan Tate as Gaston and a captivating performance from Cathy Purcell as Babette. Kath Williams makes an impressive opera-singing “wardrobe”, and how nice that her eight-year-old grandson Benjamin Miles, playing Chip, is following in her footsteps.

The other important roles are all well played, Cogsworth by Adam Gregory, Lumiere by Paul Bamber and Mrs Potts the teapot by Helen Clarke. Peter Hall as Maurice, Greg Silverwood as Lefou and John Hudson as D’Argue complete an excellent cast.

Perhaps the magic and romance which should be the final ending of the story will become more evident as the show runs.

The full company give the audience a spectacular Beauty And The Beast.