Archive for Musicals.Net Musicals.Net |
| Fantine |
BatB: a Must See?This production is currently still running in the Netherlands and I was wondering if it is truely a Must See or not. I guess it's silly to ask this here in the very Beauty and the Beast forum, but still. |
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| Pounce |
If it is a production done by Disney, I'd say yes because the effects are really good. But as far as I know, the only Disney production is on Broadway. If it is a local group doing the Disney version then it will depend on how good the acting troupe is but I doubt they can do it as well as Disney. | ||||||
| dearly_beloveds_not_liste |
Honestly, I'd judge by the price. 
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| Fantine |
We have an official Tour 
What about the songs, are they any good? Will I like Beauty and the Beast if I adored Phantom of the Opera and Les Mis (also TLK and Mamma Mia)? |
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| convict24601 |
I'm pretty sure you will enjoy this show. The costumes and sets are stunning, and plus, somthing about this show always gives it a good cast. I loved all the shows you mentionned, and Beauty and the Beast. If you have any doubts, try and get your hands on a cast recording. btw, Fantine - you have very good tastes in musical theatre
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| Fantine |
Teehee, thanks I generally like all the musicals I see though... I'm easy going
I might try and persuade my parents to take me to BatB then... Or go with some friends. Thanks for the advice
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| Pounce |
Are you certain? I checked at the Disney site and they don't mention a tour in Europe. Is it in English? I'd love to see the show again. I was worried that maybe Disney won't put the show on tour in the US again. I'd also like to see Disney do another tour of Aida.
BatB is different from Les Miz or Phantom in being more cartoon-like. But it has a solid story and good songs. I can concur that the sets and costumes are stunning and the effects are dazzling. Even the set changes are impressive. I don't know which show is the most technically difficult to do but BatB appears to me to be the most complex. I was hesitant to see BatB the first time but I did because it was a musical and I'd like to at least be able to say I saw it. Wow, the show blew me away. The cast got a standing ovation at the end. The acting and singing performances were terrific and the visual experience I have yet to see an equal from any other show...and I've seen a lot. |
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| FreddiesHalfMic |
I've heard the Dutch cast recording and I like it very much. I have absolutely no clue what they're saying, but I like it. lol | ||||||
| Fantine |
Lol 
Yes, we have a Tour running in the Netherlands which is Dutch, obviously. |
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| DaddyDiesel |
As an actor going through the show and seeing the audiences facial expressions before and after the show. I d say it is a must see. You can look out into the crowdc and litterally see there faces drop jawed. we have had two differant types of audiences, the silent because they were in awe of the show audience or the really active whooping and hollering audience. Bothe of them go crazy for the curtain call. I havnt had a person come up and tell me that they werent engolfed during the whole show. My sister (27 years old) who does nt watch alot of musical theatre said that the show started and all of a sudden it was over. She didnt even realise that 2 1/2 hours went by. Granted we are putting on a decent community theatre version.
Overall the music is beautiful and the technical aspects of the show are some of the best in musical theatre. I would love to see this done by a profesional group. Heck I would love to see it period. |
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| Fantine |
Thanks... I will definitely try and go see it. I do really love the music and I have one number sung by the Beast which my dad loved so maybe... just maybe... he'll take me to see it
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| Pounce |
I've seen it done professionally twice, Disney and non-Disney shows. The non-Disney show used Broadway actors and our Belle and Lumiere had played the roles before. Belle was as good as one could expect. She was Disney trained so she did that characteristic Belle that audiences have come to expect. I don't know how to describe it but it just seems right. Our Lumiere I saw in a Disney production and he was fantastic. He was easily the audience favorite then but for some odd reason, his performance later in the non-Disney show was sort of flat. In comparing the two shows, the acting was good in both but the Disney production was better. The Belles were equal but all the other roles were better in the Disney production. Even the clanging mug routine was performed better in the Disney production. Costumes were equal but what really gave the Disney production the edge were the effects. The non-Disney production didn't have the see-through cart (I really like that effect). The transformation of the beast into a human in the non-Disney production was no where near as spectacular. The opening scene in the non-Disney production was done in silhouette which was a real let-down compared to Disney's live action with pyrotechnics...wow. The "Be Our Guest" scene in the Disney production really wowed the audience with a pyrotechnic shower of sparks coming out of the giant champagne bottles while the non-Disney version had...bubbles. In the non-Disney production, I even saw stagehands turning the castle tower (with difficulty) during "If I Can't Love Her", which sort of took away a lot of the emotion. In the Disney production, that tower just whips around! It's probably unfair to put up other productions against the Disney production but I just want to emphasize just how well Disney can do it. I think one give away as to which production it is might be that the Disney production posters are black background with a white image while non-Disney productions are white background with a black image. I don't know for sure but I've noticed this. Of the Disney productions, I've only seen the tour but from what I've heard, the production on Broadway has a much more elaborate set. |
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| Pounce |
I meant to add that in the Disney production, Lumiere has Bunsen burner like candles. I like when he holds up his arms and with an audible ***poof*** you see a flame above each arm.
In the non-Disney production, Lumiere has fans in each arm and when he turns them on, you see cellophane strips waving in the breeze to simulate the flames. No where near as fun to see. |
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| Pounce |
Saw a site for the Dutch BatB.
http://www.musicals.nl/beautyandthebeast/index.html Looks like it is being done through Stage Entertainment so it should be a good production. From scenes from the German production, the costumes and sets look great although they don't use the see-through tea cart which while not vital to the show, is a lot of fun to see. 
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| MademoiselleMusicals |
 Beauty and the Beast my first ever musical I saw, so it holds great momentum for me! The touring production (UK 2005) was great but not as great as the London Stage Production which I saw in 1998. I think.
I think that's the case if you see a show at its 'home,' then see a touring production as you always compare it. Well I do anyway! Go see it, you will love it.  'Home' and 'A Change in Me,' are my fave musical numbers in B&TB.
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| Fantine |
It's now highly likely that I'm going to see this musical as a present for passing my final exams
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