With high expectations, I drove into the parking lot of William Saroyan Theatre. Beauty and the Beast was rumored to be a musical of high quality. But the play, which was presented by Broadway in Fresno and NETworks, did not live up to my expectations.

The story stayed true to the classic Disney tale. It begins with an Enchantress leaving a curse on the castle of a young prince after he refuses to let her stay for the night. The beautiful Enchantress places a hex on the selfish young prince so that he becomes the famed Beast around which the story is centered.

The story then shifts to the small-town life of Belle (Liz Shivener), the daughter of an inventor. Belle is a bookworm who is viewed as strange because of her intellectual and adventurous attitude. She is longing for a way out of her monotonous life.

When Belle’s father, Maurice (Christopher Spencer), discovers that his log-chopping invention is successful, he departs his little home for an inventor’s fair. Maurice ends up getting lost in the woods and discovers the enchanted castle, where he becomes the prisoner of the Beast.

When Belle finally escapes her rustic life in search of her father, she ends up sacrificing her freedom so that her father can return from the clutches of the Beast. Though she initially hates her life with the Beast, she grows to love the castle as well as those who inhabit it.

A denizen of the castle, Mrs. Potts (Sabina Petra) is a sort of motherly matchmaker. She and Lumiere (Merritt David James) prove to give the most profitable wooing advice to the Beast. When the household “appliances” start to believe that Belle is falling for the Beast, even the prudish Cogsworth (Kieth Kirkwood) starts to become a little chipper.

After leaving the castle, Belle returns with a mob of angry villagers who have major misconceptions about the Beast. This situation causes the household to question Belle’s intentions. But, when she returns and gives the Beast a reason for fighting Gaston, she becomes loved once again.

Belle, to me, was a forgettable member of the “poor provincial life” that she lived in. The spinning and ever-changing sets of the quaint town were dizzying and rather distracting. Yet, I still found myself drawn into the story.

The other main character in the little French town was Gaston (Nathaniel Hackmann). This burly, egotistical male figure delivered countless punches to his ever-present sidekick, Lefou (Michael Fatica). Fatica, though, was the true comic relief of the small city. His ability to “roll with the punches” in so many different ways had me laughing until tears rolled down my cheeks.

The minor characters in the play were the true stars. Lumiere, Cogsworth, Babette and Mrs. Potts made the castle life bearable despite the cruel Beast. These dynamic characters flamed, ticked, dusted and brewed their way into the heart of the audience.

Initially, I was disappointed in the Beast’s portrayal. But, as the play wore on, the Beast grew on me. By the time Justin Glaser, playing the Beast, closed the first act with “If I Can’t Love Her,” I was in love with his character.

Though I grew to love the Beast, castle life never really exceeded my expectations. In the anticipated “Be Our Guest” number, I was hoping to see signature Broadway dance moves. But, instead, I saw simplistic movement that any junior high dance student could do.

During the title song, “Beauty and the Beast,” the one thing that actually held my attention was the elaborate costumes. Belle’s popular dress was laden with ruffles that matched the Beast’s layered vest. These minute details in the clothing highlighted the two main characters in the climax of their romantic relationship.

The creative costuming of the rest of the cast was yet another pinnacle of the musical. The wide-framed dresser and the feather-endowed Babette (Erin Elizabeth Coors) were creatively dressed to make them as inanimate as possible.

Puppeteering was imaginatively utilized throughout the production. The Enchantress and the hungry pack of wolves in the woods both were depicted by the innovative use of marionettes controlled from the rafters.

Though the play’s production value disappointed me, I found myself engrossed in the well-known plot. And, even though I knew the outcome of the battle scene between Gaston and the Beast, I cried when the play ended with the traditional “happily ever after.”

Beauty and the Beast was presented on Nov. 9 and 10. For more drama reviews, read the Nov. 8 article, ‘Into the Woods’ underscores acting talent.

The Broadway in Fresno Series continues with Legally Blonde – The Musical on Feb. 1-2, 2011. Monty Python’s Spamalot is scheduled for March 2-3. Both shows will be in the Saroyan Theatre and tickets will be on sale starting Dec. 10. Ticket prices range from $27.50 – $49.50. For more information, call 800.745.3000.

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