Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
Inspire Creative
PACE Center 
Parker, CO
January 20 - February 12, 2017

Inspire Creative has made it a tradition every January to present a family friendly show. This year, it seems that everyone has Beauty and the Beast on their schedule. They will have a difficult time surpassing the production Inspire has created.

The cast was one of the strongest you will see in regional theater. The Beast from the very beginning is a tormented and confused creature. His transition from an angry beast to a loving man is gradual and smooth.


On the opposite side, Gaston was a monster from the very beginning. At his first irritation with Belle he exploded into a full-blown narcissistic rage. While his arrogance was still funny, his determination to kill the beast wasn’t about jealousy or even a trophy – he was avenging his damaged ego.

And Belle wasn’t a forgotten figure. She was our eyes into this world. We felt her hope and heartache. Her song in Act 2, “Change In Me” made more sense than any production I’ve seen. The Beast and Gaston haven’t changed much. It’s how Belle sees them that changed the most.

The ensemble was as talented as the leads. The production numbers were fully enjoyable. “Be Our Guest” filled the stage with energy. The dancing Salt and Pepper Shakers was particularly fun. The choreography for “Gaston” and “Kill the Beast” was traditional and yet fresh. 

The set had a cartoon-like appearance, lest we forget how this show first appeared. The sets changed quickly and created the full effect of being there. Even the castle seemed cavernous at first. The costumes were inspired by the film, but didn’t look like carbon copies.

Every show I see by Inspire Creative seems to be better than the last. They are an exciting company that know their audience and give them what they want.