Beauty and the Beast

Beauty and the Beast
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
March 14-18, 2012

I saw Beauty and the Beast on Broadway years ago. If ever a Disney movie was meant to be on the stage, it was this one. The show has been running for a long time now, but it still brings the crowds when it arrives in town.

The show is much what fans of the movie will want to see. All the songs from the original are there. The song "Gaston" has an extended dance sequence which was fun to watch. The new songs which have been added are delightful. Both Belle and the Beast have solos which seemed to be missing from the original. They blend seamlessly into the story.

The love story between Lumiere and Babette is much more sexual than the movie and it might make some viewers uncomfortable.

For fans of the movie and parents wanting to introduce their children to the theater, Beauty and the Beast will not disappoint.

Peter Pan

Peter Pan
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
February 24 - March 4, 2012

I haven't been to many ballets, so I was intrigued by how a familiar story like Peter Pan could translate into a story without words. The advertising promised we would see the characters flying and I was looking forward to that.

When we arrived at the theater, ushers handed out lights to the children. I was told there was one per family. I was with a friend and her two children and was given grief in asking for a light for her "family." We later found an usher willing to give one per child, which is really how it should have been handled to begin with. Whoever came up with the "one per family rule" clearly doesn't have more than one child.

Before the show began, the director came on stage and discussed the lights. He called it a "Fairy Fixer" and the kids would be able to use them in Act Two, they would know when. But, he advised, that if they were used at the wrong time, they could become "Fairy Killers." I was impressed that the children actually respected those instructions. 

Being familiar with the storyline helped, but the costumes and sets were very effective in setting the scenes. For the most part, the costumes looked more like they belonged in a play than a ballet. The Indian maidens were an exception. They looked more like cheerleaders for a team with a Native American mascot.

The flying by Peter and the children was fun to watch. Never have these characters flown more gracefully. It was nice to see Tinkerbell played by a dancer and not just a lighting effect. 

The story was well told. The best moment came when Tinkerbell ingests poison meant for Peter and dies. The lights in her wings flickered and went out. What happened next was extraordinary. Lights began to flicker on throughout the theater. They seemed a bit tentative at first, but when the children realized that this was the time to use them, the seats were filled with light. We saw Tinkerbell's wings flicker again before she bounded up. The moment was electrifying.

Overall I was very impressed with this production. It showed just how great dance can be for telling a story.

The Nutcracker

The Nutcracker
Colorado Ballet
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO
November 26 - December 24, 2011

The Nutcracker is an undeniable classic, but it was not a tradition for my family. I was interested in find out the appeal of this holiday ballet.

It is my understanding that the Colorado Ballet production is abridged for families. I'm not sure how long the original is, but this performance seemed just the right length.

The story is simple. Clara is given a nutcracker for Christmas by the mysterious Herr Drosselmeyer. On Christmas Eve, the nutcracker comes to life and with Clara's help defeats the evil Rat King. Then to thank her, the Nutcracker Prince takes her to a magical land of dancing snowflakes and luxurious treats.

I was surprised at how much of the music I knew. The Tchaikovsky score is very familiar. However, the dancing and costumes make it even more special. When the Sugar Plum Fairy dances her theme song is completely new.

Visually, the story is compelling. The snowflake ballerinas in their fluffy white tutus make you feel the snow. And the gorgeous costumes twirling on the stage surrounded by falling flakes for the close of Act One is stunning.

Act Two is a collection of dances inspired by international holiday treats. "The Waltz of the Flowers" is very beautiful, but the male Russian dancers and the Chinese Tea dancer steal the show with their athletic leaps.

The show is charming and fun. Even those who are not fans of the ballet will enjoy the magic and wonder of this holiday classic.

The Lion King

The Lion King
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
November 2 - December 4, 2011

I saw the first tour of The Lion King nine years ago. The show was so outstanding I knew I wanted to see it again.

I arrived only a few minutes before curtain and was dismayed to learn that I would not be seated until after the show began. The ushers informed me that Disney sets a seating cut off which cannot be violated. Due to this policy, I missed the stunning opening number, "The Circle of Life." Very disappointing!

Despite missing the opening, it was easy to get engrossed in the show. The audience is familiar with the characters and situations from the movie version. In the theatrical context, the Tim Rice/Elton John songs soar to new heights. Hearing "Be Prepared" sung live by a trained voice breathes new life into a song many tend to overlook. And "Can You Feel the Love Tonight" becomes a gorgeous ballad in the show.

The songs that have been added only improve the story. Nala's "Shadowland" reinforces the desperation of the pride. "Endless Night" performed by the adult Simba lets us into his mixed emotions when faced with his past. "They Live In You" and it's reprise "He Lives In  You" are sweeping spiritual songs which tie the whole story together.

The costumes and the staging share the spotlight with the music.Transforming a human into an animal is not an easy feat and the results are astonishing. Birds sweep overhead during the production numbers and you are lost in the savannah. The staging of the wildebeest stampede is magnificent. The shared use of puppets and live actors clearly show the increasing danger.

The Lion King is not an ordinary musical. Even those who are not Disney fans will appreciate the ingenuity which brought this movie onto the stage.

Les Miserables

Les Miserables
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO
August 31 - September 10, 2011

Les Miserables is one of my favorite musicals. The songs are deeply personal to me and I saw tours of the original production over and over again. It's hard to believe it is already being restaged.

It's hard to imagine a new take on this epic spectacular, but somehow the producers have brought Les Miz into a new generation.

The sets are more intimate, less concrete than the previous generation. And somehow the new staging brings greater light onto the spiritual aspects of the story. The costumes are very similar to what I've seen before, that's helpful with such a large cast.

The music and the story are still in the spotlight though. The songs are still deeply moving. The emotional impact possibly stronger than ever before.

If anything, this updated staging only reinforces that Les Miz is timeless.

Cinderella

Cinderella
Opera Colorado
Ellie Caulkins Opera House
Denver, CO 
April 30 - May 8, 2011

Upon hearing that Opera Colorado was presenting Cinderella, I thought this would be popular with families. I noticed many children seated around me. While the show was effective at drawing the families in, the show was not geared toward children. Act One was very long and many of the children did not return after intermission.

While the story was familiar, this telling was not as we have grown to expect. Cinderella was indeed a servant to her stepmother and  stepsisters, but it took a very long time for her to get to the ball. When she arrived, she wore a glittering black dress. And instead of a glass slipper, she left behind one of two identical bracelets.

The score was beautifully sung, but none of the arias were particularly memorable.The costumes and sets brought the story to life. While this wasn't Disney's Cinderella, it was a compelling version of the fairy tale.

Shrek

Shrek
National Touring Company
Buell Theater
Denver, CO 
November 16-28, 2010

Like most people, I've seen the movie Shrek many times. I must admit I was surprised to hear it was made into a Broadway musical. When it came to town, I decided to give it a try.

The movie version relied heavily on familiar pop songs for its soundtrack. The stage production has a soundtrack consisting entirely of original music (with the exception of "I'm a Believer" for the bows). The new songs add a depth to the story which didn't exist in the original.

The show begins with "Big Bright Beautiful World" where we get some much needed background on both Shrek and Fiona. It's followed up by "The Story of My Life" which gives Shrek a deeper personality.  The script changes and songs allow us to see the layers he refers to.

The show is still just as silly as the movie. Dulac is much like Disneyland on steriods. Fiona's song "Morning Person" brings her character a humorous side we haven't seen before.

Lord Farquaad is still the man you love to hate. But you have to respect the actor who plays the character on his knees for the whole show. 

Personally, I think Shrek the musical is an improvement on the movie.