By Amanda Berg
Beauty and the Beast, presented by Murray City Cultural Arts, is the classic story of a cursed prince in the form of a terrifying beast who imprisons a beautiful young woman but learns to fall in love with her, and her him, with assistance from his enchanted and likewise cursed servants. This musical is incredibly popular in Utah, but Murray City Cultural Arts performs it differently. Between the live orchestra (conductor Josh Miller), elaborate sets and lighting (Jeff Davis and Michael Zak), and larger than life ensemble, this version is especially unique and perfect for a date night or family night out.
Beauty and the Beast has so many prevalent characters, it is impossible to name each one, especially with how much talent there is on this stage. Of course, the beast (Nathan Holcomb) and Belle (Hannah Roskelley) are first and foremost. Roskelley really showcases Belle’s independence, wit, and sass, which I often feel is missing when others perform this character. She has a gorgeous singing voice, the kind you would find a Disney princess at Disneyland to possess. She has quite a few solo pieces, the most impactful of which, I feel, is “Belle Reprise,” where she expresses her deep desire to escape her “provincial life” and see the world. Holcomb is terrifying but sarcastic, which gives him a spin on the Beast I had not seen before. His deep baritone voice is showcased in the piece “If I Can’t Love Her,” at the end of the first act, where he agonizingly expresses his desire to break the spell he is under but cannot if he cannot learn to love Belle, or learn to love at all. This is the piece that first shows the Beast’s humanity and true desire to change, and Holcomb internalizes this beautifully.
Other notable characters include Mrs. Potts (Emily Voorhees), Lumiere (Matt Bowden), Babette (Michelle Moore), Madame De La Grande Bouche (Eve Garcia), Belle’s father Maurice (Jeff Davis), Cogsworth (Trax Decker), the ever-adorable Chip (Elliott Parkes), Lefou (Joey Hall), and Gaston (Alex Montour). Prior to the performance, I was able to interview Montour about his interpretation of Gaston’s character. He says his goal is to create a character that is arrogant and pompous, but slowly, upon Belle’s continuous rejections, becomes more animalistic and savage, until his final confrontation with the Beast, in which he, the human, is the actual beast, and the Beast is the true human. This is exactly what one observes as they pay attention to Gaston’s evolution over the course of the musical. It is startling, uncomfortable, and exactly what director Kjersti Parkes and Montour are going for. Voorhees sings the iconic song, “Beauty and the Beast,” with the kind, motherly voice one always imagines Mrs. Potts to have. Bowden’s comicality creates Lumiere at his best, especially during “Be Our Guest” and “Human Again.”
One often overlooked yet essential part of the show is its ensemble. This musical could not exist without a talented ensemble. They create the simple and naive townspeople during “Belle” and “Gaston,” enchanted dancing objects during “Be Our Guest,” frightening mob members during “Mob Song” (often called “Kill the Beast”), and create a fun, Scooby Doo-esque chase during “Castle Fight.” Vocal Director Katie Houston and Choreographer Tiffany Boyle create ensemble numbers that bring life, humor, and energy to the show. Also adding life to the show is incredible costume and prop designer Annelise Murphy, as well as hair/makeup specialist Kamalie Pung, who should get extra credit for how realistic the Beast is. As an instrumentalist, I must likewise give extra credit to pit orchestra trumpeter Kim Rimmasch, as this score is one that absolutely kills a trumpeter’s face, yet she makes it through and does an amazing job until the last note of the show.
Murray Park Amphitheater (Murray Arts in the Park) is a large, fun place to take your family for a performance. It does have metal bleachers, so I would recommend bringing a blanket to sit on if you cannot sit on metal seats for long. I would also recommend getting there extra early, as it was completely sold out, so my husband and I ended up without seats, but still had a blast. Bring a jacket and possibly bug spray, as it gets a bit chilly after dark and you are outside, so mosquitos can be a bother if you are the kind of person who gets eaten alive, like myself. One thing you would not expect from an outdoor theater is nice bathrooms, but they have a very clean, well-run facility, including bathrooms.
If you would like a fun, family-friendly, summer experience, Beauty and the Beast at Murray Park Amphitheater is a perfect show to attend.
Murray City Cultural Arts presents Beauty and the Beast, music by Alan Menken, lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, and book by Linda Woolverton.
Murray Park Amphitheater 495 5300 S, Salt Lake City, UT 84107
July 25-27 and 29-31 at 8:00 PM
Tickets: Adult $10 Child/Seniors $8
Contact: 801-264-2614
Beauty and the Beast Facebook Event
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