A beauty of a 'Beauty' A beauty of a 'Beauty' (November 11, 2005)

PYT spares no effort in adapting Disney classic to the stage

By Katie Vaughn

It may not be a tale as old as time, as the theme song claims, but Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" is certainly a well-known story among most American children. And a live version of the 1991 hit animated movie is the latest production coming to the Peninsula Youth Theater stage.

"It is a natural fit for our organization," executive director Karen Simpson said of the musical. "It is a family-friendly show with great music, and a show that many of our participants know and love."

The musical is billed as one of PYT's major annual productions, featuring a sizable cast of 119 actors divided into two alternating groups and ranging from 8 to 18 years old. Complex costumes and an intricate set have been in the works since summer.

Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" closely follows the plot line of the popular film, centering on a French inventor's daughter who takes her father's place as a prisoner of a beast. Isolated in a frightening castle, Beast is actually a prince, and the victim of a terrible spell. He will stay a monster, and his friends will remain as household objects forever, unless he can find someone to fall in love with him before an enchanted rose -- played by an actor in the stage version -- dies.

While Belle begins to see past Beast's horrific exterior, villagers complicate matters, led by the villainous and conceited Gaston, who desires Belle for himself.

"Since this is the official Disney version, the plot line is the same as in the movie," Simpson said. "There are a few additional songs that were not in the film."

Director Elise Guerrero said working on such a well-known play has made the actors' jobs easier, as they are already familiar with the storyline and many of the songs.

"Everyone knows the show and they handle it with so much joy," Guerrero said.

Nevertheless, Simpson said, it is often difficult to create characters that audiences already expect to look a certain way. And there are the inherent challenges of bringing an animated movie to a live stage, particularly when primary characters come in the form of a beast, a candlestick, a clock and a teapot.

To create the images in line with expectations of the Disney story, costume designers Andrea Bechert and Alette Mahler have worked for months on fashioning costumes out of an unusual material.

"A number of the costumes are made of foam, to give the shape of a dish or a fork or Mrs. Potts, the teapot," Simpson said.

Additional touches include real lights on Lumiere, the candlestick character, and a flashy can-can style for the napkins who dance in the "Be Our Guest" number.

Meanwhile, Belle wears her characteristic blue-and-white dress and yellow gown, both of which are similar to her looks in the movie but constructed slightly differently. And PYT's Beasts wear makeup, a wig and lots of glued-on hair.

The production's sets are as impressive as the costumes, Guerrero said. The company has built a large castle on the stage and also uses drops to set various scenes -- from the town square to a forest to the inside of the Beast's castle.

"It's an extremely theatrical experience," Guerrero said. "It's very visually spectacular."

Simpson predicted fans of the fairytale movie will love the stage version, while Guerrero offered a warning for those who plan to attend the production: "You're going to go away singing the songs."

INFORMATION:

What: "Beauty and the Beast" (Disney version), presented by Peninsula Youth Theatre

When: Nov. 12-20, with performances Wednesday at 7 p.m., Thursday at 9:30 a.m. and 7 p.m., Friday at 9:30 a.m. and 7:30 p.m., Saturday at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday at 2 p.m. (with an additional show at 7:30 p.m. Nov. 13)

Where: Mountain View Center for the Performing Arts, 500 Castro St.

Contact: (650) 903-6000 or visit www.pytnet.org

E-mail a friend a link to this story.