Beauty promises to enthral

NEW sets and costumes and an updated score combine to turn Beauty and The Beast into a production that promises to delight younger audiences.Read More
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New sets and costumes and an updated score combine to turn Beauty and The Beast into a production that promises to delight younger audiences.
EXPECT cool entertainment and funky music at The People’s Theatre when children’s favourite Beauty and The Beast takes to the stage from 7 November.

Gavin Gomes plays King Ben and Alexander Synman is Belle Gavin Gomes plays King Ben and Alexander Synman is Belle Like previous shows at the theatre – Alice in Wonderland and Fun, Magic and Tales from Africa – this new play is expected to interest young and young at heart.

The show is directed by Jill Girard and Keith Smith, who never disappoint when it comes to producing musicals for younger audiences. Expect a spectacular set, and innovative musical treatments and new songs that will make a “traditional favourite delightfully contemporary”, say the producers.

Beauty and The Beast is the classic tale by Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve about a beautiful girl, Belle, whose father picks a rose from the Beast’s garden and gets caught. To save himself, he promises he will send his daughter to the Beast when she is old enough. The father fulfils his promise and Belle ends up in the Beast’s castle.

Here, she learns that appearances can be deceptive and the two eventually fall in love. According to Girard, the play includes traditional pantomime elements such as spoilt-rotten ugly sisters, a wicked fairy, Davina, and a good fairy, Koisanni.

She describes the play as a kind of Cinderella story, and says children will learn a vital lesson of trust from the show. It was last staged at the People’s Theatre in 2008. “People have been coming to ask us to bring the show back since then.”

But she says that the production is totally different this time – everything, such as costumes and sets, is new. “It is a family show that can be enjoyed by a three-year-old as well as by a granny. The play is a wonderful family outing. It is full of participation, and everyone will enjoy it.”

Gavin Gomes, who takes on the character of the Beast, appeared in What the Butler Saw at the Masque Theatre in Cape Town. Noni Mkonto, who plays the Good Fairy, appeared in Alice in Wonderland in 2007 at the theatre.

Belle’s father, Mr Brown, is played by Adam Pelkowitz, who also starred in the production of Pippi Longstocking at the theatre.

Running from 7 November to 24 December, tickets are available from the People's Theatre. There are special rates for Kids’ Club members and school groups.

Tickets are R90 per person, R60 for Kids’ Club members and R50 for learners and teachers in school groups. For accompanying adults, tickets are R70. For bookings, contact the People's Theatre on 011 403 2340/1563. Show times are 10.30am and 2.30pm from Tuesday to Sunday.

The People's Theatre is in the Joburg Theatre Complex, on the corner of Loveday and Hoofd streets in Braamfontein.