ANOTHER OPENING, ANOTHER SHOW

Saturday afternoon, I took my parents to watch Disney's Beauty & The Beast: The Musical. I wanted it to be the perfect afternoon, and a real treat for my mum. She's always wondering WHY I spend so much money on theatrical performances???!

Oh mama, I'm a big girl now! I'm passionate about musicals, dancing, live orchaestra music and happy endings... and not mention, being amazed at how these professional actors can sing and dance at the same time!

So, Saturday afternoon Matinee show. I AM NEVER going to go for weekend afternoon shows EVER AGAIN!

Reason being, that's the day when 70% of the crowd are kids. Kids who are either well behaved and sit still... and kids who are rowdy, keep-standing-up-and-blocking-your-view, and babies who wail.

WHOEVER said babies were allowed in the theater??!

When we first entered the Plenary Hall at KL Convention Centre, we saw three large groups from Orphan / Welfare Homes. Surprisingly, these kids were good and enjoyed the show.

But it was the spoilt KL brats that made so much commotion. And their KL spoilt parents who, at one point, decided it was okay to answer his cellphone and talk aloud for 7 minutes!

To make it worse, the show started 70 minutes later than scheduled.

Oh my goodness!! They only annouced the "technical equipment malfunction" 40 minutes past 3.00pm, after the crowd got tired of waiting, and decided to voice up. Chanting "Why are we waiting?" and "Refund!"

Someone also cried, "Kill the Beast!!"

Well, at least it was really a techical malfunction... and not some dumb-ass VIP who decided the world events run on his/her time. A representative from the KL Convention Centre had to stand in front of a large angry, frustrated crowd... and apologise. Poor guy.

So, finally the show started, curtains raised, and the music began. And the crowd totally forgot about the delay, about time wasted, and the anger they felt earlier.

Because Beauty & The Beast: The Musical was awesome!!

Belle had a little-girl-squicky voice which was a bit irritating at first, but got used to that voice after a while. Everyone on the show had good voices and the characters were amazing!

Gaston, reminded me a lot of Danny Zuko from Grease. That hair and those moves... below the belt.

My mum pointed out that the Beast actually had a lot less on-stage appearance than Belle and Lumiere.

That was true... but when he did, his presence was always strong. I liked his "If I Can't Love Her" rendition... you could feel his agony. No surprisingly, the actor that played the Beast, is a veteran Phantom.

But the actor that totaly vowed the crowds was Lumiere, the candle-bearer. "Be Our Guest" was always the movie's top pleaser... but when you watch it on Broadway... it is simply stunning! That's why I'm showing you clip of it... in
Portuguese. Click at the Link if the clip doesn't appear here.

Oh, when Belle entered the ballroom with that signature golden gown, the crowd were awed. Seriously, there was this "wooow" and "woooo" and "whoooaaaa" heard, going all around the huge hall. The gown was huge!

One last note on why I really recommend watching it before it ends July 3rd... the set and props. Especially scenes from the Beast's castle, the set design blew me away!! With those colurful backdrop... and at one part, the night sky filled with stars. First, they show the beast room with the Enchanted Rose inside a glass caskette. The beast is singing "If I Can't Love Her". And then as the song goes into the bridge part, the set rotates 180 degrees, and the night
sky appears! It's no more a castle room, but a castle balcony!

Truth to be told, I was a bit skeptical about this production's version of B&B. Don't you noticed that all the musical's brought from overseas to KL... are not exactly as top-notched. Especially since this was the same Production company from Australia that gave us Grease (2006), My Fair Lady (2007) and Chicago (2007). I guessed they got better... and improved their selection of shows to perform.

My evening had a happy ending. My parents were happy, I was happy and my mum thanked me for the tickets. She saw how I beamed with smiles and de-stressed, watching happy endings.

"Because happy is what happens, when all your dreams come true... isn't it?"
- Glinda from Wicked

The day that Wicked or The Lion King comes to town, I swear I'll sing "Defying Gravity" / "Endless Night" in front of anyone who wants a song. Heck, I'll even do phone request!