Tale as old as time and it’s now time to get to Walnut Street Theatre to see Beauty and the beast before it leaves on December 31, 2023. It is a beautifully articulated rendition of the classic story. I took my youngest daughter and we both left with the brightest of smiles on our faces.
Before you go to Walnut Street Theatre
Like with any other theater experience allot more than enough time to get there and find parking. There is a lot right next to the theatre. It costs us about 20-25 dollars to park. I liked the convenience of not having to walk far. The let out can be a little long but pack some patience. Also, the theatre opens at least one hour before showtime. This is a great way to get there and enjoy some treats before the show starts. My daughter and I loved the time with one another to talk and give her time with me. The show is about a little under 2.5 hours with one intermission. Please plan for that as some younger kids may be a bit restless. The show highlights some of the biggest moments in the show so there will be a lot of singing and dancing to entertain the young and old.
The show’s Phenomenal Musical Selections
Although we are used to belting out the classic and most beloved tunes from Beauty and the Beast, these songs are not easy to perform. There is a lot of key changes and challenges. With that being said the actors and actresses nailed their performances. It took me to the first time I saw the Disney movie animation. The stage comes to full display of color that helps to become its own character at the same time. You will be blown away by the entire performance.
The depth of acting in Beauty and the Beast
Do not think for one moment that because this follows the animated movie that the acting is subpar. It is anything but that. Every actor and actress that graced the stage blossomed in pure joy. I took note of a few of the characters beyond Belle and the Beast. First the ensemble was top notch. They deserve their flowers. I caught the eyes of a few of them and made sure to give them a nod of approval. Mrs. Potts played by Mary Martello was an absolute star. She drew me into her, and she sounds so much like the original. Her singing is phenomenal. Gaston played by Chris Stevens was hilarious. I loved how they added parts to him especially in the songs that aren’t in the original. Although Gaston wasn’t my daughter’s favorite character for obvious reasons, she said he was so good.
A Perfect Belle and Beast
Belle was played by Julia Udine. She was marvelous. Her stage presence was perfection. The singing especially with the first scene and on had me hooked. She is a gorgeous girl and I appreciated how she brought some of her own flare to each of the songs we love. Beast was played by Daniel Wisniewski was perfection. The emotions could be felt in every way. His interaction between him and Belle (Udine) is magical. The director Robert Roth couldn’t have picked a better pair to bring this story to life
The Real Props for Beauty and the Beast
Every play has the people who are considered to be in the background. This is the Set Director, Costume Designer, Lighting, Sound, and Stage Managers and more. These were the real heroes of the show. Although the singing and dancing was amazing it took the lightings, costumes, choreographers, and those who built this beautiful stage that makes or breaks a show. This stage wouldn’t have been the same without their efforts. If anything, else I expected the singing and dancing to be great, but I was wondering about the stage and how they would pull this off. I must admit I loved every scene change.
All in all, this show is one of my favorites to see this season. In addition, make sure that you get tickets for the favorites in your life to see it too. The performances are solid, the stage is bright and inviting, and the show gets a definite 10/10 for me. Thank you to Walnut Street Theatre for having me. Tickets are available now. Walnut Street Theatre is located at 825 Walnut Street.
