Beauty and the Beast Review

I recently watched Beauty and the Beast on Broadway in Chicago. Though the musical was not a Broadway production (it was non-equity and it showed), it was still a very enjoyable time at the theater. Of course, this musical was benefited by a classic story and great songs. The talent level was lower than the usual Broadway show, but the actors definitely earned their stripes. They did not have the most melodic voices or most honed acting skills, but they were very charming nonetheless. That was the big thing about this musical. It was never going to attract the audience with flair and boisterousness. It would have to convince us that it really was the little engine that could. Everything else was not top notch. The ending was affected by a shortage of players and the sets were minimalist at best. The acting and singing was good, but not great, though this musical's Gaston did sound like Gaston. But it had charm. It was witty (although sometimes it was a little too tongue-in-cheek) and it was cute. It was not a showstopper, but a musical that after watching made you feel good. It charmed you and entered your heart, even if it was not the best. It did lack the resources of a typical Broadway play, but it made do, and the result is something worth seeing.