David Bintley’s Beauty and the Beast first appeared at Christmas 2003 and now it’s back, leaner but more opulent, full of spectacular set pieces, a luxurious treat for the senses. At the finale the first night audience went wild.
With this fairy-tale story BRB Director and choreographer David Bintley has come out tops. With its rich dark mix of old gold and raven’s wing shadows, glittering brocade and flickering candles plus a swooping chorus of ink-dark birds this show looks a million dollars, a sumptuous banquet for the senses second to none. Its magical mysterious quality, full of enchanting solos and huge set pieces makes it a perfect escape from ordinary life while remaining at heart very human.
The plot’s an inversion of the Sleeping Beauty, itself the subject for one of the greatest ballets of all time, but here the tale has a feminist twist with Beauty instead waking the heart of the Beast.
In a marvellous cast I must just mention the splendid mime of Marion Tate as the grandmother, a master class in stage movement. The delightful EIisha Willis as always does a truly marvellous job, here making the innocent young girl blossom as she delicately tries to teach the Beast what tenderness truly means. Tyrone Singleton is touching as the brute whose eventual restoration to the world of feeling genuinely moves. Their joint curtain calls quite rightly brought cheers from a very satisfied crowd.
P.S. Book now for the Nutcracker – last year after its first night I alerted various friends who sadly found it already sold out.
Beauty and the Beast runs at the Hippodrome until tomorrow (October 4), then goes on tour. For tickets phone 0844 338 5000 or book online at birminghamhippodrome.com.
