Beauty and The Beast, The Rattonians, Congress Theatre Eastbourne

Beauty and The Beast

The Rattonians

Congress Theatre

Eastbourne

20-23 April 2011

Performance seen 21st April

Main cast (appearance order)

Narrator David Morley

Belle Chloe Shearer

Gaston Damon Willer

Lefou Jonathon Stephens

Silly Girl Aimee Worrall

Silly Girl Louise Bateman

Silly Girl Nikki Brook

Cogsworth James Bell

Lumiere Thomas Hackett

Babette Emma Collins

Mrs Potts Melanie Adams

Chip Arlie Gurney  Finian Hackett

The Beast Alex Adams

Madame de la Grande Bouche Kathryn Greenwood

Monsieur D'Arque Paul Eccles

plus Company and live band

"It's excellent isn't it? It's as good as any West End production".

Not my words but those uttered by some visitors to Eastbourne, seated behind me, during the interval.

Once again The Rattonians did not disappoint delivering a lavish musical. The quality of these shows is such that you occasionally have to remind yourself that theirs are amateur productions.

The cast and huge company were superb, as always. Alex Adams was always going to be an amazing Beast and I expect that being cast as Belle was one of Chloe Shearer's most important roles yet for The Rattonians.

She was a great casting and vocally very impressive.

With over 100 in The Rattonians Company there were many, many more in this show than those named above each playing a thoroughly entertaining part.

There was some very clever use of scaffolding to create a temporary extension to the Congress Theatre Stage (giving the band partial cover). This worked really well. Often when The Rattonians have a large number on stage even the Congress's already large stage can appear crowded. This was certainly not the case tonight and even in the busiest of scenes, especially in the finale and whilst taking the final bows, there was never any shortage of space. The extension also meant that there were never any issues with lyrics not being heard as all voices carried well over the band and into the auditorium.

The very youngest members of The Company provided plenty of 'aaah' moments particularly at the end when these young performers had the chance to shine with some comical stuff too.

I've got accustomed to expecting greatness from the acting in The Rattonians and it was faultless as usual. So I turned my attention a little more to the set. Having seen the professional touring production of Beauty and The Beast at the same theatre 2 years previously I can honestly say this set was no less than impressive than the one used in that show.

For me, it was all spot on. From The Beast's mansion to Chip's (the young boy in a cup) body-less box illusion everything had been recreated in exacting detail. 

With The Rattonians traditional attention to detail with perfect costumes and impressive, entertaining, choreography I am once again unable to pick any holes in this show whatsoever. It therefore gets the same maximum mark that the touring professional production received in 2009.

Beauty and The Beast Congress Theatre Eastbourne Ashley Oliver

Disney's
Beauty And The Beast
Congress Theatre Eastbourne

8th-13th June 2009
Performance seen
Tuesday, June 9th

Beast Shaun Dalton

Belle Ashley Oliver

Gaston Ben Harlow

Mrs Potts Marnie Baumer

Cogsworth Ashley Knight

Lumiere Phil Barley

Maurice Richard Colson

Madame De La
Grande Bouche Laura Barrie
Lefou Eddie Dredge

Babette Sophia Thierens

Chip Played by local children

Swing Andrew Margerison

Monsieur D'Arque,
Milliner, Corkscrew Daniel Page

Baker, Cake Slice, Mob Benjamin Beechey

Egg Man, Salt Pot, Mob,
Posh Courtier, Wolf James Farrar

Candle Man, Gargoyle, Knife,
Posh Courtier Daniel Oliver

Young Prince, Shepherd Boy,
Carpet, Wolf Chris Gage

Fish Seller, Pepper Pot, Mob,
Posh Courtier Darren De Biasi

Book Seller, Sifterspoon James Bisp

Cheese Grater,
Bacon Boy, Mob David Allwood

Small Silly Girl,
Napkin, Spoon,
Posh Courtier Lucy Harrison

Middle Silly Girl,
Plate, Napkin,
Posh Courtier Kerry Stammers

Tall Silly Girl,
Plate, Napkin Hayley Reed

Aristocratic Lady,
Sugar Bowl, Mob Ellie Leah

Flower Seller,
Toast Rack, Mob Laura Clements

Enchantress, Milk Maid,
Napkin, Fork, Wolf, Mob Vicki Davids

Lady With Baby,
Egg Timer, Mob Sarah Cahalarn

Orange Seller, Plate,
Napkin, Wolf,
Posh Courtier Nicola West

Swing Sarah Louise Day

Disney's Beauty And The Beast is a musical that has managed to escape us over the years. Storyline wise we didn't know what to expect although in true Disney style a happy ending is normally a foregone conclusion.

I was also a little wary at the start of this production that this may be a musical that may appeal mainly to children......... and I was right............. children from 9 to 90!!

It's a bonus if you get to see one high class musical a year at Eastbourne. Yet within just a matter of weeks we have had the pleasure of seeing two.

The hugely talented Ashley Oliver has the honour of taking on the lead role of Belle.

She delivered an amazing performance. Vocally she is flawless but Belle's character suits her down to the ground in so many other ways too.

Being a relatively petite 5' 2" and blessed with beautiful big blue eyes Ashley really has the natural Disney heroine look about her - just add the impressive singing and acting and you have the perfect lead role package.

There is more to this musical than a wonderful leading lady though. It's a large cast and they all deliver a superbly entertaining show.

Beauty and The Beast may underneath the bonnet be a love story but it is blessed with colouful characters, super effects and continuous comedy.

There really is so much humour but I really have a soft spot for the characters of Gaston, Lumiere, Cogsworth and Lefou.

I feel I should also mention the character of Chip which on this tour is played by a child local to the venue. I don't know what the young man's name is who played at Eastbourne but I have to say he was very confident. It must be nerve wracking having to deliver many lines in the company of seasoned West End Stars but those not familiar with the casting would never have known he was not part of the touring cast.

It takes a very good show at Eastbourne theatres to be rewarded with a full standing ovation. Over the last few years we have seen very few. Yet like with Dreamboats and Petticoats the cast of Beauty And The Beast achieved this accolade from the very discerning audience and well deserved it was too.

This is a very impressive production by UK Productions and if this standard is anything to go by Singing In The Rain should be a show to look forward to as it is by the same company.

There are many dates remaining on the tour so if you are in two minds about going why not book up and enjoy a good night out - I'd thoroughly recommend this show.