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THEATER REVIEW | ‘BEAUTY AND THE BEAST’
ASF’s Beauty and the Beast is an enchanting hit
By MICHAEL P HOWLEY
Published: November 22, 2006
| It’s about time. Sell-out crowds are flocking to the Alabama Shakespear Festival, this time for Artistic Director Geoffrey Sherman’s joyful production of Beauty and the Beast. As the romantic duo, Laura Shoop (Belle) and Gregg Goodbrod (Beast) are well-paired and provide the focus of the production. Gifted with fine singing voices and developing their relationship from mistrust and horror to true affection for on another, these actors are a fine fit. Without any clutter, each scene of their story together enhances the relationship in the discovery. Shoop is not only a bright belle, she has ideas, reads books and will not tolerate rudeness. Goodbrod inhabits the Beast so fully that his slow capitulation to Shoop’s gentle prodding makes each character fully alive and credible. |