Within the Disney musical pantheon, with stunning “I Want” songs like ‘Part Of Your World’ from The Little Mermaid and heart-gripping love ballads like “A Whole New World” from Aladdin, the number “Be Our Guest.” from Beauty and the Beast separates itself from the others because of it’s Broadway esque ethos and massive scale, choosing to center the song around a large group of household appliances around the Beast’s house in such an over-the-top way you’d figure the song would be just as good on the stage then on a Disney renaissance binge on the flat screen. At Fox Theatre, the recreation of this number, meant for the musical stage, proves this notion correct.
On the stage, the number is led by the charismatic Lumiere, the motherly Mrs. Potts, and the anxious Cogsworth (portrayed by Danny Gardner, Kathy Voytko, and Javier Ignacio, respectively), who, in an attempt to make Belle (portrayed by Kyra Belle Johnson) feel at home, throw her an extravagant dinner. What makes this show tune stand out from the others in the musical is its sheer spectacle alone. The sophisticated and stunning vocal performances from Gardner and Voytko, along with the overwhelmingly exceptional singing from the ensemble cast, add a layer of grandeur to a number that already lacks it.
The singing is not the only thing of note, however, as the dancing also helped stamp the show as the defining number of the night, with such elaborate choreography performed by the lead and ensemble cast of appliances that almost felt wonderfully mesmerizing and cleverly played on the way the kitchen utensils were animated in the original 1991 movie through translating it into a marvelous dance routine.
The number’s palatial-like set design and bright, vibrant lighting also help create a cabaret aesthetic, fusing 1950s musical sentimentality with an old French feel that perfectly translates the film’s grandeur to the stage it so desperately belonged on.
When the number ended, it elicited a standing ovation from the entire theater filled with older folk and younger adults who most likely grew up with the original movie.
All in all, it will surely stun you, as even the little kids and girls dressed up as Belle who screamed or interjected during the dialogue and singing didn’t even so much as peep throughout the performance.
