When spectacle and substance converge

The stage adaptation of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast,” showing at the CCP until Feb. 8, has glorious show tunes theatergoers can sing along with, as well as visually stunning sets that seem to have leaped out of the storybooks we grew up reading.

The Disney musical has glorious show tunes and stunning
sets.

Even better, the latest incarnation of this oft-told tale, about headstrong Belle (Hilary Maiberger) and her ill-tempered captor, the ghastly Beast (Darick Pead), has as much substance as it has thrilling spectacle. When we got Renen and Cel de Guia and Grace Foronda’s invitation for the musical’s gala performance, we expected to be entertained—after all, the musical production is from Disney, which is no slouch at the art of dazzling its audiences.

What we didn’t expect was to get swept off our feet by its gorgeously realized evocation of familial love and romantic sacrifice, anchored by Maiberger’s carefully calibrated mix of heroic enthusiasm and crystal-clear singing—especially when Belle brushes off the egregious advances of the vain Gaston (Adam Dietlein), or when she wins over the feisty habitués of the enchanted kingdom.

When Mrs. Potts (Emily Mattheson) sings the musical’s popular theme song as the unlikely pair shares their first romantic dinner together, you’ll feel a lump forming in your throat, even as you try hard not to sing along with her. It is this subtle interplay between story and spectacle that cogently holds this must-see theater production together.

Incidentally, this is the first foray into theater by Ovation Productions, more known for the concerts it produces. We’re keeping our fingers crossed that the success of “Beauty and the Beast” will inspire the company to back up world-class but cash-strapped homegrown musical productions, which deserve better attention and support from local sponsors!

Aicelle Santos is ‘Class A’

Santos. Solo concert and new single.

What makes Aicelle Santos, one of Philippine theater’s most exciting stars, tick? You’ll get the answer when the multitalented singer-actress (“Katy!,” “Rak of Aegis”) topbills her upcoming solo concert, “Class A,” on Feb. 25 at Peta Theater, with special guests led by Regine Velasquez-Alcasid and Celeste Legaspi (call 891-9999).

Aicelle shares, “I will be singing songs I grew up with, and performing them with people who have been part of my growing years as an artist.”

We’ve long been wishing for a followup to Aicelle’s solo album, “Make Me Believe.” On “S.A.S.,” she will launch “Kapangyarihan ng Pag-ibig,” the first single from her upcoming album for Ivory Records.

Recently, Aicelle won the best actress plum at the Aliw Awards for her celebrated turn in “Rak of Aegis.” She’s now ready for bigger and more challenging roles in her home network’s “teleseryes.” —How about it, GMA 7?