By Dan Marois,Special to the Sun Journal

Brunswick – Maine State Music Theatre has scored another hit in its musical summer offerings with a production of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast.”

Director Norb Joerder’s production is a combination of Broadway musical and fantasy resulting in lavish storybook sets, sparkling musical numbers, terrific costumes and a beast that’s more comic and entertaining than threatening.

While “Beauty and the Beast” can be a great family show, the MSMT production is one of the first you’ll see that is truly “kid friendly.” Rather than portraying a loud and fearful beast, this show offers a kinder and gentler one, making the show more approachable to younger viewers.

And with a running time and intermission that tops out at two and a half hours, this is one of the first “Beauty and the Beast” shows that might be stimulating enough for those younger viewers.

The show is a fairy-tale classic in which a young, innocent girl, Belle (Julia Krohn) finds herself captured in the castle of a mysterious Beast (Curt Dale Clark), who has fallen under a mystical spell. The servants of the castle are also under the same spell, finding themselves turning from humans to household objects.

There’s Lumiere the candlestick (Stuart Marland); Cogsworth the clock (Don Rey); Mrs. Potts the teapot (Joyce A. Presutti) and her son, Chip (Ethan Winglass); Babette the maid (Michelle Bruckner), and the boudoir dresser (Marie Pressman). The only way the spell can be broken is for Belle to profess her love for the Beast.

Belle is also being pursued by the self-centered, chauvinist Gaston (Nat Chandler) and his sidekick, Lafou (Jason Edward Cook), who scheme a plot against Belle’s father, Maurice (Glenn Anderson) to win over Belle’s affections.

Krohn is an elegant Belle with a charming musical theatre voice and saccharine stage sweetness. Clark is vocally strong and makes this beast charming and likable. There’s a genuine chemistry here when the unlikely couple fall in love. A MSMT favorite, Presutti is outstanding in the signature musical number, “Beauty and the Beast” and Marland leads the show’s most dazzling number, “Be Our Guest,” with outrageous antics, a company kick line and streamers that shower the audience.

Chandler wins the best character of the night award with a Gaston that’s delightfully overbearing, physically strong, and simply fun to watch. It is also nice to see Glenn Anderson step up to a more substantial role, as the offbeat but lovable father.

Scenic designer Richard Ellis and costume designer Irene Kay Peterson should win a Tony Award for creative sets and intricate costumes that are among the best to adorn the MSMT stage. Music director Mark Dennis Miller provided great musical accompaniment while Norb Joerder worked overtime as director and choreographer.

“Beauty and the Beast” continues with performances through July 15 at the Pickard Theater on the Bowdoin College campus in Brunswick. Ticket prices range from $27 to $47. For tickets, call the box office at 725-8769 or purchase online at www.msmt.org.

Dan Marois is an actor, writer, and producer and owner of Main Street Entertainment and Mystery for Hire. He can be reached at dmarois@fairpoint.net.

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