'Beauty and the Beast' give a latest offers fun Disney diversion

The stage telling of "Disney's Beauty and the Beast" is often billed as the ideal introduction to theater for young audience members who have never seen a Broadway show. And this is true.

I have seen this musical at least 5 times and I am still on the fence about what is the appropriate age for a child to be sitting through this 2 and a half hour show.

There are a few dark and frightening moments, with puppet wolves attacking and characters jumping out here and there, and so I lean toward at least age eight or possibly ten, depending on the child. Otherwise, if you skew too young, be ready for a restless little guest at your side, either squirming or maybe even sleeping, if he or she has not had the all important nap.

Other than that consideration, "Disney's Beauty and the Beast," which is playing the Oriental Theatre in Chicago until Aug. 7, is a fun and fanciful escape into a world of enchantment. The staging and costumes are charming and the performances of this cast are Grade A. As a bonus, the beautiful and talented actress playing Belle in this national tour, a radiant Emily Behny, even hails from Indiana. She is a Ball State University graduate from Silver Lake, Ind. and mom and dad can be very proud.

She's opposite Dane Agostinis as the Beast, who brings some of his own personality and a flair for the comedic to the character's usual sole brutish overtone.

Actor Michael Haller, who plays candlestick Lumiere, is a remarkable talent who stands alone as the top talent of the magical objects who inhabit the Beast's castle. He is confident, comedic and has a voice that leads by leaps and bounds.

This stage story was 1st unveiled on Broadway in 1994 with the Academy Award winning score and music by Alan Menken and lyrics by the late Howard Ashman, along with additional songs with music by Menken and lyrics by Tim Rice. Featuring songs like the title tune and "Be Our Guest," the stage sensation has played to more than 35 million people worldwide in 21 countries.

Every story needs a villain, and actor Logan Denninghoff fills this capacity quite nicely, stepping into the hunting boots of ego mad, muscle bound Gaston. Andrew Kruep turns in a funny take on Gaston's 2nd banana Lefou, with plenty of pratfalls, and I am sure, a few real bruises, here and there, to prove the authenticity of his art.

This classic fairy tale of Belle, the young, educated woman in a tiny town from the past and the Beast, who is really a young prince trapped by a spell placed by an enchantress, is a happy ending for audiences ready to step into a storybook.

"Beauty and the Beast," at the Oriental Theater, 24 W. Randolph, Chicago, is performed at 2 and 7:30 p.m. Wednesdays, 7:30 p.m. Thursdays, 8 p.m. Fridays, at 2 and 8 p.m. Saturdays, and 1 and 6:30 p.m. Sundays. Tickets start at $18.

For information, call (800) 775-2000 or www.BroadwayInChicago.com or www.beautyandthebeastontour.com