STN Entertainment

'Beauty and the Beast'

'Girl 6'

I

here is a pure visceral thrill, with rays of striated colored man (who died after the film was
sometimes even a tingling lights, the Beast in his own aura made). Among the familiar tunes,
shock, when something spe- of light, is a beautiful, grand ro- "Be Our Guest" turns into one of
cial happens on stage in a mantic gesture — like a fine the snazziest production numbers
darkened theater — like
painting. (Katz's spouse, imaginable — topping itself with
Daniel Schreier, a sound laugh-aloud absurdities. One of
a scene bursting into un-
designer on several oth- the new songs, "If I Can't Love
expected life or when a
er Broadway shows, is a Her," sung by the Beast, is good,
moment becomes incen-
strong balladeering.
native Detroiter.)
diary.
There are treasures in the sup-
On the cast side, there
Such thrills are there
are many star turns. porting cast: Dan Sklar as Lefou,
in Beauty and the Beast,
Kim Huber is the strong, Gaston's punching bag; Jeff
opening a long run
MICH AEL H.
simple Belle who loves Brooks as Cogsworth; Betsy
(through May 26) at the
MAR GOLIN
her father, the Beast Joslyn as Mrs. Potts; and Mary
Masonic. It is, of course,
SPECIA L TO THE
and books — not neces- Stout as Madame de la Grande
a doting re-creation of
JEWISH NEWS
the animated Disney
sarily in that order. Very Bouche. Nine-year-old Evan
gifted vocally, Huber has Newman played Chip the Cup
success about a young
woman who breaks a spell put on a pure, clean Julie Andrews with a strong, clear vocal style.
The audience favorite,
a prince that turned him into a sound. As the Beast, Fred-
Lumiere, was played by
beast; he is transformed back to erick C. Inkley is a wow.
THEATER
He moves like a king of
Patrick Page as any good
human form by love.
French candelabra should
This show is loaded with visu- the jungle and displays a
al sensations: gorgeous backdrops wide range of emotion, despite be, like Maurice Chevalier with
which look as if they had been tons of obscuring mask, hair and a soupcon of Paul Lynde. He
painted by Thomas Hart Benton makeup. As the man you love to found the laugh in every inflec-
on LSD; sets which equal the hate — Gaston the macho-stud tion. And when he stood in
Phantom for emotional power slimeball — Tony Lawson is oner- striped gold pants, his feet to-
gether in their moon boots of gold
and awe; amazing effects — fire- ously good.
This show is about being good, baroque, arms upraised with jets
balls and fireworks — and stand-
out lighting and costume design. in the sense of codes of behavior. of flame spurting from his candle-
Ann Hould-Ward picked up a About being rude and paying the holder hands, it is fair to say he
Tony for her costumes. Certain- consequences. It's also about a lit up the stage.
Beauty weighs in at about 2 1/2
ly there is much to admire in the strong woman who is indepen-
anthropomorphic characters — a dent. Not a bad scenario for chil- hours and is a show that parents
teapot, a candelabra, a clock — dren (age 5 and up I think). can take their children to — and
as in the film. But Hould-Ward Adults, too, may feel a small shiv- enjoy themselves. In this pristine
had to create prosthetics to mim- er when Gaston is dispatched and production with excellent ampli-
ic shapes in reality for actors who the Beast is transformed and de- fication, grandparents and their
grandchildren will have no trou-
must walk, move and dance. livered to Belle as the Prince.
She's succeeded admirably.
The score of the film is supple- ble hearing their money's worth.
The other star on the produc- mented by new songs with music
tion team is Lighting Designer by Alan Menken and lyrics by
Natasha Katz. The Act I closing Tim Rice, and by Howard Ash-

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Three silly girls (Suzanne Hayashi, Tari Kelly and Stacee Raber), Gaston (Tony Lawson) and Lefou (Dan Sklar, seated) help
bring the animated story of Beauty and the Beastto life.

Spike Lee plays Jimmy, Theresa Randle's neighbor, in his newest film, Girl 6.

Rated R

ing, in particular, about Spike
Lee, whose portrayal of neighbor
Jimmy, an unrealistic character,
ambina: Hi, this is Bam- is at times barely bearable and
bina, and I want to fulfill often blatantly exhibitionist.
your fantasy. To whom am Washington's role is small and
I speaking?
undistinguished. A num-
Dan: Call me Dan.
ber of other high-profile
MOVIES
Look, tonight I want to
people, including Quentin
talk about the new Spike
Tarantino, Madonna., Ron
Lee movie, Girl 6, a comedy Silver, John Turturro and Halle
about a struggling young actress Berry, make cameo appearances.
(Theresa Randle) who has to take
The smooth vibrations of (for-
up phone-sex prostitution in or-
merly known as) Prince comprise
der to make ends meet; she's sur- the soundtrack.
rounded by her shoplifting
Bambina: Tell me. How do
ex-husband (Isaiah Washington)
you like it?
and an idealistic, but deadbeat
Dan: Although Girl 6 is based
neighbor (Spike Lee).
on a clever premise, the film nev-
Bambina: Ooh, that sounds er decides what it wants to be.
sexy ...
Some scenes are potently ironic;
Dan: As a phone matron, Girl
others are vulgar sexual comedy;
6 finds a freedom that she's nev- and still others are so thickly
er experienced before. Not only
melodramatic, the irony and
does she have loads of money and
comedy are destroyed. Unfortu-
lots of free time, but she also nately, this insipid melodrama
works with other women who
grows more prevalent as the
genuinely care about her. As an
movie progresses, inspiring the
actress, she found that directors
woman sitting behind me to say,
were more concerned with cer- "This is stupid, this is stupid," as
tain parts of her body than with the closing credits began to roll.
her career.
Bambina: Do you have any-
Bambina: Speaking of body thing good to say?
parts ...
Dan: I should mention that
Dan: Girl 6 also gets to incor-
Spike Lee is a consistently inno-
porate her vivid imagination and
vative director, and Girl 6 does
her acting talent into the roles
reflect this. Filming nuances
that men ask her to play. It's abound and make things inter-
quite ironic, but only as a phone- esting even when the film itself
sex operator can she be the ac-
starts to go sour. If you're a
tress she's always envisioned.
diehard Spike Lee fan (and I
However, as you can probably
don't know too many), then go see
imagine, this creates a problem Girl 6; otherwise, you can find
as well. Soon, the line between better films for your time and
fantasy and reality begins to fade,
money. I'd tell you more, but Pm
and Girl 6 sets herself up for trou- just not in the mood ...
ble.
Bambina: You're a real sicko,
Bambina: So ... how about role ya know that?! (click)
playing?
Dan: What did I say?
Dan: Theresa Randle is smart
and sexy as Girl 6, but other poor
1/2
acting performances bring down
the quality of the film. Pm speak-
— Dan Zimmerman

