CLASSIC TALE 'BEAUTY AND THE BEAST' GETS REIMAGINED AS A REFRESHINGLY MODERN MUSICAL

SINGAPORE-THOUGH THE TALE IS OLD AS TIME, the new stage adaptation feels refreshingly modern in its grandeur.

- By CHARMIE JOY PAGULONG

From exquisite costumes and stunning stage design to visually striking special effects, audiences are welcomed into a reimagined world of Disney's "Beauty and the Beast" musical.The Philippine STAR witnessed the dazzling spectacle on Saturday night at the Sands Theatre, Marina Bay Sands, in a performance that ran for two hours and 30 minutes, including a 20-minute intermission.

The musical, which features Australian actors Shubshri Kandiah and Brendan Xavier in the lead roles of Belle and the Beast, was a truly magical experience that exceeded my expectations.

First off, the flying effects during the enchantress' curse on the prince, the fight scene between Gaston (Jackson Head) and the Beast (Brendan), and the moment the Beast transformed back into a human were all amazing to watch.

From the castle and the tavern to the cottage of Belle (Shubshri), the forest and the woods, each setting was incredible yet believable, particularly the woods, brought to life with dramatic lighting and thunder effects as the town folks searched for the Beast later in the show.

The production was also immersive and intimate, allowing the theatergoers to experience the impact of special effects and sound, enhanced by confetti showers and pyrotechnics in select scenes.