Disney's Beauty And The Beast: The Broadway Musical - Original Broadway Cast Recording - Original Cast (CD 1994)

I love the Disney film Beauty and the Beast. It's a romantic love story with a great message. Beauty is not always just on the outside, you must look on the inside to see true beauty. True, it doesn't follow the original fairy tale a whole lot, but it's a great film. Well, the broadway musical is even better. Even if you don't think you'll like this check it out. It isn't just for kids.

For those of you who don't know the story, it is centers around two characters, Belle and the Beast. Belle is a beautiful intellegent girl who lives in a town full of dull, boring, stupid townsfolk. The worst of all is a the most popular guy in town, Gaston. Gaston cares about two things, himself and hunting. He wants Belle because she is the prettiest girl in town ("that makes her the best...and don't I deserve the best?"). Belle of course wants more. She knows there is a better life out there.

Belle and her father are the two oddest people in town, because they actually show intellegence. Her father goes to a fair to sell his new invention. Along the way he gets lost and finds a castle and ends up being captured by a monster. Belle goes to find her father and finds the castle. She sees that Maurice, her father, is held by a beast and offers her freedom in exchange for Maurices. The monster, Beast, willingly agrees to the bargain, after all he is looking for a love to break a spell on him and the castle.

When Beast was young, he made an enchantress angry with his pettiness, and she enchanted the whole castle. He became a monster and the only way to break the spell is for the Beast to fall in love with someone and for them to return his love. So, Belle fits in well with the scheme. Now all they have to do is fall in love; of course, it isn't that easy. Plus, eventually Gaston decides to try to save Belle and kill the Creature. Now Belle and the Beast must fall in love before Gaston kills him. Can it happen, will it happen? Watch and listen and find out.

This is what the play and the movie are both about. However, it is much more romantic and beautiful in the play. The movie is for kids and the play is more for the adults. That's not to say a child wouldn't enjoy it, however, the adults will love it even more.

Disney has added more songs. The origonal movie soundtrack was by Alan Menken and the late Howard Ashman. Tim Rice was brought in to complete some of the songs for the musical. The origonal songs are still there, but many more are added. Some new songs to check out is a beautiful song sung by Beast called If I Can't Love Her, it's my favorite song; it's a melancholy song about love. Another pretty song is sung by Belle, after she is captured; Home is a song about hope and inspiration.

The music and performances are great in this; even if the same people aren't performing. Tom Bosley, from Happy Days, plays Maurice. Terrance Mann has replaced Robby Benson as the Beast. Also check out Susan Egan as Belle, you may recognize her voice as that of Meg in Hercules.

If you buy this soundtrack, you'll bring the magic of the play home. Also it's cheaper and easier to get than tickets. What better way than this to bring a little culture to the whole family. And how romantic can you get. This is truly a wonderful love story full of emotion and it just may bring tears to your eyes if you're the emotional sort. I love this play. Buy the sound track, listen to it, and enjoy it. And, if you ever get a chance to check the real play out while it's touring, I highly recommend it.

I recommend this musical to anyone from 5 to 95. You'll love the story and the music. And if you're like me, you'll love singing along to it in your car. I love it and so will you, if you give it a chance.