"Beauty and the Beast" at Gilbert's Hale Centre Theatre is a thrill for all ages

If you have tickets to "Beauty and the Beast" at the Hale Centre Theatre, you will find that the show begins before you even enter the building.  Miniature princesses skitter around the fountains across the street and in and out of the lobby doors.  Cast members?  Not exactly.  They are the little girls who all dream of finding that Disney princess within themselves, who dream of growing up into strong, beautiful young women that overcome adversities - and, naturally, find true love with a dashing prince, all set against a background of intoxicating music.

The classic fairy tale plays out on the Hale Theatre's intimate stage with such infectious energy and emotion that children, their parents, and their grandparents all quickly become lost in the magic that only live theatre from truly talented professionals can create. 

The production features a local "power couple" in the music and theatre scene, Tyler and Linsey Maxson.  The Maxsons appeared at the Herberger Theater in the original musical "Blackbeard" last fall, and also appeared on the Hale stage together recently in"Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," to great acclaim and sold-out houses.  Both are astonishingly skilled actors with soaring voices.  Linsey Maxson, as "Belle," clearly generates instant idolatry from the mini-princesses scattered throughout the audience, with her fresh face, creamy voice, and expressive blue eyes.  Tyler Maxson's "Beast" is appropriately terrifying on initial introduction, and despite his full-face mask and leonine shock of hair, by the end reveals the warmth and humanity befitting a true prince. 

Other notable performances include Jere Van Patten as "Cogsworth," who struts officiously as the self-declared head of the Beast's household, Skyler Bean as a frenetically animate Lefou, Gary Caswell as a hilariously blustering Gaston (Belle's would-be suitor), and Janae Thomas as Mrs. Potts, whose tender delivery of the poignant title song is one of the most touching moments in the show.

"Beauty and the Beast" is cleverly and artfully staged, featuring large toe-tapping dance numbers by a seemingly inexhaustible ensemble.  25 dollars for an adult ticket is a great bargain for such a well-produced effort.  A special treat follows the final bows - wide-eyed children (and adults) have an opportunity to meet-and-greet with the smiling actors in the lobby.  It is a fun opportunity to share just one more moment face-to-face with Disney's vivid characters, before passing through the lobby doors, back into the rush of hot Arizona night air, and the reality of life.

"Beauty and the Beast" runs at the Hale Centre Theatre through August 29.  Shows are on Thursday, Friday, and Saturday evenings at 7:30 p.m., as well as Saturday matinees at 3:00 p.m.  Prices for Thursday evenings and Saturday matinees are $23.00, Friday and Saturday evenings are $25.00.  Through August 1, tickets for children are $10.00.

For more information and to buy tickets, visit www.haletheaterarizona.com, or call the Box Office at (480) 497-1181.  The Hale Centre Theatre is located at 50 West Page Avenue, Gilbert, Arizona 85233.