Be Our Guest

Disney’s Beauty and the Beast was the company’s first blockbuster film to musical adaptation in the 1990s. With the beloved production returning for a Sydney opening ahead of a national tour, David Spicer spoke with three of the stars about their favourite Disney moments.

On my first trip to Broadway, I bought a matinee ticket to Beauty and the Beast, as it is the type of musical which you can enjoy a second or third time. Curiously there were five empty seats next to me.

After interval a beautiful family arrived - Mum, Dad and three children who had made a long trip from New Jersey. One parent sheepishly admitted at having made a mistake about when the performance started. Her children had to make do with seeing half a Broadway musical. 

A first trip to the cinema or theatre to see a big Disney production can be memorable for many reasons.

Shubshri Kandiah (Belle) recalls seeing The Lion King at Perth’s Crown Theatre, whilst she was in high school.

“I remember being so overwhelmed as I had never seen a musical that had puppets. I remember feeling emotional - my eyes were welling up,” she told me.

Brendan Xavier (The Beast) remembers his first trip ever to the movies.

“I was three years old when I saw Tarzan in 1999, which was one of my favourites.”

On stage he saw The Lion King twice. 

“It shaped what I wanted with my career. I felt myself represented on stage and it drove me to want to be in big Disney shows.”

Rohan Browne (Lumiere) said he watched a lot of Disney cartoons but remembers being “blown away at the scope” of the animated film Aladdin.

“Robyn Williams as the genie was so impressionable and mercurial. I remember him turning into a camel and spinning.”

So, what makes Disney productions so enduring?

“They are such universal stories, which everyone can connect to. I love how inclusive they are,” said Shubshri.

“The fairy tales have a moral compass of true north. Everyone can connect with them in some way shape or form. Adults find nuggets of joy. Kids love them because of the characters they create,” said Rohan.

“It has got a lot to do with themes of friendship and teamwork,” said Brendan.

If each of the actors had a magic wand and were able to be cast in any Disney production – apart from Beauty and the Beast - what would it be – was my next question.

Shubshri’s fantasy role would be Mulan.

“I remember watching Mulan and learning about Chinese culture and history.  That was my first taste of experiencing a different culture. I loved her cheekiness and disobedience. She was courageous and fought for what she believed in.”

Brendan has his eyes on the role of Simba in The Lion King.

“I would love to play him because of the journey he goes on and the nuances in his character.”

Rohan’s dream Disney role is more obscure, from the movie The Emperor’s New Groove.

“It is about a stubborn King who is turned into a Lama. It was drawn very differently with a lot of square shapes and set in South America.”

The character he loves is Kronk.

“He was big hearted and a bit simple, the sidekick of the villain who didn’t realise he was aligned with a villain. Everything he did was through love. Kronk is the character I would love it to play if it was ever made into a musical,” he quipped with a laugh, admitting that it is highly unlikely to happen. (The latest Disney movie being developed into a musical is Hercules, with the same composer as Beauty and the Beast, Alan Menken.)

Having said that, for Rohan the role of Lumiere in Beauty and the Beast has been served on a platter for him. The actor plays a human who has been turned into a candelabra by a spell. 

“Lumiere is an absolute joyful role to play. He’s debonair, a maître d who loves to entertain. He is larger than life, loves to host parties and I get to sing the song 'Be Our Guest'."

Rohan says the role is a perfect fit.

“I love hosting dinner parties where I cook, serve wines and tell stories with my wife (actor/singer) Christie Whelan-Browne.”

I asked Rohan what might be on the menu if I was lucky enough to be one of his guests?

“I cook a great simple Bill Grainger carbonara. it is a real winner. I just add some nice chilli oil. I had a friend who worked at Chin Chin, so I do a lot of modern Asian cuisine. I do cook a great Steak Frites and I do a beautiful pumpkin ravioli. At 43 I have learned a few skills in the kitchen.”

His two-year-old son, however, gets something simpler.

“He loves chicken nuggets.”

To prepare for the season, Rohan packed up his belongings in Melbourne and discovered the program for Beauty and The Beast from its last professional season in Australia. It included Hugh Jackman as Gaston.

“I saw it at least five times. I would save up and buy house seats as I had friends in the cast. We had seen Les Misérables and Cats but this was the first grand Disney ‘90s blockbuster. It blew people’s minds.”  

At face value it might be harder to relate to the character of The Beast, but Brendan Xavier said he found beautiful qualities to draw a connection to.

“As soon as I got the material I related to the character. He is an underdog and is deeply misunderstood. I love that he is not perfect. He starts as villain and has to change for the better, and has to constantly improve himself.” 

Brendan said the experience of being bullied as a teenager or being an outcast is also common.

“As a teenager I was moody, stubborn and angsty. There is so much angst and frustration in him.”

Shubshri loves that her character Belle has strong beliefs and “sticks to her guns”.

“She is taken aback by his appearance, but I am not sure she is judging him on (on his looks).

“The way I connect to her is that she sticks to what she believes in, and what she loves, and tries to see beauty in all things.”

The actress is on a dream run of lead roles, first riding the magic carpet in Aladdin, then scoring the lead in Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella, closely followed by playing Cinderella again in Into the Woods.

“Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella knew from the start who she was and just needed the opportunity to see that. The Sondheim Cinderella did not know what she wanted and was indecisive and clumsy, which was closer to me in real life.”

Her casting alongside Brendan in Beauty and the Beast is another milestone for inclusive casting.

“I think it is an incredible feeling to not feel restricted by the colour of your skin. Some of these opportunities might not have been available to me even ten years ago.

“I get a lot of messages on social media or people coming to the stage door. Parents or other young people coming and telling me they feel they can do it because I have done it. I never saw myself doing it (when I was younger) but children can feel they can do it.”

Brendan Xavier said the message Disney sent out at the audition was that they would find the best people for the job. He comes into the musical from the deep freeze of Disney’s Frozen the musical, which he toured with for two and a half years.

“It has been the most rewarding experience in my life. It taught me perseverance and how to manage being in a show for so long.”

Rohan has had a different preparation, appearing in a small cast new Australian musical Not Finished With You Yet, in the art-imitating-life role of the husband of Christie Whelan-Browne’s character.

“I have been in seven shows with Christie, but it was the first time I got to play her spouse.”

 I hope to find out more when an invitation comes around for a Monday night dinner party!

The new production of Beauty and the Beast has had a digital make-over. Some of the scenes have been updated with scenic effects described by Time Out at the West End remount as including “gasp-inducing quick changes and beautiful 3D sets, most notably the dreamy tunnel of night-blossoming pink roses.”

So carefully check that you have the start time down properly and get to the theatre in time for the overture.

Beauty and the Beast opened on June 14. Buy tickets here.

READ OUR REVIEW HERE.