beauty and the beast

try to catch "beauty and the beast: the musical" that's on its last week at the meralco theatre. the other friday, my friend aia got me in to watch karel as beauty. it's amazing! i love the theatre! i was sitting there, listening to the songs, watching the dances, and remembered my first ever theater experience: watching ateneo's staging of "peter pan" when i was 6 or 7 yrs old. i have loved it ever since.

it's different from the movie, bec. they adapted situations and storytelling styles for the stage. as you know, there are several new songs. the actors are amazing! karel as belle sounds almost exactly like belle in the movie! jet pangan is wonderful as the beast. and he looks boyishly cute in the single scene where he doesn't have a wig and/or beard and beast-mask on. (aka the transformation scene) the voices are powerful. the costumes, sets, and effects are great--especially of the rose. i'd like one of those to take home!:) i didn't notice that it took close to 3 hours because it was so riveting! i've been told karel performs better than KC. but whether that's true or not, this is an absolute must-see.
wish i could see it again.