Disney's Beauty and the Beast

Synopsis

Act 1

Prologue: As the story is played out in mime, a narrator describes how a selfish Prince was turned into a hideous Beast by an enchantress who disguised herself as an old beggar-woman. She left an enchanted rose: the spell will be broken if the Beast finds love before its last petal falls.

Scene 1: The scene changes to the town. Belle and other characters sing of their life in the town (Belle). Belle describes her frustration with provincial life while others gossip about her, thinking her odd because of her love of reading. During the song Gaston (a handsome, rude, narcissistic egomaniac) returns from a hunt and tells his dim-witted sidekick Lefou that he intends to marry Belle. Gaston tries to charm Belle, but she spurns him.

Belle's father, Maurice, a "slightly addled genius", arrives with his latest invention, which immediately blows up. Belle asks Maurice if he thinks she is odd: they sing (No Matter What), expressing their affection for each other. She gives him a scarf she has knitted for good luck, and he sets off for the fair, where he expects to win a prize for his invention.

Scene 2: Maurice loses his way and ends up in the woods, where he is attacked by wolves. He finds a castle and bangs on the door.

Scene 3: Inside the castle, we meet some of the enchanted objects: Lumière, a candelabra; and Cogsworth, a clock. They stand motionless as Maurice walks past, arguing about whether they should have let him in. When he notices them, Cogsworth tries to make him leave, but Lumière asks him to sit by the fire. Babette, a feather duster, Mrs Potts, a teapot, and her son Chip, a teacup, arrive. As they bicker about what they should do with Maurice, they hear the roar of the Beast, who decides to imprison him in the castle.

Scene 4: The three Silly Girls are distraught at hearing that Gaston intends to marry Belle. She arrives, and Gaston again tries to charm her, singing of his qualities and the life they would have (Me), but again she rejects him. From her cottage she sings (Belle reprise) of how she longs for a better life for herself. Lefou arrives carrying the scarf, which he found in the woods; Belle guesses that Maurice is in trouble and decides to go after him.

Scene 5: Lumière and Cogsworth are bickering again. Belle arrives, and they realise she may be the one to break the spell. Belle finds Maurice in a cell. The Beast arrives and she offers herself in Maurice's place. Belle is led to her room, and the Beast tells her she may go anywhere in the castle but the West Wing. She sings of the choice she has made (Is This home?). Mrs Potts comforts her, and we meet Madame de la Grande Bouche a former opera singer in the form of a wardrobe. Mrs Potts sings a short reprise, hoping Belle can make a life for herself in the castle.

Scene 6: In the tavern, Gaston is devastated at his rejection by Belle. Lefou and others sing to encourage him (Gaston); this soon has the desired effect, and Gaston joins in. Maurice enters, begging for help for Belle, but everyone laughs at him, calling him mad. This gives Gaston an idea, which he hints of to Lefou (Gaston reprise).

Scene 7: At the castle, before dinner, Cogsworth discovers he has grown a large winding key in his back. The enchanted objects realise the spell is becoming stronger. The Beast demands to know where Belle is. Ignoring Lumière and Mrs Potts, who plead with him to treat her kindly, he storms to her room, but she refuses to come. He realises that she will always see him as a monster (How Long Must This Go On?).

Later, Belle admits to the Wardrobe that she is hungry: the objects present a spectacular meal (Be Our Guest). Cogsworth shows her around the castle, but she sneaks away to the West Wing. She finds the rose, and is about to touch it when the Beast arrives. Shocked by his anger she decides to break her promise and runs from the castle. Realising his mistake the Beast sings of his hopeless situation (If I Can't Love Her).

Act 2

Scene 1: Travelling through the forest, Belle is attacked by the wolves. Just in time the Beast arrives and fights them off.

Scene 2: Back in the castle, Belle dresses the Beast's wounds. He blames her for the trouble, but she stands up for herself. Lumière, Cogsworth and Mrs Potts see there is hope after all. All sing (Something There) of how things have changed. The Beast shows Belle the huge library, which delights her. She asks him to read a book about King Arthur; when he reveals that he cannot read, she offers to read it to him. Seeing that romance is blossoming, the objects sing of their hope that the spell will soon be broken (Human Again).

Scene 3: In the tavern, Gaston and Lefou meet the sinister Monsieur D'Arque, proprietor of the local asylum. They persuade him to lock up Maurice unless Belle agrees to marry Gaston. (Maison des Lunes)

Scene 4: Lumière and Cogsworth advise the Beast on how to woo Belle. She arrives in a stunning golden gown, and she and the Beast have dinner together. As Mrs Potts sings (Beauty and the Beast), he asks her to dance. Belle tells him she wishes she could see her father again. He gives her his magic mirror, and she sees that he is in trouble. Seeing her distress, the Beast lets her go; but he realises that in doing so he has sealed his fate (If I Can't Love Her reprise).

Scene 5: At Belle's house, she tells Maurice about the Beast, and how he has affected her (A Change In Me). D'Arque arrives with a crowd to take Maurice to the asylum. To convince them he is not mad, Belle holds up the magic mirror and shows them the Beast. Gaston whips the crowd up into a frenzy and leads them off to the castle to kill the Beast (The Mob Song).

Scene 6: As the mob creep into the castle, the objects suddenly come to life to attack them. In a fierce battle the townspeople are driven off. Gaston meets the Beast on the tower. The Beast is about to kill Gaston but is too human to do it and releases him. Belle arrives and he goes to her; Gaston stabs him in the back but loses his balance and falls to his death. As the Beast lies dying, Belle comforts (Is This Home reprise) and tells him she loves him. The spell is broken and the Beast is transformed back into the Prince. The enchanted objects also return to their human forms. Belle and the Prince dance, to general rejoicing.

Characters (in order of appearance)

Narrator voice-over for prologue. Non-singing. Could also play another part or be in chorus.

Beggarwoman & Prince/Beast (and others servants etc) mime in prologue.

Belle the most beautiful girl in the town, but thought slightly odd by others because she likes reading. Dreams of a more exciting life. Main songs: Belle, No Matter What, Is This Home?, Something There, A Change in Me. Alto/mezzo.

Gaston the muscle-bound hearth-throb of the town. Adored by all the girls, but has set his sights on Belle. Main songs: Me, Gaston, Maison des Lunes, The Mob Song. Baritone.

3 Silly Girls village girls infatuated with Gaston. Some dialogue, and lines (as a group) in Belle, Gaston. Soprano/mezzo.

Le Fou Gaston's sycophantic and cowardly sidekick. Main songs Gaston, Maison des Lunes. Baritone/tenor.

Maurice Belle's father. Crazy inventor, kind-hearted but a bit absent-minded. Main song No Matter What. Bass/baritone.

Cogsworth "Officious manic English Major-Domo", transformed into a clock. Main songs: Be Our Guest, Something There, Human Again. Baritone.

Lumière "A charming, very French, Maitre D' who fancies himself as a ladies' man", transformed into a candelabra. Main songs: Be Our Guest, Something There, Human Again. Baritone.

Babette Flirty French maid, transformed into a feather duster. Main songs (small solos + ensemble): Be Our Guest, Something There, Human Again. Soprano.

Mrs Potts kindly middle-aged housekeeper, transformed into a teapot. Main songs: Be Our Guest, Something There, Beauty and the Beast, Human Again. Alto.

Chip Mrs Potts' son, transformed into a teacup.

Beast/Prince The prince who was transformed into a beast for his selfishness. Main songs: How Long Must This Go On, If I Can't Love Her, Something There. Baritone.

Madame de la Grande Bouche Former opera singer, transformed into a wardrobe. Be Our Guest, Human Again. Soprano.

Monsieur D'Arque Sinister keeper of the lunatic asylum. Appears in Act 2 only could be in chorus in Act 1. Main song Maison Des Lunes. Baritone/tenor.

Other parts

Townspeople (including many solo lines) in Belle, Gaston, The Mob Song

Wolves mime.

Enchanted objects in Be Our Guest and Human Again

In The Mob Song and the battle the chorus will split: some as townspeople, some as enchanted objects.

Musical Numbers

ACT 1

  • Prologue - Enchantress
  • Belle - Belle, Gaston, Lefou, Silly Girls, Townspeople
  • No Matter What (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Maurice, Belle
  • No Matter What (reprise) - Maurice
  • Me (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Gaston, Belle
  • Belle (reprise) - Belle
  • Home (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Belle
  • Home (reprise) - Mrs Potts
  • Gaston - Lefou, Gaston, Silly Girls, Tavern Patrons
  • Gaston (reprise) - Gaston, Lefou
  • How Long Must This Go On? (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Beast
  • Be Our Guest - Lumiere, Mrs Potts, Cogsworth, Madame de la Grande Bouche, Chip, Babette, Enchanted Objects
  • If I Can't Love Her (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Beast

ACT 2

  • Wolf Chase
  • Something There - Belle, Beast, Lumiere, Mrs Potts, Cogsworth
  • Human Again - Lumiere, Madame de la Grande Bouche, Cogsworth, Mrs Potts, Babette, Chip, Enchanted Objects
  • Maison des Lunes (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Gaston, Lefou, Monsieur D'Arque
  • Beauty and the Beast - Mrs Potts
  • If I Can't Love Her (reprise) - Beast
  • The Mob Song - Gaston, Lefou, Monsieur D'Arque, Townspeople
  • The Battle - Company
  • Transformation (Lyrics by Tim Rice.) - Beast, Belle
  • Beauty and the Beast (reprise) - Company