Tuesday, Nov. 12, 2002 | 8:30 a.m.
When Walt Disney Pictures spent millions to turn its animated movie "Beauty and the Beast" into a Broadway stage musical, critics feared an overproduced "theme park" on Broadway.
Complete with lavish sets, rich costumes and special effects, Disney's 1994 inaugural production, however, was well-received by audiences.
Today the family oriented show is in its ninth year on Broadway.
"Beauty" has toured the United States and Europe, drawing crowds with its Tony Award-winning costumes, pyrotechnics, 32-member cast, live orchestra and classic happily-ever-after tale.
"Beauty and the Beast" opens Wednesday at the Aladdin Theatre for the Performing Arts. The eight-show engagement stars Danyelle Bossardet as the beautiful bookworm Belle and Grant Norman as the Beast.
The performances are among the last opportunities for fans to see Bossardet and Norman in these roles. Both will be walking out of the storybook spectacular in December to pursue other avenues in stage and life.
But Bossardet, in spirit, probably won't be too far away.
From a hotel room in Eugene, Ore., where "Beauty" was being staged at the Hult Center for the Performing Arts, Bossardet explained via telephone that when she leaves the production, she takes with her a personal history with the fairy tale.
Since college, Bossardet has performed in three different productions of "Beauty," including more than two years with the current U.S. touring production.
In fact, when talking with the 29-year-old San Diego native, it's difficult to discern where the bright-eyed and clean-cut Belle ends and Bossardet begins.
In a focused voice that exudes as much warmth and optimism as a Disney-spun tale, Bossardet (similar to Belle) explains that she always stands up for her beliefs. Especially when it comes to "Beauty."
When a reporter wrote a column telling parents not to bring children to the show because Disney "anesthetizes" them to true theater, Bossardet called the critic, told him his comment was irresponsible, then met him for lunch to further discuss the matter.
"When you discourage people from supporting any kind of theater, you do theater a disservice," Bossardet said. "There's so much good that can come from this. It's not just spectacle, it's bringing kids to the theater."
Fending off "Disney haters" is all part of the job, Bossardet said.
"We run into those often," she said. "There are a lot of people who misunderstand our connection with the corporation. That builds animosity. Some people come in with a chip on their shoulder."
And, Bossardet added in "Beauty's" defense, "It's like going to the fair. You have to have the cotton candy. It can't always be the scary rides."
A fairy tale
The story of "Beauty and the Beast" is, as the song says, a "tale as old as time."
It is a world of spells, magic mirrors, talking candlesticks and enchanted castles. In that world a spoiled, selfish, yet handsome prince opens his door one winter's evening to a haggard woman seeking refuge from the cold.
Finding her appearance deplorable, the prince turns her away without flinching. In response, she casts a spell turning him into a monstrous beast. Only by loving and by being loved, she said, would he become human again.
Meanwhile, in a nearby village, the beautiful Belle, who lives with her inventor father, longs for the adventure she finds in books. Her voracious reading, which she often does while strolling through town, draws criticism from the townspeople, who think she is odd.
She rejects the advances by Gaston, the town's handsome and brawny golden boy, who wants her as his wife.
When Belle's father innocently encounters the beast in his castle, Belle rushes to the castle and replaces her father as prisoner.
With the help of servants, who have been turned into household objects (as part of the spell), Belle domesticates the inhospitable and ferocious beast and a love story unfolds.
"It's a universal formula that we see in a lot of our modern-day fairy tales," Bossardet said.
And, she added, the story goes beyond loving inner beauty.
"The big moral issue in this show is forgiveness and sacrifice," Bossardet said. "Belle sacrifices herself for her father and later forgives the beast for what has happened."
Also, Bossardet said, "There's the whole literacy issue, her love of books and her using her imagination to dream."
The production's good-natured message has extended beyond the stage.
"More than any other production I'm able to go to children's hospitals and to Borders (bookstores) to promote reading."
Unfortunately, in real life, not all stories end up happily ever after. Three days after the cast performed "Beauty" to an audience that included a young girl attending the show through the Make A Wish Foundation, the girl died.
"It hit us hard," Bossardet said. "We had fallen head-over-heels in love with this girl."
After her death, Bossardet said the cast decided to donate its own time to make a CD in which the proceeds would go to the Make A Wish Foundation. The CD, she said, should be available by Christmas, and information about it will be available on her website, danyellebossardet.com.
Out of the storybook
Bossardet said that leaving "Beauty" will be a little difficult. But, she said, "It's like any story. The good ones have a good beginning, middle and end."
She and her husband (who also traveled with the production) plan to spend a few weeks vacationing in Ireland, then will settle down in New York where Bossardet will continue dancing, acting and studying.
After playing such a wholesome character, Bossardet said she hopes to someday land a role of a "vicious vamp."
"I hope to get challenged like that," she said. "To stretch those creative muscles."
Though she enjoyed traveling with "Beauty," being in one location will be a nice change. The toughest part about being on the road for so long, Bossardet said, is that "Life happens."
"When something happens it's very difficult to get back and see that person," she explained, referring to the death of her grandfather in January 2001.
Bossardet dedicates her performances to her grandfather Gene Palmer. A comedian who worked with Red Skelton, Bob Hope and Alan Young, Palmer is her inspiration.
"He was like my father figure," Bossardet said.
Through his death, Bossardet said, she has had an epiphany, and, like Belle, is closer to a place in her life when she can say, "I'm where and who I want to be."
"Going through something that difficult, a person facing something horrible like cancer. Though grieving like that you kind of find peace. It's almost like I feel filled by his spirit. I feel like I can breathe."
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