Beauty and the Beast

Back in July, I bought tickets to see Beauty and the Beast - the musical. We kept it a secret from the girls until we were driving downtown today and through a series of questions, Chelsea finally guessed our destination. It was such fun. I'd highly recommend it. The costumes and sets are bright. The actors are really great...especially Gaston and Lumiere. Those characters are fun to play and they really outdid themselves!

The first couple acts were OK and I wasn't sure why it had gotten such rave reviews as a musical. But it just got better and better. The Be Our Guest scene was just so well done and we all wished the last scene when Belle and the Prince dance had been longer. It was so beautiful.

The story is such a good one for kids. It's a great springboard for all kinds of discussions. First of all, Belle doesn't fit in. She's a bookworm and a dreamer. She knows she is different but her father (who's a bit odd himself) encourages her to be herself and affirms her worth, despite what the others think.

Then there's the whole concept of selflessness. The prince becomes a beast because of his utter selfishness. When Belle's father is imprisoned by the beast, Belle asks to take his place. It struck me as so selfless. Her father pleads with her. He's old and he's lived his life. Why would she want to be a prisoner in the castle forever? But Belle is steadfast and insists that her father go free. She gives up everything because of her love for her father.

Of course, the core of the story is the fact that real beauty lies within. It's something I try to teach my girls almost daily....to look past what might be someone's rough exterior to the heart that lies within. I also try to teach them that their heart matters most. Not what they look like or what clothes they wear.

The fairytale ending is wonderful. The beast, transformed by Belle's selfless love, becomes a Prince and they live happily ever after. Simple? Maybe. Idealistic? Probably. We all have "beasts" in our lives. The message I got today was that nothing reveals the "prince" or "princess" within like love.