The Lion King was a fine example of how a successful Disney cartoon was adapted into a musical. Thanks to entertainment giant Van den Ende, this special production also appeared in the Netherlands. Van den Ende's next Disney project became Beauty And The Beast. However, the Dutch version Belle & Het Beest is not a copy of the Disney musical that premiered in Broadway in 1994. The American director
… Glenn Casale based the Dutch production on the original novella from the eighteenth century. Martine Bijl translated Linda Woolverton's script into fluent Dutch. For the first time Van den Ende provided a performance that travels throughout the country. The CD booklet of Beauty and the Beast: The Original Dutch Cast Album shows, besides the complete lyrics, also many photos of scenes: the sets and costumes are dazzling. On the CD we hear excellent renditions of the beast Stanley Burleson, the girl Chantal Janzen, central narrator Mrs. Tuit Mariska van Kolck and comic candlestick Lumière Carlo Boszhard. Funny, moving and compelling! (SvdP)more
