Entertainment | ‘Beauty and the Beast’ cast amazed with Asian audiences

Darick Pead and Hilary Maiberger sing

Disney’s musical extravaganza “Beauty and the Beast” is coming to the Venetian Theatre from June 13 to July 26 as part of its world tour, in celebration of the Broadway show’s 20th anniversary. A media event was held yesterday to give both local and regional media outlets the opportunity to speak to some of the production’s cast and crew.
Based on an 18th century French fairly tale, the love-
story musical has been one of the longest-running and highest-grossing Broadway shows that has ever run, nominated for nine Tony Awards since its premiere in 1994.
“Beauty and the Beast” tells the story of Belle, a young woman in a provincial town, and the Beast, who is a young prince trapped by a spell placed on him by an enchantress. If the beast can learn to love and be loved in return, the curse will be broken and he will be transformed back into his former self.
Darick Pead, who plays the role of the Beast, told reporters about the hardships of love: “I think love is hard because I think love is about the other person. Love is not about me, love is not about you or you and me. Love is only about you. So if you find somebody who loves you like that, and you love them back, yeah, I think you can find true love in your life.”
Hilary Maiberger, who plays Belle, complimented: “I think it’s so much about being comfortable with who you’re with.”
The pair, who shared the same notion on true love, also hit it off at the very beginning of their three-year collaboration. Nonetheless, Maiberger confessed to media that she felt “odd” and “nervous” during the cast audition, wondering whether she could develop chemistry and connection with a stranger to act in these intimate scenes.
“On the first day of the rehearsal, it was just complete trust. And we’re very comfortable with each other. I think we jumped into one of the most intimate scenes, the death scene. It’s a very comfortable workspace, and it just kind of clicked,” said Maiberger.
Having been on an international tour for three years, both Maiberger and Pead admitted that their lives have also changed quite a lot. The former told media she has learnt to adapt herself to the new lifestyle and “figured out who she was,” on such a long road.
Darick Pead, who became a stage actor right out of college, has come to realize how much family meant to him during those days away from home, and understands more about the essence of life.
One of the aspects that most impressed the two North American actors on their tour was the overwhelming hospitality in Asia. “I had just never felt so welcome and I had never felt so much excitement,” said Maiberger. And Pead joked that he never understood the phrase “my heart is full” until he came to Asia.
An enchanting musical can’t do without fabulous scores, which was what both leading actors kept stressing in the interview as they believe the music has helped to lift the entire mood within the play. The piece that lingered in Maiberger’s head most was “Home,” while the diva’s favorite was “Change In Me,” as it describes the struggles in Belle’s heart as she convinces herself that the castle she is coerced to live in is her new home.
Everyday vocalizing exercises and loads of water kept the pair’s voices in good condition, but they also revealed that Chinese loquat-leaf-extract was also what they would drink to sharpen their voices.
The musical is jointly produced by Broadway Entertainment Group and NETworks Presentations, with Garuda Indonesia as the official airline sponsor for the Macau show. Staff reporter