As November arrives, with the leaves turning orange, and an abundance of warm steaming drinks, the middle school musical is just around the corner. This year, the play chosen was Beauty and the Beast, which debuted on Broadway April 18, 1994. The story is about Belle, a young woman who loves books and adventure. She takes her father’s place as a prisoner in a castle owned by a Beast, who was cursed and turned into a monster. As Belle gets to know him, she discovers his kind heart beneath his rough exterior. With the help of enchanted objects, they form a deep bond, and true love helps break the curse, turning the Beast back into a prince.
Thousands of people have seen and love Disney’s adaptation of Beauty and the Beast, or maybe one of the books. But very few have actually read the original, written by a woman named Gabrielle-Suzanne Barbot de Villeneuve in 1740. Villeneuve’s story seems to have origins in another famous tale, the story of Petrus Gonsalvus and his bride-to-be Catherine. Petrus, born in 1537, was brought to France from his native Canary Islands to live with the royal family of France. He was treated as a freak by the family because of his condition, hypertrichosis, which causes excessive hair growth. Eventually, he was to be married to Catherine, a court servant, who didn’t know about his hair growth until the couple met on their wedding day, and yet she still loved him. The couple became beloved to the people of France, and had seven children, five of which inherited the condition. People also believe that the story may have had origins in the tale of Cupid and Psyche, the ancient chronicle from the Latin novel Metamorphoses. This myth, written in the 2nd Century CE by Apuleius, is one of the oldest tales and many believe it to be the first ever literary fairy tale.
In Villeneuve’s story, Beauty moves to the countryside with her father after he loses his fortune. One day, her father gets lost and stumbles upon a castle where he picks a rose for Beauty, but the castle’s owner, a Beast, catches him and demands that one of his daughters must come to live there or he will be punished. To save her father, Beauty agrees to go and stay with the Beast. Over time, she discovers that, despite his frightening appearance, he is gentle and kind, and she grows fond of him. Eventually, she learns that he was cursed and that only true love can break the spell. When Beauty finally agrees to marry him, the curse is lifted, and the Beast transforms back into a handsome prince.
This story has had countless movies and plays written about it, and they have a unique take or perspective that adds to it each time. Viewpoint’s very own adaptation of this timeless classic will take place in the CFT on November 7th, 8th, and 9th, and I hope to see you all there for a night that you won’t forget!
