About the Play:

Beauty and the Beast is a full-length fantasy by Warren Graves. Made ugly by sorcery, the Beast promises riches to the merchant Blotti in exchange for his youngest daughter Beauty. The valiant Manello challenges the Beast, with whom Beauty has fallen in love. The widely-loved fairy tale Beauty and the Beast gets a new telling in a fresh adaptation by Warren Graves. Especially recommended for school and contest use.

Beauty and the Beast is a delightful non-musical adaptation for all ages. While closely following the traditional fable so beloved by all, this imaginative adaptation cleverly compresses the salient points of the story to make them more theatrically effective and easily staged. The main line of the action deals with the merchant Blotti who wanders into the castle of the Beast. Having lost his fortune, he is reluctant to return home to his hopeful daughters – until the Beast promises him riches if he will send his youngest (and purest) daughter, Beauty, to the castle. There are scenes of humour and daring as Beauty's haughty sisters argue over who will take them to the ball, and the valiant Manello challenges the Beast to a sword fight. But, above all, there is the magic of Beauty's innocence and goodness that sees beyond the ugliness of the Beast to the handsome young prince whom the purity of her love will restore to his rightful form.

Beauty and the Beast was first produced in 1979 by Theatre 3 in Edmonton, Alberta. An established favourite among regional and community theatre companies in Canada, this is a deft and affecting adaptation of the beloved classic. Particularly suitable for schools and play contests.

Cast: 3 female, 3 male

What people say:

"Warren Graves' new version of the ancient fable transforms it into a magical moral drama…." — Theatre London

"Beauty and the Beast, in an appealing script by Warren Graves, is ... a re-telling of the fairy tale in familiar, colloquial language which makes the land of dangerous forests, enchanted princes and merchants with ships at sea a good deal easier for the audience to relate to." — The Globe and Mail

"Written by Canadian award-winning playwright Warren Graves, the play provides lots of opportunity for scary music, fire and smoke, gargoyles and swords. ...Graves version incorporates lots of different levels into the story. Kids will understand the basic story line and enjoy the magical castle, the sword fights and costumes. Adults will get the abstract underlying themes." — Sudbury Star

"Magic … pure magic." — Edmonton Sun

"It sings. It moves. It excites. It scares. It touches." — Edmonton Journal

About the Playwright:

Warren C. Graves (1938-2008) was born in England and moved to Alberta in 1964. A former Clerk-Assistant of the Alberta Legislative Assembly from 1967-1975, he subsequently became well-known throughout Alberta as actor, writer, director, stand-up comic and public speaker.