Beauty and the Beast

For my 11th birthday, my parents took me to my first Broadway show. I wore my fanciest dress, a beautiful black velvet formal with simple lines and classic style. We went out to dinner to Houston's, where I butchered the pronunciation of "fillet mignon" and felt like a princess, dining in luxury with my wonderful parents. Then we crossed the street to the Ahmanson Theatre of Los Angeles, where Beauty and the Beast was on tour. I remembered being in awe of the set pieces and enthralled by the music. It was one of those moments that wraps you up so completely that you forget that a world even exists outside those theatre doors.

From that experience, this show was my favorite Disney movie and Belle, my favorite Disney princess. I loved that she was sweet and yearned for adventure, how she loved to read and sang so beautifully. I wanted to be Belle. Eventually I met my own beast/prince and have danced off into my own happily ever after and had a beautiful little girl.

When my beautiful little girl was six months old, my parents invited me again to a performance of this amazing show. This time it was a high school production, directed by a friend I had gone to college with and who like myself, was now teaching. My husband was working that night and I wasn't comfortable with leaving my little girl with a babysitter yet so I decided to bring her along. I kept her awake through her last nap of the day to ensure she would be exhausted. And just before the show began, I would go through her bedtime routine of putting her in jammies, swaddling her tight and giving her a bottle during which she would drift off to sleep in my arms so I could enjoy the show.

This didn't happen. We found our seats and the lights dimmed. Her eyes were heavy but as soon as that music started, her eyes shot open and she wiggled out of her blankets. She grabbed onto the chair in front of us and with surprising strength, pulled herself to a standing position on my lap. She watched the entire show, bouncing along with the music, squealing in delight when the animated characters came onstage and clapping enthusiastically when everyone else clapped. Her eyes were bright and expressive, clearly loving it and being the perfect audience member. It was amazing.

Unfortunately, being a Disney movie, it was "vaulted" at the time and we couldn't get a copy. Nevertheless, somehow Belle has become her favorite princess. She has a collect of six pairs of dress-up high heels, each with a Disney princess. The gold Belle shoes are her favorite. She talks about Belle, sings to and dances with her Belle doll. We even found Belle pull-ups to help potty train her (Imagine her running down the hall to the bathroom yelling "don't peepee on Belle! don't peepee on Belle!") And all this time, I don't think she has ever seen the movie.

Today is two years from her first theatre experience and our newly released DVD copy finally arrived. I put it in and we settled onto the couch, the show began and she showed her usual minimal interest. Belle appeared on the screen and she perked up. She studied Belle and I whispered, "It's Belle!" She was thrilled. "Belle!" she cried and bounced in excitement. She was enraptured by the music and animation. When Belle appeared in the beautiful gold dress she squealed in delight, bringing her hands to her face, her eyes reflecting that great child joy that I was waiting to see. She jumped up and danced to the music (her awkward ballet of swaying and extending). and then "oh no, my dress!" and she ran to her dress up box, pulling out her favorite dress as well as finding a pair of her high heels. They happened to be snow white. "oh no, need Belle!" she said, digging deeper until she found them. Once appropriately attired, she took her daddy's hands and pulled him to stand, dancing with him and twirling and being so adorably precious. Her little sister caught on and happily stumbled around the room as well.

We watched the whole movie, cheering each time Belle appeared but confused if Gaston or the Beast was the "bad guy". No matter, she loved it. Watching the ending, she was transfixed with dramatic "oh no!"s as Gaston attacked the Beast and a final "oh so beautiful!" as they danced again at the end.

I love this little princess.