OUTDOOR SCREENING: Beauty and the Beast

Belle (O'Hara) is a young girl who dreams about living in a world like the ones in her books, much to the disappointment of a potential - and unwanted - suitor, Gaston. When her father Maurice, an eccentric inventor, goes missing, Belle goes in search for him and discovers a mysterious castle which holds many secrets and soon gives Belle the chance to experience the adventure she was craving…

"Tale as old as time..." - Classic Disney at its best. Fantasy and musical all rolled into one. This aesthetically pleasing animation was critically acclaimed as ‘spell-binding’ at its time of release 20 years ago and won the Oscars for Best Original Score and Best Original Song - perhaps partly tributes to the lyricist, and official Disney Legend, Howard Ashman, known also for his work with composer Alan Menken on other Disney classics (The Little Mermaid, Aladdin), who died before the film’s release.

Aimed primarily at a young audience, some would have you believe the film doesn’t appeal to those older than pre-teens, but they would be wrong. A classic quote to prove this from the film is when the Beast says to one of his servants, "I want to do something for her…but what?" and the servant answers, "Well there’s the usual things: flowers…chocolates…promises you don’t intend to keep…"

It's not the eponymous characters that steal the show, but the servants, who are trapped in the form of everyday house objects. Their banter will keep you in stitches regardless of whether you are familiar with the film from childhood.

Samilia Ekeocha