Disney's
Beauty and the Beast
June 28
August 26, 2012
in CST's Courtyard Theater
music by Alan Menken
lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
book by Linda Woolverton
directed by Rachel Rockwell
Production Sponsor
Je Parle Francais, Do You?
The story of Beauty and the Beast takes place in France, and many of the characters use French words in the play. Even if you don't speak French, you can use clues from the story to understand what these French words mean. Read the sentences below. Based on what words come before and after, try to guess what the French word means!
The townspeople in Belle's town greet one another saying, "Bonjour. Good day. How is your family?"
A villager comments as Belle walks by, "Look there she goes, a girl who's strange but special. A most peculiar mademoiselle."
Lumiere introduces himself to Belle for the first time and kissing her hand says, "Enchanté, Mademoiselle."
Many of the characters' names in Beauty and the Beast are also French words. In stories, names often represent something about the character. From the two columns below, try to match the character names to what their meanings are in French! Think about the kind of characters they are in the story to help you make your decision.
| Names of Characters | French Definitions |
| 1. Belle The main character of the story |
A. Light, glow, gleam |
| 2. Lumiere French valet who becomes a candelabra |
B. Mrs. Big Mouth |
| 3. Madame De La Grande Bouche Opera singer who becomes a dresser |
C. Beautiful girl |
Answers:
Bonjour = Hello; Mademoiselle = Young Woman; Enchanté = I'm delighted; 1. and C; 2. and A; 3. and B