BEASTLY AUDIO

Enjoyment of the visual elements of the current hit musical “Beauty and the Beast” at the Shubert Theatre is extraordinary: the spectacular and artistic scenery, the technically fabulous staging, the lavish costuming, the choreography and acting. Too bad it has to be spoiled by antiquated, atrocious-sounding amplifications assailing viewers’ auditory senses. In this day and age of hi-fi, it subjects the audience to coarse audio distortions.

Female voices often come out as a screech or yelp, while male speech and singing are largely unintelligible due to shrill loudness accompanied by irrelevant music.

Otherwise, the beloved Shubert is badly in need of a partial face-lift. Just one example: The internal stairsteps leading to the mezzanine and the balcony are too steep. An unnecessary inconvenience, not to speak of a health hazard, for senior citizens and children.

GEORGE S. SZEKELY

Los Angeles