Tacoma Musical Playhouse is staging one of the most expensive gambles in the theater’s history. Everything about producing Disney’s stage version of “Beauty and the Beast” comes at a price.

The royalties are costly. The costumes are pricey. The staging requirements are substantial. But any theater willing to stage the show will all but certainly recover those expenses as every mother-daughter or grandmother-granddaughter team in the tri-county area will come to the show at least once as a way to see the animated classic come to life onstage.

So staging “Beauty and the Beast” is less about gambling over a win or loss as it is gambling on the overall impact staging such a show will have on theater subscriptions that will all but certainly at least trickle in through the boosted exposure such a recognized show would bring.

My guess is that tickets for TMP shows are going to be even harder to come by next year than they were this season.

Based on the Academy Award-winning animated feature film, “Beauty and the Beast” is the classic musical that tells the story of Belle, a young bookworm in a small provincial French town. She finds herself the prisoner of a Beast, who is really a prince trapped in a spell, after she gave up her freedom to release her father from a dark cell in the Beast’s castle. Toss in the background story that the Beast must find true love before an enchanted rose loses its last pedal.

The score is full of memorable melodies by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman and Tim Rice that were showcased in the movie and includes additional songs written for the stage production. “Be Our Guest” and “Human Again” and “Something There” are known by every grade-schooler and the parents who love them.

Although the timing was a bit slow, the energy was sluggish at times and the sound crackled, the show had some solid, solid, solid moments that made it work. First off, the costumes were amazing, and the scenery was simple but effective.

Belle (played by Elise Campello for some performances and Hailey Meier for others) is strong as is Mark Rake-Marona as the Beast. Between the opening lights and the curtain call comes a parade of fun characters ranging from Chip the tea cup (Mike McGrath), Lumiere the talking candlestick (Chris Serface), and a dancing carpet (Ally Pepin). Although the show has its distractions, likely opening weekend jitters, the hundreds of simply cute scenes and touches along the way make this a show that entertains. The cast is filled with a solid roster of actors who explored the characters and had fun.

The production runs at 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday and at 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday through Aug. 5. The show is staged at the Narrows Theatre, located at 7116 Sixth Ave. Tickets are $23 for adults, $21 for students, seniors and military, and $16 for children 12 and under. There will be a Children’s Lunch with Belle and the Beast at noon Saturday, July 21, for $12 or at a discount when bundled with the 2 p.m. matinee. For tickets or more information, call 253.565.6867 or visit: www.tmp.org.