You know they’ve got a few tricks up their sleeves immediately, as the moose head on Gaston’s hunting chair comes to life (with movable mouth, neck, and ears) and kicks things off by requesting everyone to turn off their cell phones unless they want to end up like him…This is followed by an Enchantress (Rachel Foodman, later appearing as an acrobatic rug) who flies up in anger at an arrogant prince’s rejection, launching the tale as old as time – the story of a hideous Beast who has to change his monstrous personality, and the beautiful and intelligent Belle who must see the Beast’s new interior beauty to save him and all the residents of his doomed castle.

Blair Hollingsworth is Belle the Beauty and with a voice to match, also turning in a fine comedic performance during the vain Gaston’s hilarious marriage proposal and later a dramatic finale when it looks as if all might be lost. Anthony Kaneaster is the Beast, nicely transitioning from the gruff, uncouth monster to the giddy romantic. And Alexander Vassos is a riot as the Beast’s rival Gaston, his suave and humorously easy sense of unabashed arrogance making him a guy you love to hate.

Backing the leads up is a remarkable cast of supporting actors who work to make this one of Junior Theatre’s greatest shows, beginning with one of the greatest duets – Brian Polk as the candelabra Lumiere and Alex Fleming as his counterpart, Cogsworth the clock. Brian’s natural sense of humor, facial expressions, and voice light up the stage, and Alex demonstrates an innate feel for the part of Cogsworth, perfectly capturing the character’s quirkily stuffy and neurotic personality with his subtle looks, timing, and waddling walk. Stephanie Ward is a rip as the opera singer imprisoned in the body of a bureau, Stephanie Kreutz is a matronly Mrs. Potts with Hannah Prater’s head as her too-adorable Chip, and Lisha Brown is terrific as the flirtatious feather duster Babette – especially when engaging in a jealousy war with boyfriend Lumiere. Outside of the enchanted castle, Seth Biberstein is a hoot as Gaston’s sidekick Lefou who has to do some serious straining to think very hard, Tyler Knell is Belle’s eccentric old coot of a father, and the three highly animated Silly Girls (Emily Shackelford, Alyssa Schechter, and Meagan Rossin) are extremely silly and extremely funny throughout as they chase after everyone’s favorite guy Gaston.

Performs through August 14, 2005.

Rob Hopper
National Arts Digest

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