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'Beauty and the Beast' at Community Theater
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The Northport-East Northport Community Theater's production of "Beauty and the Beast" opened last weekend. Drawing on the Broadway sensation featuring music by Alan Merken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, the show offers up riveting family entertainment.
Truly a "tale as old as time," this beloved story of the redeeming power of true love set in rural France dates back to the 18th century. As the story begins, Belle — the headlined beauty who is deemed odd by provincial villagers because of her love of books — has caught the eye of Gaston, a muscle-bound Romeo looking for a trophy wife.
The excitement mounts as Belle's father, Maurice, gets lost in the woods, seeking refuge in a mysterious castle where he is imprisoned by a hideous beast dressed in royal garb.
It seems that the Beast, once a handsome prince, turned away a beggar woman who sought lodging in his castle one cold winter night. As punishment for this rejection based solely on appearances, the disguised sorceress changed the prince into a creature whose outer countenance mirrored his insensitivity. To add to the predicament, the Beast's servants have been transformed into household objects, with their last traces of humanity rapidly fading. Will the mournful Beast break the spell by proving himself worthy of true love before the enchanted rose gifted to him by the sorceress sheds its last petal?
Produced by Bette Silver and directed by Jim Redding, the show features a top-notch cast and some of the company's most ambitious costuming, scenery, and choreography to date.
Hallie Hugues, a Kings Park High School senior, plays the wide-eyed yet headstrong Belle. She has an unbeatable stage presence and a glorious voice to match. Tom Brucia, who turned heads with his performances in "Annie Get Your Gun" and "Oklahoma," admirably conveys the Beast's stirring metamorphosis from a sad, despairing creature to a handsome prince.
Community theater newcomer, Brett Chizever, a college student from Aquebogue, brings on the laughs as Lumière, the enchanted candelabra who is effusively French. Chris Rance is ideal as his cohort, Cogsworth, the refined and sedate pendulum clock.
Dave Curtis, long remembered for his comic portrayal of the pharaoh in "Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat," is equally humorous as Gaston, the undesirable suitor with more brawn than brains. Nick Attanasio provides additional comic relief as LeFou, Gaston's beleaguered sidekick. Lou Allacco, a community theater favorite, is an endearing Maurice.
You'll fall in love with Mrs. Potts (Kelly Morris), who beautifully renders the theme song, and her offspring, Chip (Jack Murphy), and you'll wonder how the youngster fits into that teacup.
Megan DeRiso, of "Annie Get Your Gun" fame, takes on a totally different persona as the vain Madame de la Grande Bouche while Mia Femia is charmingly coy as Babette, the animated feather duster. Don Woods provides a sinister touch as Monsieur d'Arque, the head of the local asylum.
The welcoming musical showstopper, "Be Our Guest," will lift your spirits as Lumière, Chip, Mrs. Potts and an ensemble of dancing plates, silverware, foodstuff, and can-canning pastry maids animate the stage. Leia DePalo's choreography shines in this number as it does throughout the production.
The more than 200 costumes that enliven the production with their color and wit were the handiwork of Stephanie D'Alto, Becky Wallis and her mom, Dawn Harris, who flew up from Florida for a week of nonstop sewing. Hugues lights up the stage in Harris' pièce de résistance — a flowing, yellow confection of a ball gown — as she dances with her true love.
According to D'Alto, she and Wallis endeavored to create costumes that reflected the characters' unique personalities while enhancing the actors' performances.
"I am a detail person," said Wallis, adding that more than 350 hours went into these ethereal masterpieces, with the team working closely with set designer Gary Valentine, whose scenery is also a thing of great beauty.
Silver describes the show as "a beautiful story set to music" and musical director Paula Willis deserves high marks in this regard as does technical director Rob Miller, whose lighting added depth and drama.
Performances take place at 8 pm on Friday and Saturday, Nov. 20 and 21 and at 2 pm on Nov. 22 at the William Brosnan Administrative Building, 158 Laurel Ave., Northport. Tickets are $18 for reserved seats; $12 for seniors and students. For ticket information, call 896-5970 or contact Silver at bdsilver@optonline.net.
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