‘Beauty & the Beast’ production wows

DAVE MOSIER/independent editor

Van Wert High School’s production of Beauty and the Beast is a telling of the fairy tale based on a Disney movie, and is magical in its own right.

This version of the classic fairy tale, a discourse on the nature of beauty as well as a love story, is also a musical and a fitting subject for the VWHS Drama Club’s latest production.

The production is lavish, with hired sets and beautiful costumes, while the human equation — the actors and technical crew — is also first-rate (click here for more photos of the play).

The two acting leads, Daniel Bashore as The Beast and Danielle Slagle as Belle the beauty, are both very good, but continually risk being outshone by the excellent supporting cast, which includes Robert Laing as Cogsworth, Austin Reichert as Lumiere, Alex Burchfield as Babette, Jennifer Carnahan as Mrs. Potts, Joshua Hattery as Chip, Kellie Carnahan as Madame de la Grande Bouche and Hunter Munroe as Gaston.

The supporting actors do an outstanding job of providing the glue that binds the production into an integrated whole that is greater than the sum of its parts, adding depth to the overall performance. Laing’s stuffy English butler is great, while Reichert, shows hidden talents in his portrayal of Lumiere, the Frenchman turned into a candelabra. Burchfield adds energy to every role she plays, and that’s again the case with Lumiere’s love, Babette.

Munroe did a great job of showing that the hunter Gaston, although handsome and hunky outside, was the real beast inside. Gaston’s egomania and cruelty showed through as Munroe strutted and postured for his admirers, while doing everything he could to force Belle into marrying him.

Hattery is cute as the young cup, Chip, whose mother, Mrs. Potts, is a teapot. Although hidden in a cabinet, with only his face showing through the teapot, the third-grader shows he has learned from his previous theatre experience in The Best Christmas Pageant Ever for Off Stage Productions.

Perhaps the nicest surprise was the Carnahan sisters, both of whom have lovely voices and brought much to their roles – especially Jennifer as Mrs. Potts. Her rendition of the theme song, “Beauty and the Beast,” was the highlight of the show.

In addition, Laney Ellzey, Haley Sperry and Stephanie Haggis definitely stole at least one scene as three silly admirers of Gaston. Their hair-pulling fight over Gaston while exiting the stage was hilarious.

Also good was James Defore as Lefou, Gaston’s flunky, and he added much to the production both in the acting and musical portions of the show. Thad Davis also was an excellent choice to play Belle’s father, Maurice, since he added an indefinable quirkiness to the production.

Of course, none of the onstage music would be possible without the orchestra that accompanies the singers. This year’s musicians, directed by Bob Sloan, include Annette Hoverman on piano; Dawn Sloan, Jeni Dempsey and Patty Ruckman on woodwinds; Dan Ruckman, Doug Grooms and Tony Alessandrini as the brass section; Rod Sroufe on string bass; Richard Sherrick on percussion; and Scott Turner on synthesizer.

The technical crews also did a magnificent job, with the stage crew setting the stage (literally) for the production, along with Hugh Saunier’s sound design and Matt Saunier’s lighting design. Dawn Bahr’s costumes were beautiful, while Susan Burfchfield and Janey Knittle came up with some great items as props for the production.

The set crew (Josh Schumm, Aaron Stoller, Hugh Saunier, AJ Thomas, Hannah Fraser, Becca Johnson, Bashore and Slagle, Nathan, Gary and Eric Profit and Keith Williams) are to be commended for their efforts in creating an appropriate background for the production.

As usual, director Michelle Stoller has brought another amazing student theatre production to the Niswonger Performing Arts Center. The NPAC also deserves some credit, since the state-of-the-art facility allows Stoller and the cast and crew to do so much more than was possible before it was built.

The production continues tonight and Saturday, starting at 7 p.m. Tickets are available at the NPAC box office (call 419.238.NPAC) or at the door prior to the performances.