For their annual musical for kids of all ages, just in time for school vacation. the Wheelock Family Theatre has added to the current crop of "Beauty and the Beast" productions. The original of course is still running on Broadway. The cast is made up from a number of returning professionals, a variety of local theatre students, and a few WFT program participants, plus guest artist Douglas Jabara as the Beast. Angela Williams, seen previously in "The Sound of Music" plays Belle, while Christopher Chew who sang Von Trapp gets to be comic as loud mouth, Gaston. Mansur plays Belle's Father, Maurice, while Gary Ng gets knocked about as LeFou, Gaston's stooge. The magical inhabitants of the Beast's castle include Robert Saoud as Lumiere the Candlestick channeling Chevalier, Chip Phillips as fussy Cogsworth the Clock, Lisa Korak as Babette the firtatious Featherduster, Jeanine Belcastro as the opera singing Wardrobe, and Gamalia Pharms as the cook Mrs. Potts, who gets to sing the title song. Jeffrey Sewell, a first grader, is her son Chip.
Director Jane Staab relies on her professionals to develop the drama, while she manages a large ensemble who play the villagers, the magical dishes and tableware, etc. IRNE winning choreographer Laurel Stachowicz puts them through their paces for the Act I finale, "Be Our Guest," which might be more impressive with a bit of food. She does pull off the final battle with plenty of slapstick. Conductor Steven Bergman and a professional ensemble in the pit provide strong support from the pit. Anita Fuch's multilevel set on wagons is solves the complex staging for the castle with three wagons but seems a trifle under-decorated. Matthew T. Lazure's costumes are also sufficient if a bit understated, Stony Cook's lighting creates all the necessary moods with a few special effects.
This show depends on its principals. Williams has the charm and the voice, and in addition develops a dramatic arc to her character. Jabara has an effective tenor and presents the beast with more bluster than fear-inducing rage, which may be more suitable for this audience. He could use a little more from his costume. Chew 's Gaston is less of a cartoon than the Disney version. Ng is engaging if limited in his acrobatics. Mansur who will next appear as Charlie Parker has a quiet dignity. The enchanted characters are generally charming. This production is definitely a first-rate introduction to live music theatre, if a mite too long for some of the younger set.
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