From Nov. 14-17 at the Middleton High School (MHS) Performing Arts Center, MHS Theatre impressed audiences with their production of “Beauty and the Beast.”
The renowned fairytale follows Belle, a young woman in a provincial French town, and the Beast, a prince trapped under a curse that can only be undone when he finds true love. When Belle discovers that her father is missing, she goes out looking for him and finds the Beast’s castle where she meets the talkative enchanted objects.
Then, when she finally finds that the Beast has locked her father up for trespassing, she selflessly trades places with her father and becomes prisoner to the Beast forever. In her time spent with the Beast, can Belle break the curse?
The tale of “Beauty and the Beast” came to life when MHS Theatre astonished audiences with their adaptation of the story. Needless to say, it was quite a success.
“It was the first time that we had sold out a show since 2016,” said Rebekah Stine (12) who played Mrs. Potts.
Along with the noteworthy audience turnout, the amount of cast and crew members who made the show possible was also substantial.
“This was the biggest production that Middleton has done in a while,” said Liev Schiffman (12), who played Gaston. “With the cast, crew and pit orchestra combined, there were around 90 to 100 of us. The size of the show and the dedication everyone put into this made everything come together beautifully.”
The talent among the cast was jaw-dropping. Whether it was the strength in their singing, the rhythm in their dancing or the convincing acting, everyone handled it professionally, with audiences expecting no less of MHS Theatre.
Although the casts’ talents appeared very natural on the stage, the hard work behind the stellar performances should not go unnoticed, as they have been rehearsing since August.
Ava Greenberg’s (11) vocals and stage presence were astounding. Her role as Belle gave her many opportunities to showcase her beautiful voice. Whenever she set foot on the stage, the audience was immediately enthralled by her and her talents.
Likewise, cast members engaged very well with each other on stage. The most captivating onstage duo were Gaston, played by Schiffman and LeFou, played by Owen Sehgal (12).
“This was one of my favorite roles I’ve ever played,” Sehgal said.
The hilarious duo kept the audience amused throughout the production. No matter the context of a scene, Gaston and LeFou kept the mood lighthearted and fun, while staying convincingly in character.
With the cast member’s talents shining through, the costumes added something extra special to the production. Whether it was the grizzly Beast costume, the charming castle objects or Belle’s show-stopping yellow gown, the costumes added a whole new dimension to the show.
Along with its onstage aspects, “Beauty and the Beast” offered opportunities beyond the performance. One example was the Character Tea Party, where younger students had the chance to meet the cast before the show.
Lila Elliot, a junior who plays Babette expressed how the show is already geared toward younger audiences, so the Tea Party was a great addition.
“All of the kids were excited to see the characters they know and love,” Elliot said, “it was also nice having my character in a place outside of the show.”
Another opportunity beyond the stage was Arts for All, a special needs choir who joined the audience.
“There were ASL interpreters there. Then, after the show, the cast did a meet and greet with them and we all sang ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Someone in the choir sang ‘If I Can’t Love Her’ with Linus. It was super great to be a part of that and be able to do that for that audience,” Sehgal said.
Audiences adored MHS Theatre as they took center stage with “Beauty and the Beast.” Whether it was the impressive costumes and set, the opportunities offered beyond the stage or the sheer talent and dedication from the cast and crew, the show was a hit. “Beauty and the Beast” left both those involved in the show and in the audience excited for what MHS Theatre will bring in their next production.
