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By Laura Drinan
Hometown Weekly Reporter
Imagine having only five days to memorize the entire script of the world-renowned Broadway musical, “Beauty and the Beast.” Seems impossible, doesn’t it?
Westwood Recreation Department’s musical theatre co-directors, Scott Gagnon and Christina Listro, along with musical director, Gealyn “Gea” Comune Clegg, helped make it possible as they worked with 26 children to put on the musical.
In just five days, the children went through auditions, casting, and rehearsals to put on the tale as old as time for friends and family to see on August 11 in the Westwood High School’s intimate Auxiliary Auditorium. Co-director and choreographer Listro introduced The Children’s Company, reminding the audience that the cast had only a few days to prepare the impressive performance.
The choreographed song, ‘Gaston,’ involves the majority of the cast. Photos by Laura Drinan
As the musical began, the cast came out onto the stage to take turns reciting the famous introduction in which an old beggar visits the prince’s castle asking for shelter in return for a rose. After being rejected by the prince, the beggar reveals herself to be a beautiful enchantress, turns the prince into a hideous beast, and casts a spell on his servants, with true love being the only way to break the spell.
Belle, played by rising fourth-grader, Elizabeth Lowney, enters as she and the cast sing the first song in the musical, “Belle,” during which Belle confesses she wants more in life than her little town can offer. Gaston, played by Katherine Schroder, and LeFou, played by Maeve Burke, discuss Belle’s attractiveness and Gaston’s plans to marry her because of her beauty, despite her being “a quite peculiar mademoiselle.”
Belle (Elizabeth Lowney), Gaston (Katherine Schroder), and LeFou (Maeve Burke) stand together as Gaston professes his interest for Belle in The Children’s Company’s ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Photos by Laura Drinan
When Belle’s father, Maurice, played by Audrey Kivlin, is chased off the path to the fair by wolves and ends up at the Beast’s castle, Belle goes searching for him. The Beast, remarkably played by Ethan Walsh, exchanges Maurice for Belle as his prisoner, cueing an emotional solo from the talented Lowney as she sings “Home.”
As LeFou, Burke impressively sang “Gaston,” accompanied by other members of the cast. As the scene changed, cast members came to the floor dressed as cutlery and performed the choreographed number, “Be Our Guest.” The Children’s Theater play followed the Broadway play, with Belle and the Beast forming a relationship after the Beast saved Belle from wolves. After the climactic mob scene, Belle’s love for the Beast reverses the spell that was cast upon the Beast and his servants.
Although the cast was comprised of children ages six through 12, they acted professionally and even whispered to help each other when any of the actors were stuck on a line.
“This cast has brought a playful imagination and a great energy to this production,” the directors wrote about the children in the playbook.
This tale as old as time was a complete success.
