The Firehouse Theatre presents Beauty and the Beast
Disney’s Beauty and the Beast
Book by Linda Woolverton
Music by Alan Menken
Lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice
Directed and Choreographed by Ashley Kate Adams
Associate Director/Associate Choreographer Alli Franken
Scenic Design by Ann Byersdorfer
Music Directors Cherish Robinson Jason Solis
Lighting Design by Destini Spraggins
Costume Design by Dayna Dutton
Sound Designer Dylan Hearn
Props Design Max Morgan
Scenic Build Dennis Williams , Maggie Sproul
Stage Manager Hannah Tolle
Asst Stage Manage Arianna Reed
Cast
Hannah Lee
Micah JL Brooks
Dylan Elza
Michael Brightman
Kenneth Lane
Kristal Seid
Jason Craig West
Jason Solis
Nicole Palmer
Avanti Dey
Joshua Hawkins
Evelyn Hatfield
Eliza Chabot
Abbey Copeland
Elyse Allen
Autumn McHale
Amy Arevalo
Ally Varitek
MattJohn West
Bridget L. Hopewell
Cameron Wisener
Adam Michael Thomas
Jarrett Self
River Taylor
Max Robinson
Haven West
Ricky Chabot
My Thoughts on Beauty and the Beast at the Firehouse Theatre or…One Enchanting Evening.
I can’t say that I was looking forward to seeing Beauty and the Beast scaled down to fit the Firehouse Theatre stage. However, I am happy to report that due to excellent direction, choreography, casting, and design, this “tale as old as time” is as enchanting as ever.
Director/Choreographer Ashley Kate Adams manages to keep all the heart and magic in the musical and Music Directors Cherish Robinson and Jason Solis have everyone sounding like they just stepped out of the Disney movie. Ann Byersdorfer’s scenic design, although compact by necessity, is beautiful at times, especially when she uses all those candles in front of the blue curtains to welcome patrons into the theater and set the mood for the show. Destini Spraggins keeps everything in focus with her expert lighting and Dayna Dutton’s costumes are some of the best I have seen in a community theatre.
If you are hesitant to bring your little ones to this production, there is no need to be. Director Adams has the show so well paced and so thrillingly choreographed, they will be just as enthralled as I was. “Be Our Guest” is a real testament to the talent of the actors and to the skill of Adams. It’s just as much over the top fun as it is in the movie.
It’s just about impossible not to fall in love with Hannah Lee as Belle. If the glorious voice and the innocent charm don’t win you over, her phenomenal acting will. I overheard a little girl behind me say “Mama, she really is Belle!” and that may be the ultimate compliment.
Micah JL Brooks with his commanding presence and exciting voice brings all the scariness and sadness to the Beast. Brooks has all the right instincts and makes the Beast as sympathetic as he is scary and even with his face covered portrays the Beast’s inner conflict adeptly. As I watched the amazing Brooks singing out from the top of the two-story set, I couldn’t help but imagine what a great Javert he would be.
Dylan Elza, with his biceps bulging, is an excellent Gaston. Elza’s terrific voice and dominating presence make him the perfect bully. However, Elza has a likability factor that keeps him from being as mean and menacing as some Gaston’s in the past. But by the last scene, I was rooting for the Beast to take him out.
Michael Brightman makes the slightly befuddled character of Belle’s father Maurice a kindly man. Brightman’s Maurice is so focused on his work that he is unaware of much of what is going on around him, but his love for his daughter is obvious. Brightman’s is a subtly moving performance.
Kenneth Lane as Lefou was the surprise of the evening for me. As Gaston’s sidekick Lane brings such exuberance and goofy charisma to his performance that he just about steals the show. Lane knows how to fully inhabit a character and his off the charts enthusiasm and sheer joy of performing made him an audience favorite. It’s performances like Lane’s that keep me devoted to the theater.
Kristal Seid is a wonderful Mrs. Potts. Kristal is aptly named as her voice is beautiful and crystal clear. She is the perfect caring loving mother to Chip, played by the young Eliza Chabot, who is the cutest, most adorable tea cup ever.
Jason Craig West is the suave Lumiere lighting up the stage. The lithe West makes his acting and movement so effortless looking that he almost seems to glide at times. West’s flirtation scenes with the world’s most gorgeous feather duster Babette, played with scene stealing seductive allure by Nicole Palmer, are some of the funniest moments of the show.
Avanti Dey as Madame De La Grande Bouche is making an auspicious Firehouse debut and is winning as she maneuvers around the stage in a huge costume while remembering her opera career.
I absolutely loved Jason Philip Solis, a brilliant comedian, as the fussy Cogsworth. Solis made Cogsworth a sort of bumbling, concerned, neurotic clock and I enjoyed every minute (pun intended) of his high energy performance.
Joshua Hawkins made quite the charming narrator and bookkeeper, and I would have liked to have seen more from him as I know his great vocal skills from previous performances.
Also appearing as singers, dancers, and various characters who make an invaluable contribution to the play are Abbey Copeland, Elyse Allen, Autumn McHale, Amy Arevalo, Jarrett Self, Ally Varitek, Bridget L. Hopewell, Adam Michael Thomas, MattJohn West, Cameron Wisener, Ricky Chabot, Max Robinson, River Taylor, Haven West, and Evelyn Hatfield, who alternates as Chip.
Beauty and the Beast at the Firehouse Theatre is an example of how awesome theater can be when the right creative team and the right cast work together to make magic happen. This Beauty may be small in scale, but it is huge with talent and will work its way into your heart.
