Although the two versions share the essential elements of the fairy tale (with a Beast in a castle, a beautiful woman in a nearby town who can save him with her love, and a magic rose) the stories are quite different. This one has a very surreal, hypnotic, dreamlike quality throughout it, beginning with the opening as the Gypsy Queen begs for shelter at the castle but is refused. As she dies, she utters her curse, and the servants are turned into faceless watchers while the cold prince is turned into the Beast.

This is followed by the scene that truly is a dream, as Beauty watches the large gypsy dance led by the charismatic, comedic, and dynamic Ellipsis (Harold Wise). The mesmerizing Gypsy Queen (Beth Roby) then tells a scary story to the children of the town (resulting in several excited screams) and offers to tell one person their future for free. Though Beauty (Tina Leef) tries to get someone else chosen, she herself is picked, and is told that she’ll have to give up the one thing she loves to have all she deserves. That is when she awakens, and finds herself still at home in the once wealthy family’s small cottage where they struggle to get by.

When they hear that their ship, once thought lost, had returned to port, possibly restoring the family’s wealth, the father travels to the port. But he comes across the Beast’s castle along the way. The father is treated graciously, but as he leaves for home, he takes a beautiful rose, which is all his daughter Beauty had asked for. The Beast (Frank Romeo) is furious at this theft, and holds the father prisoner until Beauty comes in search of her father. In the forest she is haunted by visions who dance about her and then carry her off to the castle like a sacrifice, ending the first act.

It isn’t until the second act when Beauty and Beast finally meet, wherein she experiences the dreamy magic of the castle (including a mysterious Bird Room featuring Elipsis and the cast performing the big, colorful musical number Free). She also finds music box ballerinas and toy soldiers who dance to the lullaby Beauty’s late mother used to sing. Beauty and the Beast begin to fall in love to the song Someone Like You, although Beauty’s final epiphany comes with her lovely solo I Once Thought Love Would Be So Easy. But is it too late?

The cast is full of strong singers and dancers, and there are a lot of demanding and enchanting dance numbers led by Harold Wise, Kaeli Carr, and Amanda Carr, and choreographed by Director Alison Bretches. Vibrant costumes and sets, embraced by the dreamy music, dancing, and storyline, all provide an intriguing take on the immortal story.

Performs November 21 - 22, 2009

Rob Hopper
rob@nationalyouththeatre.com
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Executive Director
National Youth Arts

~ Cast ~