January 8, 2006

  • Hey all.  It feels like it's been ages since I wrote a real post.  I miss Xanga! 

    Anyways . . . my schedule has been crrrraaazy.  Late November through December has just kept me on my toes, and kept me runnin.  I've been doing Beauty and The Beast at The Beck Center for the Performing Arts . . . and its been SO much fun.  What an incredible show.  Infact, I even have pictures and reviews to share with everyone. 

    First . . . the reviews.  (please note the mention of the orchestra in almost every review.  The orchestra hardly EVER gets mentioned in a theatre review, so this was a pretty big deal for all of us!)

    Engaging production of ‘Beauty and
    the Beast    ’ at Beck
    by Fran Heller

    “Cleveland’s maestro of the mega-musical, director Fred
    Sternfeld, has mounted a thoroughly engaging production” “Dan
    Folino is a consummate Beast... humorous, endearing touches ... oozes
    with charm... considerable singing skills” “The petite,
    spunky Natalie Green makes a delightful Belle .. sweet voice”
    “When Beast faces imminent death, it brought a tear to my eye”
    “Choreographer Martin Céspedes continues to create miracles
    with non-professional dancers and actors. His inventive movements in
    the tavern song, where the ensemble does some neat stuff with beer mugs,
    is a masterpiece of creativity” “Audience reaction can be
    a good judge ... all were engaged, attentive and rose as one in a standing
    ovation following the production” “If you’re looking
    for a family show that is entertaining, and great fun, with a sound
    moral for young and old alike, “Beauty and the Beast” is
    just the ticket”

    It Takes an Enchanted Village: Beck Center’s
    Beauty and the Beast is perfectly cast and choreographed
    by James Damico

    “HOW BEST TO CONVEY just how enchanting is Beck Center’s
    Beauty and the Beast? Maybe by sharing a critic’s infallible
    indicator. From the first moment of this beauteous Beauty — which
    depicts witchy physical transformations seamlessly segueing into a vibrantly
    staged, choreographed, lit and costumed evocation of a fairytale village
    springing to life — right through its fadeout kiss, I was so cozily
    caught up in the storybook proceedings that I never once looked away
    to make one of my obligatory, if always illegible, notes.” “Director
    Fred Sternfeld has again massed dozens of performers, and again circulates
    them with his estimable trademark fluidity” “Martin Cespedes’
    consistently integral contributions … enliven, enrich and validate
    any show he choreographs” “Larry Goodpaster’s orchestra
    exemplary”     “perfectly cast” “superior production”
    “truly special” “an oughta-see holiday treat”

    ‘Beauty And The Beast’ Is
    A Beaut At Beck!
    by Roy Berko
    “a delightful production” “Everything from the sets,
    to the music, to the singing, to the dancing, to the cast, works well.”
    “Natalie Green is glorious as Belle... beautiful … lights
    up the stage with her smile, sings like an angel and dances with ease
    … enchanting ... a star in every sense of the word.” “Dan
    Folino … a full and powerful voice … gives a vulnerable
    texture to the role of the Beast that adds much to the characterization
    ... captivating.” “He and Green make the perfect fairy tale
    prince and princess” “Martin Cespedes is a master of choreography
    ... amazing what he can do with a group of performers” “
    'Be Our Guest' and 'Gaston' were absolute show stoppers!” “Larry
    Goodpaster’s orchestra is excellent”     “Director Fred
    Sternfeld again proves that he is a master at placing large casts on
    stage and making them look good” “another winner”
    “enchanting”

    the CoolCleveland
    review...     (12/13/05)
    by Thomas Mulready

    "Beauty & The Beast @ Beck Center 12/9. Featuring
    lavish costumes, stunning special effects, spot-on acting and a brilliant
    live orchestra    , all brought together with tight-as-a-drum stage action
    and never-a-dull-moment pacing by crack director Fred Sternfeld, this
    classic tale competes directly and successfully with the popular animated
    version, then goes it one better. The 2.5 hour play is so good natured,
    so entertaining, so uplifting, it flies by, even for (especially for)
    kids, and actually leaves you wanting more. The fun continues through
    12/31."

    Another CoolCleveland review
    (12/20/05)
    By Kelly Ferjutz

    Beauty and the Beast @ the Beck Center 12/18 You’ll have
    to go some distance to find a higher-energy production of Beauty
    and the Beast     than the one currently at Lakewood’s Beck Center
    for the Arts through December 31.

    The costumes and the dancing are terrific. But then, so are the acting
    and the singing. It’s a tad long (2½ hours) but that’s
    certainly not the fault of director Fred Sternfeld, who keeps things
    moving briskly throughout. It’s a bit difficult for some young
    children to maintain their attention for such a long time, and especially
    during the fight scene between Gaston and Beast. (“Mama, I want
    to leave now.”)

    The production overall is entirely believable, and everyone
    seems to sing and dance like old pros, the latter thanks to the wonderful
    choreography of Martin Cespedes. I’m sure he could make a person
    with two left feet cavort around the stage in the manner of Gene Kelly!
    Musical director Larry Goodpaster has an excellent pit orchestra, and
    leads them well. Even though all the singers are miked (as well as the
    orchestra) it is not a loud production

    The music of Howard Menken with lyrics by Howard Ashman
    turns an ancient romantic tale into a spectacular love story with a
    nice mix of pleasant ballads and exuberant show-stoppers. This is most
    notable in ‘Be Our Guest’ in which all the kitchen utensils
    welcome Belle to dinner at the Beast’s Castle.

    The unlikely young lovers are Natalie Green as Belle and
    Dan Folino as the Beast. They not only look as you want them to look,
    but they sing beautifully, while giving life to the parts. Josh Noble
    as the handsome, but empty-headed swash-buckler Gaston, is perfect—all
    teeth and shoulders! His confusion when Belle turns him down is wonderful.
    His foil, Zac Hudak as Lefou will surely be black-and-blue before the
    run is over, even if all his bones are still intact. The young man must
    be made of rubber to fall as he does and get up so cheerfully only to
    be knocked down again!

    Larry Nehring as Lumiere and Kristin Netzband as Babette,
    the feather duster, were especially adept in their roles, which is not
    to slight the others: Bill Kelly as Maurice, Douglas Collier as Cogsworth,
    Amiee Collier as Mrs. Potts, and Tracee Patterson as the opera singer/Wardrobe.
    Maurice’s riding log-splitter invention is marvelously picturesque.
    Shades of Rube Goldberg!

    Scenic designer Ben Needham created a handsome, multi-faceted
    set design with all sorts of moveable parts, that quickly morph from
    the village to the castle to the forest to Belle’s cottage and
    back again, in not much more time than it takes to blink. Lighting designer
    Steven Mack added many wonderful sparkly things to complement the versatile
    lighting effects. Costume designers Aimee Kluiber and Theatrix Costume
    House of Toronto deserve extra kudos for the marvelous depictions of
    the castle’s humans who are bewitched into becoming things: the
    clock, the teapot, the wardrobe, etc., not to mention the kitchen utensils!
    Not only are they wonderful to look at, but they didn’t seem to
    bother the very athletic dancers at all! Imagine trying to dance while
    garbed as a recognizable plate or corkscrew or measuring spoons!

    Beauty and the Beast continues through December
    31. For tickets or information, call (216) 521-2540 or log onto http://www.beckcenter.org. 

    And now, for the pictures! 

    It was so much fun.  The music was great, we all had a blast. . . . but I think the best part was hearing the peals of laughter from the kids (and the parents!) as all the crazy stuff went on.  This is one show that I have really and truely enjoyed. . . usually by the end of the run, I'm ready for the show to end . . . but not this one!  I was bummed that it was over. 

    Anyways ... thats it for now.  My mom's going to come over and we're going to hang out a bit.  So I shall talk to you all later. 

    toodles!!                 ~Mere   `@(_)

Comments (3)

  • I loved the photos, the costumes and the decor are so pretty!

  • Wow, it must be awesome to be a part of something like that!

  • I read this post last week, but I forgot to comment on it.  I find this so interesting, and I can only imagine that it's a lot of fun and very interesting. 

    ryc:  You said EXACTLY what I have been thinking, and I'm glad that you did because it is the affirmation that I need.  Goodness, right down to the light silver-grey, because that will work splendidly with the carpeting that is already there as well.  Thanks so much for that comment.  It really made my morning!!

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