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 `@(_)
Recent Comments