Beauty & The Beast: Cappie Worthy at Wootton

>This past weekend’s performances of Beauty and the Beast burst from the stage in a professional and intensive production at Wootton High School. Chosen by the Wootton Center for the Arts as their Cappie nomination for the year, they pulled out all the stops in hopes of receiving awards from the student critics.

When Jessica Futran began to sing as Belle, my first thought was that her vocals must have been prerecorded, which didn’t seem possible because you could tell the other performers were singing live. Then I finally accepted the obvious, she was moving around the stage effortlessly with a perfect voice and tremendous talent. All her scenes were touching but the intimate gestures and voices in No Matter What with Alex Garretson (playing her father) put me on their side. This scene introduces the storyline and we learn they are simply not like everyone else. Another stand out performance was delivered by Mattia D’Affuso as a truly convincing and animated Lumiere. The entire cast was strong with obvious hard work and excellent direction from Adam Graham and Carla Ingram, who mention in the Director’s Note that they both have girls and “spent countless hours in front of the Disney Princess series of movies”.

The set’s bold-graphic background and bare-twisted trees were enhanced by the detailed paintings of objects brought to three-dimensional life. All the choreography of the large cast unfolded in a fast-paced flourish, especially the wolves frightening bounds in the dark forest. Elaborate costumes rented and owned by the company matched any imaginable theater production creating a rollicking, delightful display during Be Our Guest. My little seven-year-old noticed the changes occurring to the magical inhabitants of the Beast’s castle as they became less and less human. The musical reminded me of an impressive fireworks display when each moment must be the finale, yet it keeps going to even greater heights.

While reading one of her many beloved books, Belle daydreams about a happy ending. This show delivers it. You can still be amazed by this student production next weekend at 7:30 PM on March 27 & 28, and 2 PM on March 29, 2009. $15 for reserved seats. $10 general admission in the back and side sections.

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