Sandra on Scene: Whimsical Players presents Beauty and the Beast: A Success!
Sandra on Scene: Whimsical Players presents Beauty and the Beast: A Success!
The new Whimsical Players drama troupe’s debut onto Brantford’s theatre scene with its production of Vera Morris’ BEAUTY AND THE BEAST was a resounding success.
Beauty and the Beast, with its cast of 20 ranging in age from 8 to 60 plus, from Paris, Brantford and beyond, drew full audiences and hailed standing ovations.
“You guys worked really hard and I’m really proud of you and thank you for being part of this,” the show’s director Meghan Graham told the cast after the three-show weekend. “Thanks to you we got our name out there and everyone knows the quality of show we can put on.”
The production took over the TB Costain/SC Johnson Community Centre at the corner of Grand River and Morrell Streets, February 26th through the 28th and drew approximately 250 people for the entire weekend. Despite illness plaguing the actors, one even had to have a stand in on Saturday night, the months of hard work paid off.
The Vera Morris version, differs from Disney’s rendition, in that Beauty lives on a small farm with her widowed mother, two older married sisters and two brothers-in-law and the family dog Brutus. It is the mother played by Sandra L. Anderson that gets lost in a bewitched forest, chased by a talking wolf (Garry Graham) and happens upon the castle of the Beast (Keith Chambers) with its animated household goods including a walking talking clock, chair, masterpiece painting and magic looking glass. The mother takes a rose from the Beast, is condemned to be a prisoner and when she returns home to say goodbye having become very ill from the journey, Beauty (Jessica Crowley) insists on taking her place. She and the Beast then discover what love can truly do. We see more of the selfish prince and his life before he is turned into a Beast as well, played by Zach Miller.
A highlight of the show is a fight scene with swords and some acrobatics by the skilled Keith Chambers and Ralph Tutin. A disclaimer was announced at the beginning of each show warning the people in the front row to stay put while the “professionals” do their thing.
The audience all left with smiles on their faces and offered high praise for the show.
Beauty and the Beast made a profit for the non-profit community theatre group, which will allow Whimsical Players to bring more quality family entertainment to Brantford.
Make sure to Be Seen at the next show performed by Whimsical Players!
Submitted by: Sandra L. Anderson
Photography by: Heather Cardle
To see more of her work, please visit: Heather Cardle Photographer
