"Beauty And The Beast" - DMTC

Left: Rachelle Jones (Belle) and Tevye Ditter (Prince/Beast)


(first draft - a few photos with my new camera)

A strong finish to the 2006-07 DMTC Season!

We had switched BATB with West Side Story in the 2006-07 season, in part, out of concern whether we could have staged such a costume extravaganza last September for anything less than $10,000 (at least, that's what a lot of the BATB costume rentals on the Internet seemed to tally, and frankly, we were worried whether we could have afforded that).

But where there's a will, there's a way! The costuming proper (by Denise Miles, with help from Jean Henderson, and with props by Marie Petersen) cost under $1,700. There will be costume cleaning to deal with, and all the prop receipts have to be tallied, but it's possible the entire costuming expense might be little more than $2,000!

Bows: Rachelle Jones (Belle) and Tevye Ditter (Prince/Beast)


Some people had expressed concern whether all the actors could be heard properly. Where I was sitting, house left on the last Friday night, I had no problem hearing everyone. Chip (Sara Pinto), in particular, was the easiest to hear and understand (which is ironic, given that she was the smallest, and youngest, cast member, and sitting in cramped quarters on her tea tray that might have inhibited her full voice). Acoustics in the space may be a little strange, however, so others might have had different experiences sitting in different places.


Bows

The cast gestures appreciatively towards Erik Daniells and the DMTC Orchestra. There were many compliments of the highest regard for the Orchestra.

Loved Lumiere's headpiece here (my picture is a bit blurry). The plasticky candley stuff was a wonder to see, but also rather hot for Jon to wear in the summery weather.


Chris Petersen (La Fou). Chris sure took the blows well from J.R. Humbert (Gastogne)! The perfect foil!

Of all the actors on stage Friday night, J.R. Humbert's Gastogne made the boldest impression - loud, vain, loutish, preening - yet, not unpleasant, but rather perfectly in character. Very cartoonish, in that special Disney way.

Jon Jackson (Lumiere), Lenore Sebastian (Mrs. Potts), Cogsworth (Adam Sartain).












Cogsworth (Adam Sartain)