EDMT's Beauty And The Beast Does Not Disappoint
By Ken Kiunke
Staff Writer
El Dorado Musical
Theater's new production of Disney's Beauty and the Beast,
which opened Friday at Three Stages in Folsom, is up to the usual
high standards of an EDMT show. If you are not familiar with EDMT,
they are a youth theater company that features performers from the
ages of 6 to 20. Everyone who auditions for a show will make the
cast, though the key roles are assigned based on the talent shown
in the audition, so many of the younger and less experienced kids
fill the roles of background, chorus, and townspeople as needed in
each musical. There is a sizable tuition and parent volunteer
requirements. Photo: Mirror Cast -
Belle (Katherine Sorgea), Gaston
(Andrew Wilson), LeFou (Jon Leadbetter) of the Mirror cast for
EDMT's 'Beauty and the Beast'. Courtesy Photo
This, along with great sponsorship support and a professional
production staff, allows EDMT to put on high quality shows complete
with excellent scenery, costumes, makeup, and choreography that far
exceed what you may expect at a typical school play featuring
performers of similar ages. For the large “Main Stage” productions,
the audition response usually means two entirely different casts
will alternate performances. Though each cast may have its own
standout performers, they are generally of equal quality overall –
there is no primary and secondary designation.
The show I saw Saturday night was the opening show for the “Mirror”
cast (the “Rose” cast had already done two shows). Katherine Sorgea,
a veteran of many EDMT productions, played the leading role of
Belle. Her voice and characterization of the young girl longing for
something new were perfect for the role. She had many opportunities
to shine in act one, both with the townspeople, and in solo.
Belle's partner and foil is Gaston, wonderfully played by Jonathan
Cramner, another EDMT veteran. He embraced the role of the vain,
buffoonish Gaston with gusto and talent, matching Belle's sweet
earnestness with his brazen self-loving bully of the town, adored
by the silly girls but shunned by his prize, Belle. His songs with
his sidekick, Lefou (played and sung very well by Jon Leadbetter),
provided the great energy and humor at the beginning of the show.
As the action shifts to
the Beast's castle, we meet the company of enchanted household
objects, led by Lumiere, played by Alex Levy, and Mrs. Potts,
played by Helen Regula (two more EDMT veterans.) The Beast, played
by Braiden Wells, emerges with a surprising deep baritone, setting
the tone for the forbidden castle, and giving the Beast his heart
and soul behind the fangs. But the somber mood is soon broken with
the highlight of the show, Be Our Guest, a number featuring
nearly the whole cast, including the little ones playing various
plates, cups, and kitchen utensils, choreographed in a swirling and
magical show. The ensemble singing sounds great, as Mrs. Potts and
Lumiere lead the way. Dancing napkins do a French can-can as the
acrobatic carpet (played by Gabi Griggs) delights the audience. The
whole company shines in their rendition of this popular number.
Photo: Beast (Braiden Wells). Belle
(Katherine Sorgea),
and Gaston
(Andrew Wilson).
Courtesy Photo
The momentum built in
Act one fades somewhat in Act two. There are a couple of
highlights, as the castle group perform Human Again, one of
the songs not in the original animated version, but added for the
stage. Although Mrs. Potts' lovely performance of the title song is
heartwarming, Act two is all about transformation, and much is lost
in the translation. Gaston is no longer a humorous dolt, but now a
mean-spirited mob leader. Belle goes from being an independent
young lady to a girl falling for Prince (soon to be) charming. The
Beast changes from an angry master of his castle to an unsure Romeo
hoping to win the girl's heart. The climactic battle that ends with
the Beast's transformation just sort of happens, with a very loud
fog machine providing the soundtrack. (The preceding encounter of
the town mob with the castle crew is fun, but doesn't really go
anywhere.) Even the household's becoming “human again” is not very
momentous, and is treated with few quick scenes of dialog between
the restored characters.
Photo: Belle, Gaston and the Silly Girls of the Rose cast.
Courtesy photo
Though the second half does not hold up to the fun of the first, it
is still overall an excellent production and quite an entertaining
evening for the whole family. All of the singers do a great job,
and the ensemble singing is surprisingly good, a tribute to the
vocal director, Jennifer Martin. Director/Choreographer Debbie
Wilson shows she can put more than 50 kids, some as young as six
years old, on a stage and make it look great (and do it with two
entire casts!) A lot of love goes into a production like this, and
it shows in the final product.
Disney's Beauty and the Beast runs Thursdays through Sundays
through November 13, 2011 at Three Stages in Folsom. For tickets or
more information about EDMT, its cast and upcoming shows, go to
www.edmt.info or call
916-941-SING (7464).
About El Dorado Musical Theatre: EDMT is an award-winning,
regional theater company based in El Dorado Hills, California
featuring performers aged 6-20. EDMT was founded in 2001 and is a
Non-Profit Organization. EDMT produces four major productions per
year. Remaining productions this season include 42nd Street,
Oklahoma!, and Honk!. Additionally, EDMT produces an annual
training show for performers ages 5-9; no experience is required.
All photos
courtesy of EDMT.
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