Beauty and the Beast

Yesterday, I went to watch my friend Jason's high school musical, "Beauty and the Beast". It was such FUN!!! They are pretty good for high school students. Granted, they could use more singing lessons, but the energy and the enthusiasm made up for their shortcomings.

The belle was really expressive. The beast was really really grumpy and awkwardly behaved (which suited the character very much). Gaston was skinny but the self-esteem he exuded would make you believe he was the best man in the world. I always envy this character. He gets to do all the fun songs. Plus, he was always one head taller than anyone else in the play. His sidekick, LeFou was wonderfully played. As a plus, this guy sang better than Gaston. The three silly girls were really really silly (and very beautiful... I can see why Gaston wouldn't want to end his "rendezvous" even after his planned-wedding).

Lumiere had a mix of Indian-French accent. Clogsworth reminded me of Jupiter Jones (don't ask why... he just did). For those who did not spend their youth reading, Jupiter Jones was the head of the Three Investigators. Babette was really carefree and flirtatious throughout the show. The Castle Company (diningwares) were hilarious. They all had this big silly grin on their face. The napkins danced gracefully. Others danced comically, which made it doubly interesting. Have I mentioned that Jason was the soup bowl? He looked so cute wearing the costume (and a big smile, of course!). And what a surprise when the Salt and one of the dinnerware came out to play flute and violin to accompany the song "Beauty and the Beast". Wow...!!

I went to a professionally staged "Beauty and the Beast" back in January. Their singing and power was better, but in terms overal enthusiasm and energy level, these high school casts did a much better job. I can still hear them sing, "No one hits like Gaston; Matches wits like Gaston; In a spitting match nobody spits like Gaston... No one plots like Gaston; Takes cheap shots like Gaston; Plans to persecute harmless crackpots like Gaston... Who has brains like Gaston? Entertains like Gaston? Who can make up these endless refrains like Gaston?"