by Diana Goldammer

It’s hard to believe the new season has already begun.  But what a way to start.  The Mitchell ACT’s production of “Beauty and the Beast” was simply captivating.  It had all the elements of a classic Disney tale with awe-inspiring talent of local actors and crew.

When the curtain went up, the audience was transported to a tiny French village.  The costumes by Einsteins popped from in front of a spectacular backdrop, and you were happy to become immersed in their world.  Every costume was amazing and it was an adventure to see who would come on stage next and what they’d be wearing.

Belle was a delight to watch throughout the performance, as Becky Garton was the perfect fit for that character.  Strong, spunky and sincere, she played Belle brilliantly.

Ron Thorsen as the Beast pulled off a difficult performance behind layers of makeup and hair.  His emotions came out through his postures and gestures and the audience was with him every step of the way.  One of my favorite scenes was when the Beast rushed to Belle’s aid against the circling wolves.  There was no song or dialogue, but the visual effects were fabulous.

Vying for Belle’s affection was the comic bad guy character of Gaston played by ACT newcomer Rick Tollefson.  His strong-man poses were hysterical and his bravado was equally entertaining.

Gaston’s sidekick LeFou, played by Kevin Loker, didn’t miss a beat.  His timing was flawless and he seemed perfectly cast for this role.

Brett Farnham, another ACT newbie, was wonderful as Belle’s father, Maurice.  Acting decades older, he had great chemistry with Garton.

The truly fun roles in this play seemed to been held by Angella Buenzow as Mrs. Potts the tea pot, Jim Wagner as Cogsworth the clock, Karl Almjeld as Lumiere the candelabra, and Mary Schleich as Babette the feather duster.  As they slowly transformed into household objects, they made a valiant attempt to convince their master, the Beast, to win Belle’s heart.  In the process, they won over the audience with their quick one-liners and superb timing. 

Almjeld’s Lumiere had the funniest lines in the play, and Buenzow’s Mrs. Potts sang the signature ballad “Beauty and the Beast” with mesmerizing effect.  Cogsworth and Babette, Wagner and Schleich, were enchanting as well, and added warmth and humor as they brought their characters to life.  Susan Thie played an opera diva turned wardrobe and was quite amusing at the end as she chased angry villagers with a Viking hat and spear.

Supporting these main roles were actors who had a lot of personality of their own.  Brady Farnham spent most of the play in a teacup but did it well.  Jack Mitchell as Monsier D’Arque made a convincing villain.  Trisha Schleich, Hillary Orban and Stacey Schleich all played silly girls as well as a kitchen tools.  Professional actresses have nothing on these girls, as they all had a great “swoon.”

The characters with the most polar costume changes were the napkins and the wolves played by Chenise Berens, Brianna Bernard, Emily Grode, Keely Nelson and Brianna Sejnoha.  These girls played sinister wolves one minute and flitting little napkins the next.  Their costumes were great, and their dancing and choreography were energetic.

The well-known song “Be Our Guest” brought most of the ensemble onto stage.  Costumed as kitchenware, dinnerware and flatware, the Beast’s kitchen took on a life of it’s own.  Taking part in that magical transformation were Hannah Phillips, Libby Williams, Micaela Nelson, Dan Williams, Patty Thury, Teresa Hughes, Lauretta Cole Larsen, Marcia Dean, Cat Erickson, Carmen Mueller, Gary Thury and Clarence Larsen.

Adding to their versatility, all of these actors also played villagers along with Tim Letcher, Bryce Erickson and Croix Erickson.  The villagers first labeled Belle as odd for wanting to read books and later participated in the hunt for the Beast led by Gaston.  All of these characters had an adventure throughout the play.

The sets in this production were seemingly simple, but they were terribly effective in conveying the mood and allowing for quick set changes between songs.  The visual depth of the village scene was amazing. 

Taking charge of choreography was Devin Carey.  “Be Our Guest” was a showcase for his talent, as flatware, plates and a variety of kitchen tools and lead characters danced around the stage beautifully.  The napkins and wolves also had pieces that showed his influence.

Providing musical accompaniment were Cathy VerSteeg on piano, Mauri Becker on synthesizer and Tyler McEntee on drums.  The music added delightful ambiance to the performance.  It enhanced the story without being distracting thanks to the musicians being stationed behind the set.

Carol Grode served as director and Disney would have been proud.  It felt like each role was perfectly cast, each song perfectly sung, each move perfectly staged and each costume perfectly fit.  You won’t regret the time you spend seeing this performance, even if the weather is great.  As a matter of fact, you won’t want to be among the few who miss it!