Staging the classic Beauty and the Beast musical at Shellharbour Anglican College was a “no-brainer”.
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“We chose Beauty and the Beast because it is beautiful,” director Lyndall Coulthart said.
“The music is beautiful, the costumes are beautiful and the sets are amazing.
“It is a musical with a large cast. So, for a school it is a great way to include a lot of kids with different abilities.
“But in the end it is fun.”
The college will present two (7pm) performances of Beauty and the Beast on Friday, July 27 and Saturday, July 28 in the Shellharbour Anglican College multi-purpose hall.
It is a love story. It is full of magic and wonder.
- Lyndall Coulthart
Mrs Coulthart, who is also a music teacher, said students have been working tirelessly to bring this story to life.
It is a story of not judging a Beast by its cover, nor a bookish girl by hers.
“Belle and Beast, along with a vivacious cast of characters will teach us that true love demands sacrifice, perseverance and patience,” she said.
“It is a story of redemption.
“The young prince is a beast inside at the beginning. An enchantress places a spell on him until he can learn to be kind and loving and at that point he is transformed back out of his beastly body.
“It is a love story. It is full of magic and wonder.”
Mrs Coulthart said she loved the way Mackenzie Weare played Belle.
“She is a beautiful soprano. She carries that sweetness and innocence of Belle but she has also got that feisty fight in her as well,” she said.
“I love how Mackenzie plays Belle.
“It is kind of a modern take on Belle. She is not a victim. She is in charge of her own story.”
Ethan Williamson also impresses as the Beast.
“He has a great booming voice but he is probably the most gentle boy you have ever met. He managed to be mean and find that subtle balance,” Mrs Coulthart said.
Katie Egan is “very funny and brings great comic timing” in her depiction of Cogsworth the clock.
Holly Hudson, who plays Babette, is “flirtatious and vivacious and full of energy and life”.
“She is a great foil to Lumiere, her love interest. They have lots of beautiful comic scenes where the two of them jostle back and forth. There is a great tango as well,” the director said.
Beauty and the Beast tickets are available on www.trybooking.com/VUKV now.