By: Lydia Vogel, Cedar Creek High School, Egg Harbor City
ATCO, N.J. — Come find adventure in the great wide somewhere with the marvelous tale of Beauty and the Beast at Winslow Township High School, a story of heart, home, and a found family that will delight, excite, and dazzle any theater enthusiast.
With music by Alan Menken, book by Linda Woolverton and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice, Beauty and the Beast premiered on Broadway on April 18, 1994, and closed on July 29, 2007, after 46 previews and 5,461 performances, making it Broadway’s tenth-longest running production in history. The musical Beauty and the Beast is based on the animated Disney film by the same name and uses much of the same songs from the original source material. The spirited, headstrong village girl Belle enters a Beast’s castle after he imprisons her father, Maurice. With the help of his enchanted servants, Belle begins to draw the cold-hearted Beast out of his isolation and eventually falls in love with him revealing his true form.
The lead Belle and the Beast, played respectively by Alyvia Janicki and Jayden Osei-Miller, were beautifully matched. Belle moved with the grace of a true Disney princess, and when she appeared in the iconic yellow dress, the audience was spellbound. The Beast’s vocals were especially dramatic. His baritone voice perfectly encapsulated the gruff nature of the part portrayed. This was especially prominent during the song “If I Can’t Love Her.” Overall the leads owned the stage and captivated the audience with their performances.
There are many characters that one sees throughout the story of Beauty and the Beast. Whether that be the feisty lovers Lumiere (Ezequiel Tirado) and Babette (Alexa Renzulli), the ever irritable Cogsworth (Emily LeGore), or the perfectly portrayed arrogance of Gaston (Giovanni Vera), paired with the bumbling humor of Lefou (Cass Juarez), each and every one adds to the magic and wonder on stage. However, one supporting character shone above the others. With an astounding voice and stage presence throughout the entire show, Mrs. Potts, played by Shilo Garnett, never failed to draw the attention of the audience. Her solo in the song “Beauty and the Beast” was a vulnerable and heartwarming moment that displayed the range and versatility of her character’s vocals and created a memorable moment in the show.
One thing Cappies love to see is student contribution, and in this category, Winslow knocked it out of the park. From handmade costumes to innovative set design to the technical side of props, it is clear that the students of Winslow High School put their blood sweat and tears into this performance. Each student worked diligently to pull together a stunning performance. The set, which took over 50 students to construct, helped immerse the audience into the world of Beauty and the Beast. The village was creatively hidden in the folds of a full-length staircase. This enchanted the audience with each transition and highlighted the spell the castle was under. A special shout out must be given to the stage crew who helped with each flawless transition throughout the play.
Winslow Township High School put on an enchanting performance of a tale as old as time with creativity and an enthusiasm that made the show magical to watch.
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