It was an Encore Performance from the Mt. Hope Masqueraders with their production of "Beauty and the Beast". Every actor controlled their about opening night jitters and turned in an outstanding performance.  

This is a must see play for the whole family. Ava Callery is the perfect Belle. Tom Hanson is the perfect Beast. Both having vocal training, sang their songs beautifully. It is great casting of the enchanted household staff with Lumiere, played by Alex O'Hanley, entertaining the audience with his delightful voice and his witty banter. The object of his fun bantering was going on with Babbette played by Makaela Impagliazza. The actors had very good stage chemistry together. 

Cogsworth, played by CJ Gerhard , performed brilliantly in his role as the serious and stiff head of the household staff.  The voice of Ava Mascena, playing Mrs. Potts, really held the ensemble productions together with her beautiful voice. Gaston, played by Jameson Morra is every girls heartthrob. He is perfectly balanced by the actor Chris Winchell, playing the part of LeFou. The silly girls, played by Ali Wetherald, Esther Watrous, and Nicole Rodrigues were fun to watch as they flirted with Guston.  Samantha Egge as the Wardrobe, Shannon Ott as the Enchantress, Michelle Cardoza as Chip, and John Hunt as Monsier D'Arque all performed brilliantly.

The set along with the props were well designed and produced by the Technical Production class at Mt. Hope High School under the supervision of the acting director, Carol Schlink.

Of course every opening night has a few glitches. My favorite was when Belle's hoop skirt in the ending scene of the wedding, being help up by the Beast, fell and the Beast announced "Sorry" over the microphone. Every performance is different and better. 

The costumes were all designed and fitted to the actors.  A play of this magnitude is a costly production with many items donated  or made by the parents of the actors.

The Mt Hope Masqueraders hope to fill the audience every night so the cost of admittance can produce another play of this quality. Fund raising goes on all year starting with the Haunted House at Halloween, the Fall play, Drama Festival, and ending for the year with the big musical production in the spring. The theater productions are self funded so please come to the play and bring a friend.  You will leave happy.

Michelle Mascena, Bristol