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Characters invite audience to tea

| 13 Feb 2012 | 04:32
    During ‘Be Our Guest’, Mrs. Potts, played by Aileen Koch, speaks with Belle, played by Mary Adams, while the plates and flatware dance.
    During ‘Be Our Guest’, Mrs. Potts, played by Aileen Koch, speaks with Belle, played by Mary Adams, while the plates and flatware dance.
    Gaston, played by Kevin Naser, poses for his throngs of admirers.
    Gaston, played by Kevin Naser, poses for his throngs of admirers.

HAMBURG — Rehearsals are under way for the upcoming Wallkill Valley Regional High School production of “Beauty and the Beast." The show will be on stage at the high school on Grumm Road Friday, March 9 at 7:30 p.m., Saturday, March 10 at 2 and 7:30 p.m. and Sunday, March 11 at 3 p.m.

For the Sunday matinee, the actors will also put on a Tea Party, starting at 1 p.m., where many of the main characters — Bell, Gaston, the Beast and others — will join visitors and sign autographs. Tickets to the tea will include admission to the performance that afternoon. Guests for the event are encouraged to come in prince or princess garb, to enjoy hot chocolate, coffee, tea, juice, cookies and snacks.

The show The beloved tale that has been a Tony award winner on Broadway, incorporates heartfelt drama with comedy and large production numbers like “Be Our Guest.” It is a story of self-sacrifice, seeing the beauty beneath the skin and being true to oneself.

Belle, played by Mary Adams, is the heroine who must fend off the advances of the town heartthrob Gaston, played by Kevin Naser, in order to follow her own heart and mind. Circumstances find her thrown into the magical-scary kingdom of the Beast, played by Albert Weitz. There she discovers her true destiny.

With its large production numbers and ornate costuming, “Beauty” presents some challenges to cast and crew alike. “In order to accommodate the large dance numbers, the crew is actually building an extension of the Wallkill stage,” said Christine Molnar, the show's co-director. These extensive numbers are also requiring regular Saturday practices for many in the cast.

The production is under the co-direction of Molnar and Lindsay McAloney.