Wairarapa kids ready for beastly fairytale

PART OF THE FURNITURE: Courtney Wilton (Cogsworth), left, Olivia Harvey (Madame de la Grande Bouche), Opaline Sunier (Babette), Kate Lewis (Lumiere), Lily Lewis (Mrs Potts) and Greta McGrath (Chip).

Disney's beloved tale of true love, looking beyond appearances and singing and dancing furniture is to be brought to life by a troupe of keen Wairarapa thespians.

Close to 60 youngsters are involved in MATS' junior production of Beauty and the Beast, opening tomorrow evening.

Beauty and the Beast will be MATS' second major junior production (following last year's Seussical), with much of the cast having graduated from the society's 'theatre boot camp' holiday programme.

The show, an abridged version of the Broadway musical adapted from the Oscar winning 1991 Disney film, is directed by MATS' president Sharon Stevens-Cottle, with musical direction and choreography from long-time MATS performers Siobhan and Bridget Connor.

Musical director Siobhan Connor said the young cast, aged nine to 17, have relished their famed fairytale roles -- though most had never heard of the Disney classic.

"Beauty and the Beast was one of my favourites, but the kids haven't grown up with the old-school Disney like we did," Miss Connor said.

"I told them to watch the movie -- and they went away and learnt the whole thing.

"Even without growing up with the story, they've got an ear for what's going on and they understand exactly what the characters are about."

Miss Connor said the cast have had just five weeks to rehearse the show -- which is known for its elaborate sets and costuming, large-scale dance numbers and rousing songs.

The children and their directors have contended with several challenges, such as adapting the choreography to fit on a small stage, putting together costumes from scratch and learning challenging vocal numbers.

But, Miss Connor said, the young actors have risen to the occasion.

"The songs are written in adult keys; really high or really low, especially for the girls playing male parts.

"We have treated them like adults, and they've worked like adults. This teaches them about making a long-term commitment and responsibility.

"And they keep coming back for more."

Miss Connor said the children playing the lead roles have all excelled, with the trio of Kate Lewis, Courtney Wilton and Lily Lewis as Lumiere, Cogsworth and Mrs Potts, and eldest cast member Luke Hempleman as the villain Gaston predicted to bring the most laughs.

"Those are the roles we remembered as kids -- the clock, the candlestick and the teapot.

"They even do the French and British accents; it's hilarious.

"And all the kids aspire to be like Luke when they're older."

Miss Connor and sister Bridget have run the children's holiday programme since 2014, and say the kids have blossomed since their first boot camp.

"The ones who didn't want to go on stage then are right out the front for Beauty and the Beast.

"They've said they don't know what they're going to do with themselves when the show finishes."

Beauty and the Beast runs from Thursday February 25 to Saturday February 27. More information and tickets are available from www.eventfinda.co.nz.