Olney's 'Beauty,' a delightful holiday gift!

From left, Bobby Smith as Lumiere and Jade Jones as Belle in Olney Theatre  Center's Disney's Beauty and the Beast/Teresa Castracane Photography 

If there are one or two words to capture the essence of Olney Theatre Center's Disney's Beauty and the Beast, I would choose "adorable" and "charming."

Not a theatre lover? You will be.

Folks, it's Broadway comes to Olney in the revival of Beauty and the Beast which was cut short last year by a Covid variant, of course.

From the start, the show dazzles with action, verve, and terrific choreography (by Broadway star Josh Walden) which never stops.

My fav (per usual whenever he's on stage) is the hilarious Bobby Smith as Lumiere whose light fantastic on national and New York stages becomes obvious in short order.

How did he hold up those lights, candles, lamps whatever they were for so long? An arm support, maybe?

The show has lots of comedy, including Lumiere's slapstick partner, a (cuckoo) clock named Cogsworth (Dylan Arrendondo). The two are a natural duo of fast conversations, dancing and jumping around opposite each other to often steal a scene.

From left, Kelli Blackwell as Mrs. Potts, Jade Jones as Belle, and Tracy Lynn Olivera as Madame de la Grande Bouche in Olney Theatre Center's Disney's Beauty and the Beast/Teresa Castracane Photography

Another amazing "hold" is found in the right arm of Mrs. Potts (Kelli Blackwell), frozen as it were in the shape of a teapot (that's what she is) whenever she's on stage, tottering from side to side.

From left, Jade Jones as Belle, Evan Ruggiero as the Beast, Bobby Smith as Lumiere, and Dylan Arrendondo as Cogsworth in Olney Theatre Center's Disney's Beauty and the Beast/Teresa Castracane Photography

Speaking of perpetual physical demands, I found myself silently applauding the skillful maneuvering by the "Beast" (Evan Ruggerio) who kept his peg leg well hidden behind his knee and the long coats he wore. Little did I know what truth lay under the garments! More than meets the eye! A surprising feat!

Ruggerio was mysterious and stooped in all the moments that demanded a hunchback until...

It wasn't only the "beast" whose looks are deceiving but the beauty's, too, acted by Helen Hayes' two-time nominee Jade Jones as Belle, the centerpiece of the story with a vibrant, stellar voice to undercut any doubts for those who judge by appearances only.

She has lots of competition when it comes to stars in the show.

Where to begin? 

The dimmer ones almost outshine the brightest ones!

Like another of my other favorites, Tracy Lynn Olivera who is Madame de la Grande Bouche (French for "madam of the big mouth"). This multi-Helen Hayes winner has a sharp delivery and effervescent humor in addition to an excellent voice whose high notes never faltered and always peaked with ease.

Michael Burrell is Gaston whose sidekick, LeFeu (French for "the fool") make an energetic team trying to win the girl. (John Sygar is LeFeu whose acrobatics with Mr. Burrell made me envious of their abilities to leap, sprawl, rock and roll.)

The ensemble couldn't have been better! From dancing to vocals, they enlivened every scene with their performances and costumes (by Ivania Stack whose stunning, luxurious gown for Belle drew gasps when Belle first appeared in it on stage, sometimes with sharp utensils which could bend at every angle (? You have to be there.).

Wig designer Ali Pohanka had her head full of creations for the many 18th-century wigs which never fell or slid from the tops of any actor. 

How did they keep them attached amidst all the gyrations?

Helen Hayes winner Walter “Bobby“ McCoy leads the hidden nine-piece orchestra, the live music which is critical to increased enjoyment of the production even while sometimes competing with voices onstage.

If you've never seen the show, it's about a missing father (Sasha Olinick is Maurice) whose daughter, Belle, goes in search for him and stumbles upon a mysterious and cobwebbed mansion filled with all things ghastly. (Applause to Narelle Sissons for her magnificent sets.)

The story may be a bit predictable, but it's marvelous entertainment and sure to enchant all who come (save the very youngest).

Alert: Do not judge a book by its cover. There's more than meets the eye. Especially if horns are attached. 

Others in the show are Hailey Ibberson, Connor James Reilly, Michael Wood and ensemble members,

Jessica Bennett, Ariana Caldwell, Selena Clyne-Galindo, Miya Hamashige, Erica Leigh Hansen, Ariel Messeca, David Singleton, Megan Tatum, and Tyler M. White.

Tony-nominated Marcia Milgrom Dodge directs.

Other creative members are Colin K. Bills, lighting; Matt Rose, sound; John Keith Hall, production stage manager; Phillip Snider, Cat Moreschi and Conri Connell, assistant stage managers; and Robb Hunter, fight choreographer who achieves immense success with the various physical conflicts.

What: Disney's Beauty and the Beast by Alan Menken, Howard Ashman, Tim Rice, and Linda Woolverton


When: Through Jan. 1, 2023, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. except Christmas Eve and New Year's Eve; matinees at 2 p.m. Saturdays, Sundays, and Wednesday, Nov. 30, Dec. 21 and Dec. 28.

A sign-interpreted performance Thursday, Dec. 1st at 8:00p.m. (Email wbrown@olneytheatre.org.)

Draw Yourself Into the Story! For children, Sunday, Dec. 11, 2022, 11 a.m. Olney provides the paper, colored pencils, and lots more! $5 each or free for members.

Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.

Tickets: Start at $42-$99 available at olneytheatre.org and 301-924-3400.

Ages: For all, except toddlers

Language: G

Masks: Required at Wednesday and Sunday performances; recommended at other performances.

Parking: Free, lighted and plentiful on-site

For more information: 301-924-3400 for the box office, Wed. - Sat., 12 - 6 p.m. or 301-924-4485


patricialesli@gmail.com

Olney's outstanding 'Once' extended

Gregory Maheu, the "guy" and the ensemble of Once at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh You can hear the music from the pictures.

It's a wonderful night (or day) at the theatre. They sing! They dance! They act! They play! 

You like music?  You're gonna love Once at the Olney Theatre Center and its common language which speaks throughout the world.

Malinda Kathleen Reese is "Girl" and Gregory Maheu is "Guy" in Once at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh

The music starts before you enter the theatre when the troupe's music rings out in the entrance hall to welcome you and tease with the promise of a good time ahead.

How can things go wrong with such a dandy beginning?  What's a play, a novel, life, without a bit of contrast, some problems? It's all about ups and downs and taking advantage of every single day.

And isn't that what entertainment is all about?

John Sygar (Andrej), Carlos Castillo (Svec), Daven Ralston (Reza), Malinda Kathleen Reese (Girl), Somaya Litmon (Ivanka), and Emily Mikesell (Baruska) in Once at Olney Theatre Center/Photo: Stan Barouh

A "Guy" (Gregory Maheu) is down in the dumps in Dublin (or any city) suffering ill effects of unrequited love when suddenly (you never know what the day is going to bring), a "Girl" (Malina Kathleen Reese) appears.  She tries to drag him out of his slump from the dump in Dublin, and there they go!

A woman rescues the man!  (That they have no names means they are everybody.)

Mr. Maheu plays the guitar and Ms. Reese, the piano, and, like the rest of the cast, they sing and dance practically non-stop.

They've got talent!

Billy (Dave Stishan), one of my favorites who plays four instruments, is the virile shop owner, the "he-man" who takes guff from no one, including Guy who is a competitor for Girl, but she has no time for aggressors like Billy. 

In a post-show exchange with members of the audience, Baruška (Emily Mikesell) said one of the hardest demands on the actors is to sing while making music (she plays violin, ukulele, and accordion, but not at the same time), but the cast succeeds in making it look so easy.  

An actor's skill, no? 

At the audience session, actors credited voice and dialect coach Lynn Watson for their convincing Irish speech.

First a movie, then a play, Once's "Falling Shortly" received the 2007 Oscar for Best Original Song, and five years later, the production won eight Tonys. 

This band of strolling musicians  play banjos, accordion, piano, guitars, mandolins, electric bass, violins, cello, papoose (?), bodhran (?), ukulele, tambourine, melodica (?), castanets (?), and cajón (the instrument from Peru which looks like a box, acts like a box and sounds like a box when hit by fingers, hands and sticks).  

Except for the children, every actor plays at least one instrument in the show, and "Svec" (Carlos Castillo) plays six, and "Andrej" (John Sygar, the dance captain), five. (My notes say: "Buy the soundtrack" which is rarely found among my pages.)


As it should be, the set by Michael Schweikardt is simple and uncomplicated with colorful pieces of lumber hanging at angles for backdrop.  

The musicians sit in the shadows in a semi-circle while actors talk.  Scenes change quickly with movements of the piano, a chair or two, a cajón.

Costumer Frank Labovitz looks like he pulled every outfit straight from heaps of dirty clothes lying in millennials' bedrooms. It's the times!

Some of the memorable lines from the show: "This day has such promise. Every day has promise!" "Life is good." "Wasting life because you are frightened of it is terrible!"  "Those who live in fear die miserably in their graves." (Yogi Berra's name is missing from the credits.)

Congrats to Olney's music director, Christopher Youstra (four instruments) who acts as emcee in the show.

Other members of the cast are Katie Chambers, Nick DePinto, Craig MacDonald, and Brian Reisman. Daven Ralston is Reza, a "hot mama."  

At alternate performances, Kyleigh Fuller and Somaya Litmon share the daughter role. Swings are Linda Bard and Ian Geers.

It is astonishing that one person, Marcia Milgrom Dodge, directed and choreographed the show.

No wonder Once been extended.  A great way to celebrate St. Paddy's Day!

Other members of the creative team are Colin K. Bills, lighting; Matt Rowe, sound; Karen Currie, production stage manager; and Josiane Jones, director of production.
 
Music and lyrics by Glen Hansard and Markéta Irglova. Based on the movie by John Carney.
 
What: Once by Enda Walsh

Where: Olney Theatre Center, 2001 Olney-Sandy Spring Road, Olney, MD 20832.

When: Extended through St. Patrick's Day, March 17, 2019, Wednesday through Saturday at 8 p.m. with matinees Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m. and a sign interpreted performance Thursday, February 28 at 8 p.m. 

Tickets: Begin at $42 with discounts for groups, seniors, military, and students

Ages: Olney rates Once as "R," appropriate for those age 16 and above. Adult language.

"Afterwords": After the matinees on March 2 and March 9

Duration: About two hours with one 15 minute intermission

Refreshments: Available and may be taken to seats

Parking: Free and plentiful on-site

For more information: 301-924-3400 for the box office or 301-924-4485.

patricialesli@gmail.com