Cappies Review: Hayfield's 'Beauty and the Beast'

PHOTO (Left to right): Arianna Parenti and Jackson Miller; photo by Tom Kinder

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By Lily Brock of Langley High School

There’s a little beast in us all. Just a tad. A morsel. But there’s an intrinsic beauty too, innate in our care for one another. A beauty beyond the physical, past any fleeting facade. Hayfield Secondary School tackled this theme with exuberance and spirit in their lively production of The Beauty and the Beast.

Based on a French fairy tale, The Beauty and the Beast is a staple of any childhood movie collection thanks to the release of the 1991 animated Disney adaptation. A Broadway version soon followed with music by Alan Menken and lyrics by Howard Ashman and Tim Rice. The cherished tale chronicles the burgeoning love between a young woman, Belle, and a prince who has been transformed into a hideous beast.

Chad Vann commanded as the Beast. Vann’s booming vocals were fraught with a mournful air, lamenting his tragic form in a beautifully rendered performance of “If I Can’t Have Her.” Decked out in animal makeup and fake fur, Vann emoted masterfully without the convenience of facial expressions, instead relying on each bellow and snarl to convey his angst. As Belle’s macho suitor, Hank Von Kolnitz, was the show’s driving force. Pure talent in aggressively tight leggings. As vocally adept as he was hysterically funny, Von Kolnitz boosted the overall energy tenfold as soon as he swaggered onstage. Von Kolntiz’s sidekick, Jackson Miller as Lefou played a combination of goofy and obsequious in raucous group numbers like “Gaston.”

The Silly Girls served as a perfect foil for the oh-so principled Belle, squealing and clinging to Von Kolnitz like creatures from Gloria Steinem’s worst nightmares. The enchanted objects ensemble was similarly spirited as they grapevined dressed like the contents of a dishwasher. Two standouts, Shannon Flack as Cogsworth and Isa Lee as Mrs. Potts were lovable as an enchanted clock and tea pot, respectively. Likewise, Nathan Tepe aptly took to the role of Luminere.

The makeup team performed a notable transformation on Vann, morphing him into the Beast with elaborate animal makeup and fur. The look was positively feral, crafting a fine contrast to the humanity of Vann’s performance. The orchestra worked nicely to complement the singers, never overpowering the vocals.

Hayfield Secondary School’s performance concluded with a well-deserved standing ovation and several rowdy shouts from the satisfied audience.