By ALENA HIGGINS
IT WAS lights, camera, action for a group of Assumption College students last week as they took to the stage to premier their romantic musical production, Beauty and the Beast Jr.
Based on the Walt Disney classic, the colourful play incorporated about 75 cast and crew who spent six months tirelessly rehearsing for opening night.
The musical is the first for the school after a 10-year hiatus and tells the tale of the relationship between Benson, a prince who is magically transformed into a monster as punishment for his arrogance, and Belle O’Hara, a young woman who he imprisons in his castle.
Kirsty Searson directed the production, which was performed over three nights at Warwick Town Hall.
Tom Hardy, who played Gaston – a villain suitor of Belle – said the audience response was second to none.
“It was pretty awesome,” the Year-12 student said of Thursday’s opening night.
“It was a full-packed house, which was pretty cool.”
It was fellow Year 12 student Ryan Collins’ first time acting and he was relieved not to have to sing a solo.
“I didn’t really know what to expect,” Ryan said.
“I sing in the chorus and I am pretty happy about that.”
Ryan acknowledged he had to come up with more creative ways to fill the brief playing Belle’s father, Maurice.
“I’m acting about a 60-year-old, so I try and walk like an old man and have a little hobble and then I put a different old-man voice on,” Ryan said.
But his maiden appearance did not seem to frazzle him.
“In the hours leading up to it, I was trying to avoid thinking about it,” he said.
“A few minutes before I went on, it hit me and I just walked out there and soaked up the limelight.”
