| beauty_and_the_beast_word2.docx |
Programme Notes for Audio Description of
Beauty and the Beast Pantomime at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Saturday January 4th 2020
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW STARTS AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT 2.30 pm.
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines and the Grand Opera House. The describers are Sara Duncan and Marie Abbott. The audio description will be done live and does not happen when the cast are speaking – only in between dialogue. These Programme notes will be read out ten minutes before the start of the show, so if you would like to hear them, please collect your headsets and take your seats ten minutes before the show commences.
Beauty and the Beast is based on a story written in France, by novelist Gabrielle- Suzanne de Villeneuve, published in 1740 with the title La Belle et la Bete. Like many stories it was based on traditional tales that had been around for hundreds of years. It is claimed that these tales grew up around a real life story. A recent Disney musical film version of the story, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in the two key roles, has made this story popular again.
The story
The story begins with a curse on a handsome young prince, given by a fairy who has been refused shelter from the prince’s castle. Years pass, and a father who has lost his way and finds shelter in the castle of a noble beast. Before he leaves, he steals something from the castle garden, a rose which he had promised to take home for his youngest daughter, Belle. The Beast is furious and threatens to kill him for this breach of hospitality, unless he offers him one of his three daughters as a bride. The father is distraught, but Belle goes to the Beast’s castle out of love for her father, and there she is treated like a princess. After giving her some time to get used to the strange ways of the castle, the Beast asks Belle to marry him. She is still frightened by the Beast’s appearance and his castle and cannot agree to his request. Then Belle’s father falls seriously ill and she begs the Beast to let her return home, promising to come back to him. He agrees and Belle’s father recovers under her loving care. The Beast meanwhile is heartbroken without Beauty. It is only when she returns to him that Beauty realises how much she has come to love the Beast, and through her love he becomes the handsome prince of her dreams.
This musical features songs, dancing, magical effects, and much laughter. The musical score is pre-recorded, but songs are performed live by the lead actors and chorus.
The Set
When you enter the auditorium, there is an outer frame on the stage topped by three glittering shields with heraldic symbols on them. At the front of the stage at floor level there is a row of pink lights which project up to the gauzy screen which is stretched right across the stage On this gauzy screen is projected the words ‘Once upon a time’ and there are sparkling stars which twinkle on and off.There are several gauze screens behind each other and painted scenes which show the high grey walls of a castle, or the village square, or the interior of a castle or a country road. These screens are painted as if they were illustrations in a children’s book of fairy tales, and they fly upwards as the scenes change.
This pantomime features lavish costumes and colourful characters .As well as the main actors, an ensemble of dancers and singers take several parts and perform as villagers or elves. A troupe of children from a local stage school also perform in the show.
CAST
Dame Mrs Potty, is played by May Mc Fettridge. May McFettridge is the queen of comedy and the grand dame of panto, alter-ego of John Linehan. This is May’s 30th year in pantomime. The Dame Mrs Potty is of medium height, with a broad body and ample bosoms. She has a plump face, rouged high cheeks, dark eyes emphasized by blue eye shadow, a long nose, wide mouth, with a missing tooth at the front. She wears a series of padded, colourful costumes throughout the pantomime, and elaborate wigs and hats. She first appears in a red and yellow striped dress with full net petticoats. The skirt comes to below her knees and has a hoop so it sits out and can swish about to comic effect. She wears bloomers, stockings and flat shoes. A tight padded bodice covers her ample form and she wears a yellow apron. The Dame wears a wig with two coiled plaits, one over each ear, and a large flat hat on top of her head. In a later scene, the Dame reappears in a blue patterned dress with a full-skirt, with petticoats and a large pink collar and enormous bow. Her wig is a bright pink colour, worn with bunches over each ear.
Later in a bedroom sequence Dame Mrs Potty wears a long pink and white nightdress patterned with red lips and white teeth, over white bloomers. A blue bedcap perches on her pink and blue curlers.
Later, she wears a rainbow striped dress, with red net frills. Her tight red cat suit, with black pants is jaw dropping. In the final scene she is arrayed in a wide gold purple trimmed dress and high head dress,with Christmas balls and feathers.
Prince Sebastian/ the Beast is played by Ben Richards.
Prince Sebastian is a tall imposing figure, with short dark hair, and oval tanned face. He first appears as a man wrapped in a pink cloak. After his transformation he appears with a large head with a mane of grey hair and a lion-like face with short horns on his head and large ears. His hands are large and hairy. However, he is always dressed in princely clothes, with a purple satin coat edged with gilt and three quarter length breeches stockings and short boots.
Magic Mandy is a friend of Mrs Potty, and this part is played by Mandy Muden.
Mandy has wild blond and black hair and wears a calf length purple silk dress, with long sleeves and a bodice and a short cloak attached. She is also a magician, dressed in a green all in one suit, with white bib, and yeeelow slippers. Her face is plump, with sparkly eye shadow.
Paddy, the Inventor is played by Paddy Jenkins. Paddy first appears wearing a bright turquoise coloured tunic, worn to the knees, over breeches and white stockings. On his head perches a white hat with turquoise stripe. Later in the bedroom scene he wears a long red and white stripe nightdress and cap, and furry slippers.
The Enchantress, who can fly and carries a magic wand, is played by Joanna O’Hare.
We first see the enchantress as an old woman wrapped in a cloak, but she reveals herself to be a beautiful young woman is a white silky dress. Later she appears in a full skirted yellow ball gown, with glittering sequins and long satin gloves over her bare arms and with her long auburn hair hanging loose. She carries a large wand with a glittering star at the tip.
The part of Belle ( Beauty) is played by Georgia Lennon.
Belle is a slim pretty young woman, with long dark hair, that hangs down her back.
As a villager she first appears in a calf length blue dress with full petticoats. The dress has a tight blue bodice, with a white blouse with long sleeves beneath the bodice. A small white apron and blue shoes with an ankle strap completes her outfit.
Flash Harry a villager, is played by Danny Bayne. Tall, broadchested, oval faced,with dark hair slicked back, and faint moustache. He wears tight black jeans and a long leather waistcoat which reveals his bare chest.
There are eight people who form the ensemble of dancers and singers, villagers. These are - Charlotte Alloway, Dean Ambrose, Lauryn Brewin, Chloe Evans, Lavinia Fitzpatrick, Sonny Grieveson, Marco venturing and David Winters.
The clothes for the villagers are similar and consist of full-skirt dresses with tight bodices worn over white blouses. These are in various colours. For men the outfits are loose sleeve shirts worn over breeches and waistcoats. Later the costumes consist of outfits for fairies and elves.
Young people from the McMaster Stage School take part in the show.
The Creative Team
Director: Andrew Ryan
Choreographer: Elliott Nixon
Lighting Design:Gary Hind, Oliver Welsh
Sound Design: Nick Sagar
Visual Special effects: The Twins FX
Production Video Engineer: John Browne
Speciality Costumes: Mike Coltman
Production Manager: Guy Ongley
Company Stage Manager: Paul Johnston
Deputy Stage Manager: Patrick Freeman
ASM/Book Cover: Jennie Newell
Technical ASM: Abigail Moore
Sound Operator 1:Dominic Beale
Wardrobe Supervisor: Elizabeth Greengrass
Wardrobe Assistants: Jeanette Tumelty and Margaret Tumelty
Beauty and the Beast Pantomime at the Grand Opera House Belfast
Saturday January 4th 2020
PLEASE NOTE THAT THIS SHOW STARTS AT THE GRAND OPERA HOUSE AT 2.30 pm.
This audio described performance is brought to you by Sightlines and the Grand Opera House. The describers are Sara Duncan and Marie Abbott. The audio description will be done live and does not happen when the cast are speaking – only in between dialogue. These Programme notes will be read out ten minutes before the start of the show, so if you would like to hear them, please collect your headsets and take your seats ten minutes before the show commences.
Beauty and the Beast is based on a story written in France, by novelist Gabrielle- Suzanne de Villeneuve, published in 1740 with the title La Belle et la Bete. Like many stories it was based on traditional tales that had been around for hundreds of years. It is claimed that these tales grew up around a real life story. A recent Disney musical film version of the story, starring Emma Watson and Dan Stevens in the two key roles, has made this story popular again.
The story
The story begins with a curse on a handsome young prince, given by a fairy who has been refused shelter from the prince’s castle. Years pass, and a father who has lost his way and finds shelter in the castle of a noble beast. Before he leaves, he steals something from the castle garden, a rose which he had promised to take home for his youngest daughter, Belle. The Beast is furious and threatens to kill him for this breach of hospitality, unless he offers him one of his three daughters as a bride. The father is distraught, but Belle goes to the Beast’s castle out of love for her father, and there she is treated like a princess. After giving her some time to get used to the strange ways of the castle, the Beast asks Belle to marry him. She is still frightened by the Beast’s appearance and his castle and cannot agree to his request. Then Belle’s father falls seriously ill and she begs the Beast to let her return home, promising to come back to him. He agrees and Belle’s father recovers under her loving care. The Beast meanwhile is heartbroken without Beauty. It is only when she returns to him that Beauty realises how much she has come to love the Beast, and through her love he becomes the handsome prince of her dreams.
This musical features songs, dancing, magical effects, and much laughter. The musical score is pre-recorded, but songs are performed live by the lead actors and chorus.
The Set
When you enter the auditorium, there is an outer frame on the stage topped by three glittering shields with heraldic symbols on them. At the front of the stage at floor level there is a row of pink lights which project up to the gauzy screen which is stretched right across the stage On this gauzy screen is projected the words ‘Once upon a time’ and there are sparkling stars which twinkle on and off.There are several gauze screens behind each other and painted scenes which show the high grey walls of a castle, or the village square, or the interior of a castle or a country road. These screens are painted as if they were illustrations in a children’s book of fairy tales, and they fly upwards as the scenes change.
This pantomime features lavish costumes and colourful characters .As well as the main actors, an ensemble of dancers and singers take several parts and perform as villagers or elves. A troupe of children from a local stage school also perform in the show.
CAST
Dame Mrs Potty, is played by May Mc Fettridge. May McFettridge is the queen of comedy and the grand dame of panto, alter-ego of John Linehan. This is May’s 30th year in pantomime. The Dame Mrs Potty is of medium height, with a broad body and ample bosoms. She has a plump face, rouged high cheeks, dark eyes emphasized by blue eye shadow, a long nose, wide mouth, with a missing tooth at the front. She wears a series of padded, colourful costumes throughout the pantomime, and elaborate wigs and hats. She first appears in a red and yellow striped dress with full net petticoats. The skirt comes to below her knees and has a hoop so it sits out and can swish about to comic effect. She wears bloomers, stockings and flat shoes. A tight padded bodice covers her ample form and she wears a yellow apron. The Dame wears a wig with two coiled plaits, one over each ear, and a large flat hat on top of her head. In a later scene, the Dame reappears in a blue patterned dress with a full-skirt, with petticoats and a large pink collar and enormous bow. Her wig is a bright pink colour, worn with bunches over each ear.
Later in a bedroom sequence Dame Mrs Potty wears a long pink and white nightdress patterned with red lips and white teeth, over white bloomers. A blue bedcap perches on her pink and blue curlers.
Later, she wears a rainbow striped dress, with red net frills. Her tight red cat suit, with black pants is jaw dropping. In the final scene she is arrayed in a wide gold purple trimmed dress and high head dress,with Christmas balls and feathers.
Prince Sebastian/ the Beast is played by Ben Richards.
Prince Sebastian is a tall imposing figure, with short dark hair, and oval tanned face. He first appears as a man wrapped in a pink cloak. After his transformation he appears with a large head with a mane of grey hair and a lion-like face with short horns on his head and large ears. His hands are large and hairy. However, he is always dressed in princely clothes, with a purple satin coat edged with gilt and three quarter length breeches stockings and short boots.
Magic Mandy is a friend of Mrs Potty, and this part is played by Mandy Muden.
Mandy has wild blond and black hair and wears a calf length purple silk dress, with long sleeves and a bodice and a short cloak attached. She is also a magician, dressed in a green all in one suit, with white bib, and yeeelow slippers. Her face is plump, with sparkly eye shadow.
Paddy, the Inventor is played by Paddy Jenkins. Paddy first appears wearing a bright turquoise coloured tunic, worn to the knees, over breeches and white stockings. On his head perches a white hat with turquoise stripe. Later in the bedroom scene he wears a long red and white stripe nightdress and cap, and furry slippers.
The Enchantress, who can fly and carries a magic wand, is played by Joanna O’Hare.
We first see the enchantress as an old woman wrapped in a cloak, but she reveals herself to be a beautiful young woman is a white silky dress. Later she appears in a full skirted yellow ball gown, with glittering sequins and long satin gloves over her bare arms and with her long auburn hair hanging loose. She carries a large wand with a glittering star at the tip.
The part of Belle ( Beauty) is played by Georgia Lennon.
Belle is a slim pretty young woman, with long dark hair, that hangs down her back.
As a villager she first appears in a calf length blue dress with full petticoats. The dress has a tight blue bodice, with a white blouse with long sleeves beneath the bodice. A small white apron and blue shoes with an ankle strap completes her outfit.
Flash Harry a villager, is played by Danny Bayne. Tall, broadchested, oval faced,with dark hair slicked back, and faint moustache. He wears tight black jeans and a long leather waistcoat which reveals his bare chest.
There are eight people who form the ensemble of dancers and singers, villagers. These are - Charlotte Alloway, Dean Ambrose, Lauryn Brewin, Chloe Evans, Lavinia Fitzpatrick, Sonny Grieveson, Marco venturing and David Winters.
The clothes for the villagers are similar and consist of full-skirt dresses with tight bodices worn over white blouses. These are in various colours. For men the outfits are loose sleeve shirts worn over breeches and waistcoats. Later the costumes consist of outfits for fairies and elves.
Young people from the McMaster Stage School take part in the show.
The Creative Team
Director: Andrew Ryan
Choreographer: Elliott Nixon
Lighting Design:Gary Hind, Oliver Welsh
Sound Design: Nick Sagar
Visual Special effects: The Twins FX
Production Video Engineer: John Browne
Speciality Costumes: Mike Coltman
Production Manager: Guy Ongley
Company Stage Manager: Paul Johnston
Deputy Stage Manager: Patrick Freeman
ASM/Book Cover: Jennie Newell
Technical ASM: Abigail Moore
Sound Operator 1:Dominic Beale
Wardrobe Supervisor: Elizabeth Greengrass
Wardrobe Assistants: Jeanette Tumelty and Margaret Tumelty
