Beauty and the Beast for Coffs Harbour.

Coffs Harbour Musical Comedy Company (CHMCC) on the NSW North Coast is producing one of their biggest shows to date, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast, from November 9, 2012.

While the company has done some fairly ambitious shows in the last couple of years; rock operas like Jesus Christ Superstar and Rent, and classics like Oliver! and Cabaret, this is their first Disney.

Beauty and the Beast is the directorial debut for director Donna Fairall, who is a dance teacher and choreographer at heart, with great enthusiasm for working with children, and a very good visual approach to staging. She’s also incredibly organised, which makes life so much easier for the production team.

Donna first came on board with CHMCC last year, as the choreographer forThe King and I, choreographing ‘Uncle Tom’s Cabin’ and dancing the role of Eliza.

Donna loves working with kids, and told Judi Williams, the director of The King & I, that her dream would be to choreograph Annie, and Judi said: “Well you should just direct it!”  

Just at that point, Annie became restricted for amateur companies due to the professional show being produced in Australia, so she was forced to start making a short list of other possibilities. She got as far as  ‘Beauty & the Beast’ and just stopped looking!

Donna says she saw the show in Sydney maybe 15 or 18 years ago with Rachel Beck playing Belle.

What she really loves about it is that being Disney, it’s got all the emotions – it’s like a rollercoaster, one minute you’re laughing til tears are rolling down your face and the next minute you’re crying at a really intimate vulnerable moment.

Even though it’s Disney, CHMCC didn’t want to make it a ‘kids’ show, and there are only half a dozen children in the cast, as wolves, village kids and some of the smaller enchanted objects, like the Doormat, and Salt and Pepper.

The Beast is played by Beckley Vincent, a professionally trained stalwart of the local theatre scene. Beckley is partnered with Fiona Stiles as Belle.

They are ably supported by other local talent – Peter Hodges as Gaston, Philip Ranieri as Le Fou, Kerry Melittas as Maurice, with the Enchanted Objects played by Colin Wilkes (Cogsworth); Jamie Waqa (Lumiere); ex-Sydney stalwart Jenny Beatson (Mrs Potts); Rebecca Riches (Babette); Dee Tune (Mme de la Grade Bouche), and 10-year-old Jack McCormack as Chip the Teacup.

CHMCC decided very early on to hire the costumes, a departure from their usual practice of making/adapting their own, recently taking delivery of the consignment from the Empire Theatre in Toowoomba. “We are thrilled with them – they are so well designed and look great, and are not nearly as big and bulky as we had thought they might be, although they are rather hot!” sSecretary Di O’Ferrall told Stage Whispers.

“With some beautiful sets, designed and constructed in our very small shed by our usual capable team, the production will look lavish, without breaking the bank. When you add a great cast to the vocally challenging score, we are sure that this will be one of our best productions yet.

“We are so happy that Hal Leonard offer a video licence with this show.”

Disney’s Beauty & the Beast: November 9 – December 2, 2012 at the Jetty Memorial Theatre, Coffs Harbour.

Bookings: 6652 8088