Boothbay Region High School (BRHS) Drama delivered brilliant musical storytelling Thursday-Saturday with their offering of Disney’s “Beauty and the Beast Jr.” (Menken, Ashman, Rice & Woolverton), with special arrangement and materials through Music Theater International and directed by Dr. Mary Miller. The four shows included sell out evening performances and a Saturday matinee.

Juniors Hannah Hills and Spencer Pottle set ambitious standards in their leading roles as Belle (Beauty) and Beast/Prince. But it was the senior cast members that transformed the classic tale into stage magic.

Senior Kai Pitcher (Gaston) was beyond reproach as the perfect male chauvinist villain - cringe-worthy, rude and conceited, yet fully realized and somehow still quite loveable. Laughs abounded when they bragged about having thick chest hair and biceps to spare and being the manliest man in town. “I studied male mannerisms by watching a lot of old movies from the ’50s, the kind of movie where the guy comes home after hunting, all powerful and mean, and then I just tried to grow into the role with each practice,” said Pitcher.

Senior Matthias Fanslau, as LeFou, will simply not be upstaged by the original animated character. His commitment to the persona is staggering and without the luxury of a stunt man, Fanslau has no qualms tossing his body around the stage with both whimsy and a touch of reckless mayhem, fully embracing “the Madman” role. Sometimes goofy, sometimes edgy, always projecting his voice, he powers through his lines and songs with utter delight.

Senior Suzie Edwards’ foremost vocal range and ability to sing with a British accent landed her the hallmark role of Mrs. Potts. Lyricist Ashman entrusts the truth and wisdom of the entire story in Mrs. Potts in the title song, often thought to be one of the greatest love poems of all time set to music, and Edwards rises to occasion. Never mind that she’s a teapot. She is the story’s eternally hopeful sage that reminds us that love is powerful, larger than life, and deeply human. “This is one of the biggest roles I’ve ever played – fun, wise, an insightful old woman,” said Edwards. Edwards also sang the “Star-Spangled Banner” prior to the Saturday evening show in honor of our veterans.

Hills (Belle) began drama her freshman year with five lines that she was too scared to remember on stage and has blossomed into her leading role. “Like Belle, I love to read, have felt like the odd one out in a group, and deeply love my family. I liked this role. Belle has a great soul and a good spirit,” said Hills. The audience follows Belle from a bookish and lonely dreamer into someone who finds true connection with other people, pairing perfectly with Pottle. Afterall, it’s the show’s love story between the two central characters that soars above all else.

Pottle, a powerhouse for BRHS Drama, is a towering Beast. His role is rich and complex, requiring both the darkest and the softest elements of humanity. He is a character driven by emotion; a spellbound outcast desperate to rediscover his own humanity. Pottle’s performance is sincere and moving – he drags the audience with him through the lows of his isolation, forces the audience to grind out his transformation with him, before releasing them into the sheer bliss of love and acceptance. “This role is exciting for me. I’ve always played fun, bubbly, upbeat characters and this role pushes me out of my comfort zone and demands I challenge myself,” said Pottle.

It wouldn’t be a Disney classic without a host of marvelous supporting characters, or rather, household staff turned into objects. So fitting the role, Matthew Little will forever be the stuffy, ultra-British Cogsworth and may never be heard without the accent again. Sophia Mansfield delivered a breakout performance as the French speaking Lumiere, Rose Campbell as a famous opera singer turned wardrobe as Madame de la Grande Bouche, and Maddie Andreason as Babette were best on full choreographic display, along with flatware, in “Be Our Guest”.

Sophomore and choreographer, Sarah Harris wowed the audience with high energy dance routines set to songs “Gaston”, “Human Again,” and “The Mob Song”. Blythe Miller, Izzy Locke Smith and Abby Locke Smith were added to the high school cast as the swooning Gaston admirers Les Filles de la Ville.

Debut performances included: Titan Lewis as Maurice, Belle’s father, Lee Pangburn as the Enchanter, Old Woman, and Narrator, Bryan Hills as Monsieur D’Arque and Narrator, and Chau Nguyen as Chip, and Aubrey Holmes as a Pepper Shaker and villager. Finn Gaffney was Bartender and Narrator and Jayden Coulombe, was Baker and Narrator. Blythe and Paulie Miller were wolves. Dennis Dacus played Bartender and a dancing cupcake. And most actors had additional roles as villagers and servants.

Stage manager Susie Taylor and crew, Justine Marshall, Kolton Campbell, Skyla Carrier, and Lysander Lefevre created a wonderful book-look and fairy tale vibe, with antique furniture and backdrops displayed on the club’s new traveler bi-parting curtain system. Chloe Joneth operated the main curtain. Costuming was intelligent to the period with rich textures and lush colors to compliment the large-scale production. Costume design was provided by Carousel Music Theater; dressers were Sawyer Blake and Kora McKenny. Lighting by Charlee Fuchswanz and Colby Allen dramatized the action on stage.

Pitcher designed promotional materials. Tatum French hosted house management. Tickets sold by Alex and Candi Joneth. Special thanks to BRHS custodial staff, Carousel Music Theater, Mr. and Mrs. Don Taylor, Mr. Steve Gottleib, Mr. Chip Schwehm, and all the corporate sponsors contributing to this year’s productions via program advertising.