North Vancouver Community Players
Beauty And The Beast written by Nick Moore

Dates and Venue 3 – 5, 10 – 12 & 17 - 19 December, 2010 - Fri at 7pm; Sat and Sun matinées at 1pm and 3 pm | Hendry Hall, 815 East 11th Street, North Vancouver

Directors Peter Zednik and Mitchell Mackay

Reviewer Melanie Ewan


The North Vancouver Community Players pantomime presentation of Beauty and the Beast is a delight for children of all ages. In the traditional panto style, bad jokes, gender-bending, and musical adaptations abound as a mix of eclectic characters unfold their version of this traditional fairytale.

The play tells the story of a young woman, Belle, who is being held captive by 'the Beast.' As the story unfolds we watch the relationship between these characters transform, eventually bringing the audience to the timeless theme of this classic tale: do not be deceived by outward appearances, for true beauty lies within.

While the story is reminiscent of Disney’s rendition, with enough magic and fun to entertain the young, Dame Patty Potty, played by Mitchell Mackay, adds some interesting flavour for the adults in the audience. Jennifer Huva puts on a wonderful performance as the Beast, transforming before our eyes in both appearance and personality, while Emily MacArthur brings fantastic stage presence to her role as Belle.

The cast and crew obviously had quite a bit of fun with this show, resulting in a casual and enjoyable performance which is perfect for a family night out over the holiday season. For those with kids, make sure to stick around for a guest appearance from the famous man in Red from the North.

It’s worth noting that it is a tradition with the North Vancouver Community Player’s to donate proceeds from their Christmas show to a North Shore charity. This year the Harvest Project will be receiving this gift, together with a few baskets of non-perishable food items for their Food Bank.

© 2010 Melanie Ewan