What an incredible month it has been for our Year 8, 9 and 10 KPA students! After months of rehearsal, planning and excitement. we performed Disney’s Beauty and the Beast Jr to sold out crowds over the weekend of 27 and 28 August.

The audience responded very positively to our amazing students who performed their hearts out over three performances. Michelle Vivian (our vocal director) and I were so incredibly proud of each and every student involved and the efforts they put into the show as a whole. The students demonstrated stamina, resilience, a commitment to community and incredible pride in their efforts bringing the show to life.

Behind the scenes we have Rosie Walker and Grace Oorschot to thank for their vocal and acting coaching, and the whole school community for helping bring it all together; from the front office and administration team for helping organise the programme, photography, and assisting our families with information and in purchasing tickets, to the many individuals in the school staff who helped with creating costumes, props, and their general support for all of us involved.

A final thank you must go to all our KPA families for their support, whether it was getting students to early morning rehearsals or simply attending the performances; it is all appreciated! I was delighted to see so many ex KPA students as well as many of our Year 7 students in the audiences.

We received the following review from Perth Theatre stalwart, Jarrod Buttery:

Thank you for the opportunity to attend the final dress rehearsal for Beauty and the Beast (Jr) by the Performing Arts Students at Kalamunda Senior High School.

Whereas last year’s Aladdin opened to a bustling and boisterous middle-eastern marketplace, the start of Beauty and the Beast was powerful in its simplicity.  The narrators explained how an arrogant prince refused a simple act of kindness and was subsequently cursed to become a beast.  The actions are mimed upstage, in shadow, accompanied by the haunting theme music.  This was a beautifully effective prologue which set the scene and impressed upon us that the clock is ticking…

THEN we have a marketplace, where we meet Belle.  Sara Ledesma is petite but feisty, with a lovely voice and stage presence.  Being a final rehearsal, there were groups of primary school kids in the audience.  Later in the show, when Sara emerged in Belle’s iconic yellow dress, there were audible gasps from around the auditorium.  Simply stunning.

Okay, let’s face it—high school drama is dominated by girls.  Ariel and Eric: both girls.  Aladdin and Jasmine: both girls.  But for Beauty and the Beast, one really needs (at least) two strong male performers.  And Daniel Thorne rose to the occasion as the Beast.  He was suitably growly in his terrific costume, respectful and courteous in the ballroom scene, and handsomely princely for the dénouement.  Very tall, he made a great contrast with Sara—picking her up during the dance was a nice touch.

One also needs a Gaston, and Brandon Waterfield gave a masterclass on how not to approach girls.  (#Me Too) In this, he was ably supported by strong sidekick Lefou, played by Imogen Alexander, who threatened to steal every scene she was in.  Belle’s eccentric inventor father was brought to the stage by Samantha Clements, who was doing a very good job of homaging Doc Brown from Back to the Future.

The forest—again—was effective and stunning in its simplicity.  Students holding branches would have been okay, but students holding illuminated branches conveyed an eeriness which made the scene pop.  And I really liked the wolves (played by Year 8 students) who brought genuine menace with their movements.

Horror of horrors!  Upon reaching the castle in the woods we find that the poor souls therein had been transformed into furniture and crockery!  Fortunately, this did not prove too bloodcurdling for the aforementioned young audience.

We have a third strong male!  Alex Tickner as Cogsworth was channelling C-3PO via voice, walk, and constant attempts to appease his master.  Chloe Ward was a lovely Lumiere—especially considering how long she had to hold her candles in the wind.  She got her moment to shine when leading “Be My Guest” which—of course—is one of the signature songs of the show.  Alice Walton-Cherrie portrayed a maturity beyond her years as the motherly Mrs Potts—who led the OTHER signature song: “Beauty and the Beast”.  Able support was provided by Trinity Hewlett-Banning (Babette), Isabella Harris (Madame De La Grand Bouche), and Caitlin Seaward (Chip) in the castle scenes.

And there was a suit of armour!  Where did you get that great suit of armour?  Whoever was in there moved very forcefully and armourly.  (Is that a word?  It is now.)

Maya Bird (there were three Mayans listed in the cast) as the bookseller had a nice early scene as one of the only villagers who didn’t scorn Belle.  Felicity Smith had a great costume and a strong presence in her small role as Monsieur D’Arque—but she had fun in the Mob Song.  The very tall Jemma Dunster made an effective Enchantress and had a glowing smile as one of the village girls.

Maya Bird—along with Abigail Letts, Tomas Powell, and Kate Whalley—portrayed the narrators, who regularly advanced the exposition.  They were a little drowned by the sound mix during this rehearsal, but that’s what rehearsals are for—to iron out kinks and optimise the tech.  The narrators did a good job of moving the story along.

I’ve mentioned a handful of names but there are 87 students in the show!  87!  And they were all contributing!  Whether it be wolves or walls, villagers or servants, everyone had their part to play.  Perhaps none moreso than the primary character who never said a word.  Isabella Eaglefield impressed as the Enchanted Rose.  In an emerald green tutu with scarlet petals she was always dominant when on stage—subtly, continually reminding us of the fateful countdown—but never, ever distracting from the action.  Her balletic moves brought elegance to the narrative and a touch of colour and beauty to the otherwise austere castle.  In this, she was very effectively assisted by three gold-clad ladies, flanking and mirroring her movements.  I don’t know how much of this was in the stage directions, or how much came from the director, but either way, the effect was simply beautiful.

Speaking of gold-clad students, there were plenty of those—as the castle walls came alive, evoking Jean Cocteau’s 1946 film adaptation.  The subtle movements contrasted wonderfully with some amazing acrobatics!  Cartwheels, splits, flips—other movements I can’t even describe—all featured in some of the action scenes.  There was one young chap (all in black) who did a cartwheel without using his hands!  And some of the girls went beyond even that!  Tomorrow’s talent is sickening…

That’s a joke.  The talent, enthusiasm, and commitment of these young performers was very much enjoyed and appreciated.  However, good as they were, they needed guidance.  Once again, the incredible (it says so in the programme) Musical Director, Michelle Vivian, got 87 (87!) students singing in tune and in unison.  When you hear those timeless, award-winning songs filling the auditorium, it brings tears of joy to one’s eyes (manly tears, that is).

And although she had help, one guiding force pulled all this together.  Anna Head is the Kalamunda Performing Arts Coordinator and she has created this triumph.  Because last year’s production of Aladdin was COVID-delayed until the end of 2020, Anna and her team had a much shorter production run for this 2021 show.  But she gave these students memories that will last a lifetime as she created this thing of Beauty (and the Beast).

Thank you and congratulations to everyone involved.  Chookas (not break a leg) for an amazing season.

Kind regards,
(Dr) Jarrod Buttery
President, Harbour Theatre
Secretary, Blak Yak Theatre
Life Member, Independent Theatre Association 

The rest of the year will be spent preparing for our end of year showcase which is scheduled to be held on 23 November. We look forward to seeing you all there!

Anna Head
KPA Coordinator