The Nature of the Beast - Extended

So I’ve been doing theatre for a while now, but have yet to really be in a full fledged Broadway like musical. I was in UH’s Primetime productiof of Philemon recently, but it wasn’t the kind of musical where you had a lot of choreography or movement (when you’re the commander of ancient Antioch ordering the deaths of hundreds of Christians there really isn’t much to dance about). Although I have been blessed with meaty roles in wonderful shows I had no clue I would be cast in the monster of Hawaii community theatre musicals, Disney’s Beauty and the Beast.

We’re barely three weeks into rehearsal and so far I’m incredibly impressed with the caliber of talent we have on the islands. I’m used to being around talented actors, but not as much actors that can act, sing, and dance all at once. After hearing that almost 200 people showed up for auditions I was amazed that I got a principal role, let alone cast at all in the show. I play the comic relief, LeFou, the toady sidekick of Gaston, with fatsuit and all. There are no weak players in the cast. Everyone in the show has done tons of other musicals, many of them trained dancers, and have taken years of voice lessons…well, everyone except me that is…umm…hehe.

Maybe it’s because I grew up with the movie and love the story, or maybe it’s because we’re working so hard, but I can’t wait for this show to open. I can’t wait to share it with an audience and hear their laughter and see their expressions. It’s like giving birth to a child each time you put on a production, except this time you feel like you’re gonna give birth to a child that’s going to be very handsome and popular, not to mention well liked by his peers.

Maybe I’m getting way ahead of myself. Maybe the show will suck and everyone will hate it. But it has been such a tasty treat to work with these people and director that bad reviews will be impossible to taint this experience. But if what we have right now, 3 weeks in, keeps growing then we are really going to capture some of that Disney magic.

If you’re part of Hawaiistories and planning to come see the show e-mail me at haroarvi@hawaii.edu so I can put you on my discount list.

****7/15/05 Edit*****
The show has been getting such a great deal of hoopla. I knew this show was great but we've already extended 3 times before it's even opened. We've also added Saturday matinees and might add Wednesdays performances. It's been getting a great deal of press also, which has been fantastic. I'm very excited about opening tonight. Please, be our guest.

Comments

Wow! Congrats, Carrier! Sounds like a hell of a show (if one can use the word 'hell' in the context of Disney material). LeFou, eh? When's opening night?

Thanks Ryan! We open on July 15 and are supposed to run til the end of July but we've already extended twice so it'll probably run for about a month.

Congrats! I myself am in a play opening in July -- "Comic Potential" at Manoa Valley Theatre. It's an ensemble cast so I play others as well, but the main character I play is Marmion Cedilla.

Looks like we'll both be rehearsing our butts off to get ready for opening night, eh?

Have fun!

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