Burns Park Offers A "Beauty" Of A Show

Burns Park offers a 'Beauty' of a show

REVIEW

BY ROGER LELIEVRE

The Ann Arbor News

Simply said, the Burns Park Players’ 25th anniversary production, “Beauty and the Beast,” is outstanding.

The way this group of mostly amateur thespians pulls a show together every year that would be the envy of many a professional theater company, and do so in a way that involves dozens of children, never fails to impress.

Of the adult cast, everyone in lead roles shone Friday: Jon Wardner as the hideous, yet achingly human, beast; Karen Ostafinski Hulsebus as the beautiful-voiced Belle; Jeff Post as a strutting Gaston and Bob Galardi as eccentric Maurice.

But - good as they were - Clinch Steward’s Lumiere, Jay Pekala’s Cogsworth, Lisa Mann’s Mrs. Potts, Eva Ros-enwald’s Babette and Dawn Korman’s Wardrobe just about stole the show. These are the servants caught up in the same spell that trapped their master in a beast’s body, and they’re a joy to watch. Clad in amazingly detailed costumes, they bring an impressive amount of personality to their roles.

The genuinely creepy Monsieur D’Arque (Spencer Michaud), Gaston’s servile side-kick LeFou (Zack Pearlman) and, of course, teacup Chip, played by Milo Tucker-Meyer, perhaps the most adorable kid ever to inhabit the role, also do a great job, and “Be Our Guest,” the show’s big production number, pulls out all the stops.

There were a few problems with the audio Friday, and I don’t think the sets are as lavish as in other years, but those are minor quibbles about a show that is otherwise eye-popping. Bravo to all involved.

Comment on this review on line at blog.mlive.com/encorea2. "Beauty and the Beast"is at 7:30 p.m. Friday and 4 p.m. Saturday at Tappan Middle School, 2251 E. Stadium Blvd. Ttickets available at Morgan and York Market, 1928 Packard, or at the door.