The stage version of Beauty and the Beast, as presented on Broadway, had a cast of roughly two million (that’s just a guess). At Persephone Theatre here in Saskatoon, we have a cast of 14. This means all of us poor players must play in our time many parts.
I, for instance, play the Narrator, the Baker, Monsieur Dark, Crony #4, Ensemble #2, an animated rug, a bit of dancing flatware, a wolf (the alpha male, in fact, since the other three wolves are women)…and the Caryatid.
A caryatid, Wikipedia informs me, is “a sculpted female figure serving as an architectural support taking the place of a column or a pillar supporting an entablature on her head”.
I am not female, and no attempt has been made to make me look like one. (Perhaps they saw this picture from La Fille Mal Gardee.) Nor am I supporting any of the architecture (which, I also learn from Wikipedia, would then properly make me a telemon or atlas, the male version of a caryatid). Instead, I’m more of a carved statue of a spear-carrying guard.
Those planning to attend the production will be relieved to note that I am not playing the part of a nude statue.
Rehearsals have been a lot of fun so far. I’m thrilled to be part of this production, and can’t wait to get it on stage at the brand-new theatre we’re opening.
I just hope there’s lot of costume-changing room backstage. We’re all going to need it.
