Onstage at the Arden Theatre, a cast of five brings to life the classic fairy tale, Beauty and the Beast, by Charles Way.
It’s part of the Arden’s highly regarded Children’s Theatre, so it’s a totally professional production “to give our younger audiences a world-class theatrical experience,” said Producing Artistic Director Terry Nolen.
Northeast Philly native Kevin Meehan is delighted to be part of this experience.
“The idea of appealing to a younger audience is very satisfying,” he said. “It’s good to treat children like regular audience members.” (Of course, the all-professional production is also enjoyed by adults of all ages)
Meehan has had roles with varied theater companies, but this is his debut with the Arden.
“I’ve been wanting to do a play here for a long time,” he said. “And I really wanted to be in this production.”
He was impressed as soon as he read the script.
“I thought it was really inventive — and more complex than the Disney version,” he said. “Even though it’s fiction, it’s more about reality than fantasy. The stakes are human and realistic. It’s not a fairy tale about mythical people.”
Instead, it’s a retelling of the classic story about two sisters who leave London to start a new life after the loss of their family fortune. One is eager and outgoing. But the other, Belle, is shy. Meeting the beast means an entirely new adventure.
The versatile Meehan plays two roles, and the two characters are entirely different. And he is so convincing in portraying these very different characters that, “The audience is always totally surprised that one actor played both roles,” said Meehan.
For one role, he is Daniel Knightly.
“I guess you could call him a boastful adventurer,” said Meehan. “He weaves a good story.”
The other role is that of Jan.
“He’s an innocent, rural, wide-eyed farmhand,” said Meehan.
For Meehan to shift from one role to another means he must change his entire demeanor, from body language to voice.
Then, too, there’s the logistical challenge of changing costumes quickly. As Daniel, Meehan wears a period costume, complete with high-riding boots and a jacket with tails. But as Jan, he’s in overalls, patched vest and a false beard.
So whenever a scene changes from Daniel to Jan, Meehan dashes backstage to change. In one instance in the second act, it’s almost split-second timing.
Toward the end of that second act, there’s another big challenge for the actor: it’s a fight sequence with the beast (played by actor Matteo Scammell)
“I come at him with a sword and eventually stab him with a dagger,” Meehan said. “He comes at me, throws me to the ground — but I defeat him.”
Meehan takes this sequence in stride: he’s had experience with fight choreography.
Another very different challenge is manipulating shadow puppets.
It’s one of director Whit MacLaughlin’s innovations for this production. In all, the show uses 25 of these puppets, which create varied shadows on a stark, curtained set.
MacLaughlin even worked with the show’s shadow box consultant, Sebastienne Mundheim, the founder and artistic director of White Box Theatre.
“The coolest prop I get to manipulate is a ship,” said Meehan. “I get to shine a light on it and make it travel across the stage.”
It’s his first time working with shadow puppets.
“It’s a lot of fun and really challenging.”
He’s enjoyed the fun and challenge of live theater ever since he had leading roles in musicals at Father Judge High School. The school also presented several plays for middle school students and even for younger ones.
Then, at Adelphi University on Long Island, the aspiring actor majored in theater, earning a BFA degree. Since graduating in 2008, he’s had roles with varied area theater companies, including Inis Nua, InterAct, New City Stage Company, Azuka, Flashpoint and the Wilma Theater.
He’s also involved with New Paradise Laboratories, where he’s worked with MacLaughlin and also with Emilie Krause, who plays Belle in Beauty and the Beast.
“We all share a mutual creative vocabulary,” said Meehan.
The busy actor already has a role lined up in Azuka Theater’s next production, Moon Cave. He starts rehearsals Feb. 10, just nine days after Beauty and the Beast closes on Feb. 1.
But meanwhile, he’s enjoying every performance. The schedule includes weekday matinee performances for students and weekend performances for families. A question-and-answer session follows each performance, and audience members can also meet the cast members in the lobby after each performance.
Meehan is delighted that his debut at the Arden is in a production that’s part of its well-known children’s theater program.
“What I especially like is that although this play can be interpreted as a ‘kids show,’ we’re taking our approach very seriously,” he said. “And this production is full of imagination and creativity.” ••
IF YOU GO
Beauty and the Beast, presented by the Arden Theatre Company, continues through Feb. 1 at the theater, 40 N. 2nd St. in Old City.
For tickets, call the box office at 215–922–1122 or visit the website www.ardentheatre.org
