Pittsburgh's Gemini Theater opened its production of Beauty and the Beast on the first Saturday of the new decade. Established in 1996, Gemini is an interactive children's theater whose mission is to cultivate creativity, imagination, and originality through the performing arts. Children in the audience often come costumed as princesses, pirates, or animal friends, or whatever strikes their fancies, or the fancies of their parents. They are invited to play on the black box stage as they wait for the performance to begin. During the performances, they are encouraged to come to the stage to dance with the actors and join in some of the songs. Whenever possible, the audience is encouraged to take an active part in the theatrical experience and join in the fun.
A number of children ranging in age from about eight to the middle teens are usually cast in each of the theater's productions alongside the adult performers. Beauty and the Beast has five children cast as servants transformed into flowers at Beast's castle, and an eighth grader as one of Belle's sisters. Acting classes are offered at the theater for children on all levels, from introductory courses for those as young as four and five, to advanced workshops for teens as old as seventeen. Summer camp programs are also available. Older children are also encouraged to learn about the technical aspects of theater, and students work sound and lights for each production.
The current production of Beauty and the Beast is an adaptation by Dennis Palko from the Madame Le Prince de Beaumont original. Lani Cataldi composed the original music and wrote the lyrics. Palko and Cataldi are the founders of the theater.
Gemini's version of the classic tale should not be confused with either the Disney cartoon or its Broadway manifestation. There are no servants turning into objects. There is no evil in the form of the handsome Gaston. There are enchanted flowers and selfish sisters. There is an indulgent father come upon bad times, who innocently makes the mistake of picking the wrong flower as a gift for his beloved daughter. Above all there is the discovery that true beauty comes from within and that surfaces may well be deceiving.
Interactive children's theater can be a lot of fun for the actor, but it can also be a test of the actor's ability to adapt to the occasional disruption of the best-laid plans. Young children encouraged to join in with the actors at specific points in the play may not always understand that they are not encouraged to join in at any other times. In a small black box theater, children are seated right up at the edge of the stage. It is easy to reach out to the actors. It is easy to get up and investigate the scenery, check out a prop, examine a costume. It is easy to talk to the characters: to warn them of danger, to let them know where someone is hiding, to help them escape from pursuers.
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