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Rehearsals start next week for the much-loved musical Beauty and The Beast, starring two of South Africa's brightest young stars.
The costumes have arrived: Talia Kodesh (Belle) checks out a ballgown
MONTECASINO'S Teatro lends itself to grand productions, and the next big thing on its stage is Beauty and The Beast.
One of the best-loved fairytales of all - and with valuable lessons woven into its fabric - Beauty and The Beast has had many incarnations; the timeless story has been told as a play, in films and a television series.
It will open at the Teatro at Montecasino, in Fourways, on 2 October and run until 14 December. "Everybody is excited about the show as it is one of the country's biggest productions after The Lion King," says theatre impresario Hazel Feldman, the show's co-producer. She is joined at the helm by Pieter Toerien.
The play is about Belle, a beautiful young woman imprisoned by the Beast. She alone has the power to free him from an evil spell, and he feeds and clothes her well. They spend hours conversing, and eventually Belle falls in love with her captor. With this, the evil spell is broken and he instantly turns back into his true self, a handsome prince.
Talia Kodesh plays Belle to Anton Luitingh's Beast. Both actors have made headlines for their past performances.
Kodesh graduated from the former Pretoria Technikon in 2001, and soon appeared in Toerien's international touring production of Andrew Lloyd Webber's Cats. She brought the house down as Ozzie Osborne in Hazel Feldman's We Will Rock You, and subsequently played the female lead, Scaramouche, in the international touring production of the same musical. Again working with Feldman, she played Mimi Marquez in Rent in 2007, and also appeared in Chicago - The Musical earlier this year.
A decade ago, Luitingh left the University of Stellenbosch armed with a bachelor arts honours in drama. He did a star turn as Brad Majors in The Rocky Horror Show and again as Kenickie in Grease. These roles were followed by a standout performance as the narrating silver tabby, Munkustrap, in Cats, earning him two Vita nominations. He took the role to 12 countries in Africa, Europe, Asia and the Middle East - and was invited to join the Australian company of Cats for a stint.
Luitingh was also the rock 'n roll-crazed Pharaoh in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat and Pontius Pilate in Jesus Christ Superstar, both for Toerien. He was also involved in Feldman's Rent and Chicago - as resident director and understudy in both cases.
Excitement
Kodesh and Luitingh are excited about landing these "dream" roles and have dedicated their performances to their families in honour of their unstinting love and support, according to a press release issued by Buz Publicity.
Feldman's excitement is also mounting. The costumes have already arrived, she says, and rehearsals begin on Monday, 18 August.
She adds that audiences will certainly receive more than their money's worth. "The audience will not be disappointed with the show. It has everything from glitz and glamour to some of the most important and valuable lessons to be learned in life ... I am looking forward to the production myself."
Beauty and The Beast is on at the Teatro at Montecasino, in Fourways, from 2 October to 14 December. Tickets range in price from R100 to R400 each and are available at Computicket, on 083 915 8000 or 011 340 8000, or through the Computicket website.
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