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Just finished Beauty and the Beast Jr with minimal costumes and physicallizing the characters...best ideas were: taping pipe cleaners on Cog's nose(for clock hands) and writing roman numerals around his real face--he had a gold circle 'glove' and he used his arm as a pendulum, put a formal gown on Potts and a hoop skirt, a sturdy dowel rod slipped under Madame's gown's shoulders horizontally (and secured to her bra!)then we velcroed hangers with clothes on them--was the best visual when she walzted with Cogs in Human Again.  We made a machine out of actors a la Viola Spolin for Maurice, costumed with things from the hardware store, and best...we had a human rose with a collar of rose petals and three loose ones she dropped at appropriate moments...at one point she took the collar off and at the end only one left. Collar was a green wide ribbon and petals were made of red paper crushed and shaped.We stapled the petals and simply tied the ribbon around her neck. She wore green leggins, a cute little green skirt with ruffles and a green top.

Wow!  Brilliant ideas!  How did your audiences receive these different interpretations of such familiar characters?  I am thinking about doing this show, but the technical aspects are daunting.  What choices did you make for the set?  How old were your actors?  Middle school?

Kelly in VT