Abigail McCrane and Andrew Stetser play Bell and Beast in the classic play, Beauty and the Beast
The theater stage at Rowan College at Gloucester County transformed into fairy-tale France this past weekend as the Gloucester Junior Senior High School theater group performed Beauty and the Beast.
In the two lead roles, Bell and Beast, were Mantua resident Abigail McCrane and her longtime friend and fellow alter server at The Church of the Incarnation (Mantua Twp.) Andrew Stetser.
McCrane (sophomore) and Stetser (senior) are both heavily involved in their Mantua church community.
While participating as altar servers together, McCrane is also a CCD teacher and Stetser a member of the Knights of Columbus.
Both teens also have numerous years experience when it comes to theater.
“I’ve been in shows pretty much my whole life. I started when I was eight years old, but I”ve been exposed my whole life,” McCrane said and added that her parents were a heavy influence and brought her to shows and rehearsals early on.
McCrane is in her first year at Gloucester Catholic after spending her freshman year at Clearview Regional High school.
“I wasn’t sure what to expect. I would have been fine with any role,” she said and added that she is both pleasantly surprised and confident in her role as Bell. Her role in this year’s spring musical comes after multiple years of acting experience.
“My first show that I was in was Hunk Jr,” she said describing the show as a musical based on the Ugly Duckling. McCrane played the character of Fluff, a duckling. She was eight. McCrane also played the role of Bell in 2014 in a past summer performance in the area.
As for Stetser, he would have been happy playing characters such as Gaston or LeFou for more of a comedic role; however, he was just as excited for his chance to play the Beast. The Beast, a character with a peculiar posture and deep, growling voice, Stetser has spent months perfecting his role.
“It is like I have to be a raspy old man. I have to be very mean, very powerful,” Stetser said in the gnarled tone of his character.
To sustain his voice, Stetser has been drinking Throat Coat tea on a regular basis. He stated that, in the beginning, he was having a bit of back pain as he committed himself to metamorphosing into the Beast; however, going into the opening show, he felt natural.
Beauty and the Beast, a play centered on overcoming selfishness and seeing through the outer shell and into the heart of a human, the two actors agree the show is a rollercoaster ride of emotion.
“In my opinion, in the first act, [the Beast] just wants to break the spell. But by the second act, he is falling in love with [Bell] for who she is.” McCrane said.
Stetster quoted an opening line of the show, “Who could ever learn to love a beast?” and pointed out that both characters learn about love and a person’s inner-beauty as the show progresses.
The Gloucester Catholic spring musical took place March 15, 16 and 17 at the performing arts center at Rowan College at Gloucester County.
