By Karen Gavis/se news editor

The Masque of Beauty and the Beast by Michael Brill will open the SE drama season Oct. 6-9 in the C.A. Roberson Theater on SE Campus.

Director of theater John Dement said it is the classic fairy tale of a pretty girl, a beastly prince and true love, but it is not the Disney story.

“Our beast has a very different look,” he said.

Dement said the drama is a modern retelling in poetic form. It incorporates music as well as a couple of interludes and is almost a cross between opera and the regular play, he said.

“This is theater,” Dement said, gesturing grandly. “It is rhymed. It is a beautiful, beautiful script.”

Masque is a type of theater that goes back to the Renaissance, he said.

Dement said the drama is a children’s play, but that does not mean it has been dumbed down or lacks quality. It should appeal to everyone who sits in the audience, he said.

Student Geoffrey Sykes portrays The Beast, and SE student Konnar Hunter will play Beauty.

Hunter said her favorite scene is one where a glowing ball is being thrown around in the forest.

“Visually, I think that will be a very neat scene,” she said.

One of Beauty’s sisters, Haughtense, is being played by Kim Nguyen, who has acted since she was 4. Nguyen said she can do a lot with her character because she gets to be a “B word.”

“In real life, I’m usually really nice, and I try to be. In this role, I can be as mean as I want and not even care,” she said.

Morgan Hill plays Dyspeppsia, Beauty’s other sister.

“If you take Haughtense out of the play, I’d be perfectly fine with Beauty,” she said. “Haughtense is mean, and Beauty is, like, perfect.”

Shelley Olson narrates the drama. Olson said it has been 13 years since she has been in a play.

“I’m so grateful for the opportunity,” she said.

Olson said she thinks Haughtense and Dyspeppsia bring a lot to the show. Her favorite scene is when they are fighting and trying to get rid of Beauty.

“They are just funny,” she said. “They crack me up.”

Jamal Benoit, who plays a bank solicitor, said he plans to act professionally for the rest of his life.

“A lot of people look at theater like we suck,” he said. “I think anybody can do film, but not everybody can do theater.”

Benoit said film is where the money is at, but theater is more enjoyable.

The Masque of Beauty and the Beast will be performed 7:30 p.m. Thursday-Saturday and 2 p.m. Friday-Saturday.

Admission is free for TCC students, faculty and staff. General admission is $6 and $3 for seniors and other students.

Reservations are not required but can be made through the box office at 817-515-3599.