I was sitting in the middle of a row of 13 other family members, waiting for the curtain to part on what promised to be a star-studded night. No, we were not in Hollywood or even in a Broadway theater. Our family had gathered in the local PAC in Middle Township to watch our three grand boys, Francis, Wesley, Conrad, and 90-plus other children retell the story of Beauty and the Beast.
Sometimes, we tend to think of ourselves here in Cape May County as isolated from the sophisticated centers of culture. I believe that notion needs to be tossed in the famous circular file. Is that only the biased view of a grandmother? I don’t think so! Of course, that night I had eyes mostly for Francis, who played Belle’s father, the eccentric inventor; Wesley, who played Gaston’s much-pummeled sidekick; and the most adorable saltshaker to ever season the beast’s dinner, Conrad. He is 6 and can sing every line of every song in the production. In addition to our stars, there were so many talented performers, all of whom were teenagers or younger.
There was Belle, played by 17-year-old Grace Martin, who in the past year defeated brain cancer, and went on stage to enchant the audience with her lovely voice. Talent on the stage was complemented by talent backstage. Those kids manipulated the sets and helped switch costumes with the skill of people twice their age.
The sets were a feast to the eyes themselves. Thanks to an agreement with the Walnut Street Theatre in Philadelphia, the local group had access to incredible, professional sets. And the costumes! I have never seen something so amazing in all my life in a kid’s play. It was really all beyond words to experience, and to think it was accomplished in only five short weeks.
Not enough can be said of the people who dream, plan, and execute this kind of performance for the enduring benefit of these kids, who will be forever more confident, collaborative, and connected wherever life may lead them. Credit goes to the owners, Kim and Bill Martin, and Director Gabrielle Horvitz of a theater group which came into being as a result of the Covid pandemic. They are called the 7 Mile Island Players.
Next year when the players advertise a show, buy a ticket and join us. I’ll save a seat for you in the proud grandparents’ section. You can join all the young families there who just came for the fun of it. Cape May County, make no apology to Broadway. The shows are magnificent, and the drive is short.
