Photo by Nick Stulga
Near the beginning of “Glassheart,” the Beast (Matthew Worsech) clings nervously to his talking lamp servant (Lena Werner) after rescuing the cat of his crush Aoife (Natalie Cross).
By Mio Ovalle, Freelance Contributor
A talking lamp scheming with a landlady to kidnap a maiden: It may sound absurd.
But that’s the exact plot of Reina Hardy’s play “Glassheart,” a modern reimagining of “Beauty and the Beast” that will take Moraine’s stage on Friday.
During final rehearsals for “Glassheart,” the landlady witch of the apartment (Genesis Aranda) picks up a tiny potted plant and makes snide remarks at the Beast (Matthew Worsech).
What follows is a story about love, inner conflict, and free will.
In the play, the Beast awaits Beauty, who has never arrived and never will. After being cursed for centuries, the Beast moves to a rundown Chicago apartment with his only servant. When a maiden girl also decides to rent the complex, the Beast’s servant and landlady attempt to kidnap the girl.
In Moraine’s production, Matthew Worsech is playing the role of the Beast, Lena Werner is the lamp named Only, Natalie Cross is the maiden girl Aoife, and Genesis Aranda is the landlady.
This romantic tragicomedy is directed by Leah Cassella, the Fine and Performing Arts Center’s music and arts assistant.
“Rather than true love, ‘Glassheart’ tells of identity, and self-discovery and how relationships can help us find that,” Cassella said.
The performances begin this weekend in the John and Angeline Oremus Theater in Moraine’s FPAC. They will go through March 5, taking place at 7:30 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and 3 p.m. on Sunday.
Tickets are $25 for the general public and discounted to $11.50 for students. Students must show a student ID at the door for entry.
Tickets are available for purchase here.
