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Mrs. Potts as Mrs. Coffee? Not in Sanger’s ‘Beauty and the Beast,’ but you never know

Not to make a tempest in a teapot, but Mrs. Potts in “Beauty and the Beast” just might have some workplace issues to complain about. Is there such a thing as a union for enchanted objects?

Pictured above: Heidi Orender is full of hot water in ‘Beauty and the Beast.’ Photo: Blossom Trail Players

As the Blossom Trail Players in Sanger finishes up its two-weekend run of the popular Disney musical (final performances are 7:30 p.m. Friday, June 28, and 2 and 7:30 p.m. Saturday, June 29), I checked in with Heidi Orender for a quick update from a kettle’s point of view.

Q: Do you ever use a teapot in real life, or is it the microwave for you?

A: I typically use the microwave, but I do have a small collection of teapots at home and I sometimes break one out to use!

Q: How do you think Chip got chipped?

A: I think maybe Chip had a bit of a sleepwalking problem as a human boy that followed him into his enchanted state. He probably fell out of the cupboard one night on accident.

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Q: If you worked in a modern castle and were forced to select one of the following four household objects to be turned into, which would it be and why?

a) a Vitamix blender
b) an Alexa device from Amazon
c) a Keurig coffee maker
d) a Dyson vacuum cleaner

A: I would be the coffee pot. I absolutely love coffee!


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Q: Tell us about yourself. Is this your first time in a “Beauty and the Beast” production? What is it like to sing the title song?

I’m a senior at Fresno Pacific studying Music Education and I’ve done several musicals and opera in the past, though I have never done this show before. I was a little nervous about singing the title number. Everyone knows it and I don’t want to disappoint anyone! I’m a Soprano and Mrs. Potts is more of an Alto/Messo Soprano role. That song starts on a low F which is at the bottom of my range, but after much time practicing it became easier and smooth. The scene itself is very touching and one of my favorites in the show.

Q: Do you think Mrs. Potts deserves a big fat raise at the end of the show?

A: Of course! This single mother practically ran that castle all those years, no matter what Lumiere and Cogsworth would say. Not to mention dealing with Beast-boy’s temper tantrums!

Covering the arts online in the central San Joaquin Valley and beyond. Lover of theater, classical music, visual arts, the literary arts and all creative endeavors. Former Fresno Bee arts critic and columnist. Graduate of Columbia University and Cal Poly San Luis Obispo. Excited to be exploring the new world of arts journalism.

donaldfresnoarts@gmail.com

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