THE VIRGINIAN-PILOT
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: Thursday, October 26, 1995 TAG: 9510250157
SECTION: SUFFOLK SUN PAGE: 18 EDITION: FINAL
SOURCE: BY FRANK ROBERTS, STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: SUFFOLK LENGTH: Medium: 66 lines
THERE'S A FORD in your future, fantasy fans.
She is Rachel Ford, a 15-year-old Greenway Road resident, who stars in ``Sleeping Beauty.''
A cast of 42, an orchestra, elaborate costumes and sets make this production of the Hurrah Players, Norfolk's well-known children's theatrical group, one of its most ambitious.
The classic fairy tale can be seen Oct. 27 to 29, and Nov. 3 to 5, at the Virginia Beach Pavilion Theatre.
This is only Ford's third appearance with Hurrah. Previous roles were in musical variety shows.
She is present, onstage, through most of the play, but spends a lot of time living up to her character's name. ``Often, I'm asleep onstage. I don't move, and I try hard not to laugh,'' said Rachel.
Her long, straight, blonde hair is being sacrificed for curls for the play's run. ``It takes 58 curlers for the switch, and it takes me about 45 minutes to do the curling,'' said her mother, Barbara, who is serving as backstage manager.
Rachel wants to keep busy onstage, a desire she has had since she saw her first musical when she was 5 years old.
``I'd like to do Eliza Doolittle in ``My Fair Lady,'' she said. ``I'd also like to do films. I just want to entertain. I was born to entertain.''
That sounds like dialogue from a 1930s backstage-Broadway movie. So does this: ``I like going to little cafes - tea rooms. The Victorian Station in Phoebus is my favorite.''
One of her least favorite things is television.
There is none in the Ford household because, said Rachel, who is home-schooled, ``there's too much garbage. There's more to do in life than stare at the tube.''
Such as writing poetry and short stories as she loves to do, drawing and doing cartoons. On the other hand - ``I like alternative rock,'' Rachel said, ``and books by Anne Rice.''
She also enjoys ``Little Women,'' historical novels and ``Chronicles of Narnia'' by C.S. Lewis.
``I like mystical stuff,'' said Rachel, who is starring in just that.
``It's far from the Disney version,'' she said. ``This one has nine good fairies and Trollarina, who claims to be a good fairy but lies a lot.''
As for her own character, Princess Briar Rose, aka Sleeping Beauty, ``she's shy and sweet,'' Rachel said. ``She likes playing in the garden with a half human-half animal fawn.''
The plot is similar to ``Beauty and the Beast,'' with a dash of ``Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.''
When the Hurrah Players open their 12th production season, Suffolk will be in the spotlight.
In addition to Rachel Ford in the starring role, Kaitlin Bowles appears as Katrina, a good fairy. Ashley and Jennifer Chambers are featured as ladies of the court, performances calling for high-energy singing and dancing. Jennifer is understudy for the comic lead of wicked fairy, Trollarina.
All four actresses are members of Suffolk's Fine Arts Center. ILLUSTRATION: Photo
Rachel Ford in ``Sleeping Beauty.''
KEYWORDS: PROFILE BIOGRAPHY THEATER by CNB