Beastly Task Is A Thing Of Beauty For Volunteer

By Nancy K. Crevier

There is more “beast” than “beauty” in creating a costume for some stage moms, so when Peggy O’Neil Murphy found out that someone else had volunteered to make the complicated teapot costume for her daughter, Nora, who will portray Mrs Potts in the upcoming Newtown Middle School Beauty and the Beast production, she was thrilled. But when she discovered that her sewing angel was Barbara Anzellotti, wife of the head custodian at NMS and not even the parent of a child involved in the play, she was amazed.

“I think there is a misconception in town that once your kids aren’t in school, people no longer care what goes on there. Barbara is proof that this is not necessarily true. This is a wonderful act of kindness,” said Ms O’Neil Murphy.

Kevin and Barbara Anzellotti do have a granddaughter, Lindsey, who attends Newtown Middle School, but she is not involved in this year’s play. What drew Ms Anzellotti into the behind the scenes work was her husband’s part in the Wizard of Oz production last year, when he played the Wizard’s head.

“I was fascinated by the sets and costumes last year when I saw The Wizard of Oz,” said Ms Anzellotti. “I had been looking for some way to volunteer in the community that would fit into my schedule, so I told Kevin [Anzellotti] to tell the drama teacher that I would help the following year with the sewing if she wanted,” she said.

“Our kids went to Newtown Middle School and reaped the benefits of whatever they were a part of there. I didn’t have time, working full-time for Goodfellow Ashmore Real Estate in Danbury to do much then, so I like that I can do something now that I’ve retired.” Sewing is a task she can do while babysitting her younger grandchildren, as well, said Ms Anzellotti.

The costumes for Beauty and the Beast present a challenge, the parents and teachers involved acknowledge. Several of the costumes must be made in such a manner that they can “transform” at the play’s end, not an easy task for those who are not committed to sewing.

“Barbara has been an absolute godsend!” exclaimed drama coach Susan Lang. “I don’t know if she knew what she was in for when she volunteered. Because she enjoys sewing, she offered her time. We are grateful and blessed.”

Co-coach Jen Sinal is equally effusive in her praise of Ms Anzellotti. “She selflessly helped coordinate the costume production and is also making some of them herself. Barbara is a spunky enthusiast. She brightens up the room the moment she walks in,” said Ms Sinal “It is truly a community effort to make a production of this size a reality. We have had so many gifts of time and resources from the parents of the students involved in the production. Barbara is a true member of the Newtown community; I am thrilled that she is part of our theater family.”

“I’ve been sewing since I learned to sew in school in home ec class on the old treadle Singer sewing machines. I loved sewing on those and wish I still had one,” Ms Anzellotti said. She has to be satisfied with putting every evening and each weekend into sewing the two capes for the Beast, Belle’s yellow gown, vests for the Seven Silly Girls, and the two-part teapot costume on her basic Brothers sewing machine, though. “It’s nothing fancy, and I do all of the finish work by hand,” said Ms Anzellotti.

She has made many Halloween costumes over the years for her granddaughter, sewed her daughter’s wedding gown, and made outfits for her children and grandchildren, but this is the first time she has tackled stage costumes, said Ms Anzellotti.

Rising To The Challenge

“I love the creativity of creating something that hasn’t been done before. If I had known how much fun this would be, I would have gone into costume design instead of becoming a secretary I think,” she said. “I was very excited when I heard that they were going to do Beauty and the Beast, instead of Annie, which they had considered, and which would not have had much in the way of costumes.”

While she did have a pattern for the Beast’s cape, and Belle’s fancy dress is reconstructed from an old wedding gown, the teapot costume involved research and experimentation to come up with a costume that would work. “The ideas come easily,” she said. “It’s the putting them into reality that is difficult.”

She found ideas for the teapot/chamber maid costume by searching theatrical websites. “There was one that I really liked, so I used that for a model,” she said. Still, it was entirely up to her to figure out the mechanics of the outfit. “When I was planning the transformation of the teapot, it was very confusing. I wasn’t sure at first how I was going to incorporate the apron into the hoop skirt and dress. You have to figure that they won’t have long to transform and have to be able to get out of the costume easily,” Ms Anzellotti pointed out.

What she decided on was a hoop skirt tied on over another skirt, and by attaching the sleeves that serve as handle and spout with Velcro, the parts can swiftly be detached. The pink gingham dress with smaller maid’s apron is revealed when the full over skirt is removed.

She has finished the first of the two Beast’s capes, using six yards of black felt lined with purple satin to make the sweeping mantle. The second cape will be identical, she said, except for the addition of lights. “I would have used a softer fabric that flows better, but I knew right away I would need a material that would be stable enough for the lights,” said Ms Anzellotti. The cape boasts a wide green brocade collar and cuffs, with all of the fancy gold trim attached by hand, as will be all of the beads and sequins for Belle’s gown.

Despite being reconstructed from a wedding gown, Belle’s dress offered a challenge that Ms Anzellotti had not expected. “Originally it was going to be Belle’s pink dress, so I dyed it pink. Then I found out that she needed a fancy yellow dress, instead, so I had to try to strip the dye out and re-dye it yellow, which took a few attempts. I’m surprised it is still in one piece,” she laughed. In order to hem the dress to the correct length, it also meant removing all of the lace and appliqués, shortening it, and then reattaching everything. While time consuming, it did not put her off of the project, she said. “I do a lot of hand sewing and really enjoy it. It’s very therapeutic” she said.

‘Somewhat Of A Perfectionist’

Along with the time she has donated to sew the costumes, she has donated the many hours of seeking out the right materials, sorting through thrift shops, and drawing out the designs before she put in even one stitch. She will be reimbursed for some of the costs that she has incurred, but plans to donate the costs for some of the outfits.

She confesses to being somewhat of a perfectionist, not willing to settle for “okay,” so even in her dreams she finds herself pursued by images of needle and thread, Beauty, and the Beast. “When I go to bed I’m thinking about what I’m going to do the next day, how I’m going to do it. When I go to make something I already know what I want it to look like,” she said.

With time running out to rehearsal day, she has snagged her daughter, Theresa Aponte, to lend a helping hand, and she would be remiss, said Ms Anzellotti, if she did not mention that many parents from the school are taking on costume work, as well.

As of this week, none of the children had yet seen their costumes. Fittings are scheduled for some time after school vacation. “I am eager to see the children’s responses to what I’ve made,” she said. “Working with kids this age is rewarding because they are enthusiastic and they get so excited about everything.”

She has had such a good time making these costumes that she plans to approach other area schools to offer her services to them. “Who knows?” she said, “Maybe this could be the start of something.”