Belle beamed and proudly displayed a picture book to the children who were nestled on the floor around her with gentle enthusiasm and eagerness to tell a story. Girls as young as toddlers sat silently, watching the princess flip pages and present the book.
Talia Saldana (Belle) read to children March 30 at the Glendora public library. One of the little girls in the audience came to the storytime event dressed up in a version of the yellow ball-gown from “Beauty and the Beast” and waited to get her picture taken and hug Citrus College’s own Belle.
Saldana said that staying in character while reading was more challenging than performing on a stage.
“Improvising on a stage is much easier than improvising with kids in more social events,” Saldana said in a text.
“When you improv in situations like that with kids anything can happen and you need to fight to stay in character and be ready to tackle anything.” Saldana said in a text.
After reading the princess had to “return to her castle”, also known as the Haugh Performing Art center. But before Saldana returned to Citrus college to continue with rehearsals, she took a stroll through the Glendora village with Christian Pineda (Cogsworth).
They visited local shops such as the “Two a Tea” tea parlor, “Andrews Men’s Clothier”, “Perfect Tyme”, the clock repair store, and “New unto Others,” a thrift store full of antiques, books and trinkets where she was recognized as the Disney princess by her Blue dress and styled wig. Saldana stopped to talk to two young girls and take a photo with a teenager, all while in character.
