Matilda Jr. coming to Grace Tipling Hall this Friday

November 10, 2022 · 0 Comments

Written By CONSTANCE SCRAFIELD

“I do this for the community, for the kids,” says Alison Port, who is directing Matilda Jr. which opens this Friday, Nov. 18 and runs as weekend shows until Nov. 27 at Grace Tipling Hall.

Ms. Port is owner of LP Stage Productions, who came to Shelburne in 2011 and has been doing two shows a year with the youngsters in the community.

The famous story by Ronald Dahl of Matilda, a gifted girl whose cruel parents make her life miserable, tells about how one small girl can turn things around. Although Matilda does learn she has some very special skills, we have to wait and watch her despair.

A musical as well, this junior production brings the opportunity for young people to stretch their talents and have a wonderful time.

According to Ms. Port, rehearsals are going well and the teens and children involved are having a lot of fun. There are 38 cast members, ranging in ages between four and 18. Typical of theatre, the actors younger and older are: “working well together, “ said Ms. Port. “The younger kids are amazing and the older ones are really great with them. “

Ms. Port has been busy dictating 113 letters to hang on the curtain as part of Matilda’s magic and to make the curtains look more interesting, she told us, as decoration.

Matilda reads not just single letters but whole messages. The letters make the background look more interesting. The challenge in creating the special effects for such a magical show is always met with the creative crew and innovative solutions are the mark of enthusiasm for the production.

Any activity related to the arts is good for children, Ms. Port reckons. It is a good thing, as there are lots of kids who are not interested in sports.

Matilda’s life’s dilemma is not only her difficult parents but also the monster headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, a demon of a woman who hates Matilda and looks to her harm and even death – how can Matilda survive?

Discovering her gift for telekinesis is a tremendous boon, that and her natural cleverness assure her an advantage over her oppressors. The possibilities of Ms. Trunchbull’s fate at Matilda’s hands are worthy of cheering.

There is plenty of room in the story for other young actors as students and fellow conspirators as the tale unfolds and offers so much opportunity for youngsters to develop self-confidence and a love of theatre that will remain for their lifetimes.

This first show for Matilda opens this weekend – for tickets, go to Eventbrite or call the town at 519 925 2600.