WATCH OUR PRODUCTION BELOW!
Read more about our version, "The Adventures of Matilda," at the bottom of this page --
LOTS OF GREAT PHOTOS taken for us by Jamie Bartholomew. Take a look at our "The Adventures of Matilda" Shutterfly Book. Contact me if you wish to order one.
ABOUT OUR VERSION --a fusion adapted for children
PERFORMANCE DATES WERE:
SCHOOL PERFORMANCES (FREE)
MAY 19 & MAY 20 at 9:00 AM
PUBLIC PERFORMANCES
MAY 20 AT 7:00 PM AND MAY 22 AT 2:00 PM
ALL PERFORMANCES WERE AT THE HARRISBURG PERFORMING ARTS CENTER
OUR STORY
In the 2019-2020 school year, we did a yearlong study of Roald Dahl, reading his fantastic books and looking at how he used creativity to bring rather bizarre characters to life. We looked at the struggles of his characters and what they learned because of those struggles. At that time I thought presenting our own performance -- a kid version of his best-loved book, MATILDA, would be perfect. I saw Broadway's version performed at the Orpheum and loved it, however several scenes were not suitable for children. I did love the music (although some of it wasn't appropriate as well) and purchased the accompaniment tracks from the Royal Shakespeare Company for the kids to use --leaving out the songs that ...didn't "belong" in our version.
Next, I set out to find a way to mesh the music with Dahl's book, the play I saw in Memphis, the popular movie of Matilda, our own original, created scenes for kids, the illustrations of Roald Dahl's illustrator, Quentin Blake AND emphasize the importance of reading. Wow --that's a lot! The dialogue in the book was perfect for a play! After reading and researching, I began working on a script that would combine all the varied responses to visually bring the story to life in a way kids could perform and relate to. My friend, Angie, helped --we brainstormed ideas and even added a few parts for the younger children that they would love and would help them begin to build their confidence in front of an audience. The scene in the Broadway version of the escapologist and the acrobat was beautiful (that music was included in the RSC tracks --multiple videos of this scene can be found on YouTube). We modified that scene for a wonderful dancer in our program and a young man with a great voice. We also created a magic scene where kids would dress all in black, including see-through black ski masks, so they could move large objects through the air unseen. The performance was to have been in May 2020.
Then Covid hit. We had been ready to go --all costumes waiting, all props ready, all set pieces that parents carefully constructed --everything. The kids were excited and prepared.
It didn't happen. We hoped to try again in 2021, however Covid was still around.
When the school year began (August 2021), parents and the kids still wanted to perform our version of Roald Dahl's book. After all, we had everything! Everything that is except the girl who was playing Miss Honey, the girl playing Miss Trunchbull, and the boy playing the librarian who were now at other schools. That's when I called upon three "willing" (under coercion) teachers to take on those roles. Their adult-ness actually magnifies the powerlessness of Matilda and the other students. We hope the children who see our performance realize the power of reading and that life can be hard for someone in your class and you never know it --that person might even be you. But ...with perseverance and a positive attitude, all things are possible.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU SEE OUR VERSION: EXPECT UNBELIEVABLE MOVEMENT AND DANCE, EXPECT GREAT ACTING, SINGING, AND VISUAL EFFECTS, EXPECT AN INTERESTING SET, AND EXPECT WHAT YOU DO NOT EXPECT!
In the 2019-2020 school year, we did a yearlong study of Roald Dahl, reading his fantastic books and looking at how he used creativity to bring rather bizarre characters to life. We looked at the struggles of his characters and what they learned because of those struggles. At that time I thought presenting our own performance -- a kid version of his best-loved book, MATILDA, would be perfect. I saw Broadway's version performed at the Orpheum and loved it, however several scenes were not suitable for children. I did love the music (although some of it wasn't appropriate as well) and purchased the accompaniment tracks from the Royal Shakespeare Company for the kids to use --leaving out the songs that ...didn't "belong" in our version.
Next, I set out to find a way to mesh the music with Dahl's book, the play I saw in Memphis, the popular movie of Matilda, our own original, created scenes for kids, the illustrations of Roald Dahl's illustrator, Quentin Blake AND emphasize the importance of reading. Wow --that's a lot! The dialogue in the book was perfect for a play! After reading and researching, I began working on a script that would combine all the varied responses to visually bring the story to life in a way kids could perform and relate to. My friend, Angie, helped --we brainstormed ideas and even added a few parts for the younger children that they would love and would help them begin to build their confidence in front of an audience. The scene in the Broadway version of the escapologist and the acrobat was beautiful (that music was included in the RSC tracks --multiple videos of this scene can be found on YouTube). We modified that scene for a wonderful dancer in our program and a young man with a great voice. We also created a magic scene where kids would dress all in black, including see-through black ski masks, so they could move large objects through the air unseen. The performance was to have been in May 2020.
Then Covid hit. We had been ready to go --all costumes waiting, all props ready, all set pieces that parents carefully constructed --everything. The kids were excited and prepared.
It didn't happen. We hoped to try again in 2021, however Covid was still around.
When the school year began (August 2021), parents and the kids still wanted to perform our version of Roald Dahl's book. After all, we had everything! Everything that is except the girl who was playing Miss Honey, the girl playing Miss Trunchbull, and the boy playing the librarian who were now at other schools. That's when I called upon three "willing" (under coercion) teachers to take on those roles. Their adult-ness actually magnifies the powerlessness of Matilda and the other students. We hope the children who see our performance realize the power of reading and that life can be hard for someone in your class and you never know it --that person might even be you. But ...with perseverance and a positive attitude, all things are possible.
YOU ARE GOING TO BE SURPRISED WHEN YOU SEE OUR VERSION: EXPECT UNBELIEVABLE MOVEMENT AND DANCE, EXPECT GREAT ACTING, SINGING, AND VISUAL EFFECTS, EXPECT AN INTERESTING SET, AND EXPECT WHAT YOU DO NOT EXPECT!
