‘A joyful riot’

[Illustration courtesy The Civic]

The Ocala Civic Theatre’s Arts For All youth cast, composed of actors ages 9 to 17, is in full preparation to bring one of literature and filmdom’s most loved children—at least to some—to life on stage from July 17 to 19.

The youth production is “Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr.” 

According to his website, Dahl is the UK’s No.1 storyteller of all time. Before he became a writer, he was a spy and a fighter pilot in World War II. One of his first moments of inspiration came when he was at boarding school, when a local chocolate factory invited pupils to trial new chocolate bars—35 years later, “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” was published. He wrote more brilliant stories, from Sophie’s adventures with the BFG and James’ journey on the Giant Peach, to Matilda’s brilliant bravery against The Trunchbull.

In the Ocala production, Andie Williams will portray young Matilda Wormwood, a child whose mind isn’t just extra-clever, she can move things with it.

“But at home, her cruel parents (Jacob Demos and Summer Pineau) and dim-witted brother Michael (Harper Nieb) are unmoved by her special powers. Mr. Wormwood is too busy selling used cars and Mrs. Wormwood is much too occupied with her dance lessons with Rudolpho (Liam Ortiz) to pay much mind to Matilda’s brilliance,” according to the news release.

“And when Matilda goes to school, mean headmistress Miss Agatha Trunchbull (Kate Spencer) is just as unimpressed. Thank goodness for sweet Miss Honey (Sydney Stanley), the teacher who sees Matilda as gifted. One of Matilda’s greatest gifts is courage: to imagine a better life, inspire others, and rise up in rebellion with the other ‘revolting children’ at school,” per The Civic.

Some of the other children who revolt with Matilda are Bruce (Vivianna Shrable), Eric (Cora Lewis), Tommy (Lane Leedy), Amanda (Rebecca Andrews), Lavender (Adalynn Anderson), Alice (Tatiana Cevallos), Hortensia (Calli Embree) and Nigel (Liam Ortiz). There are also the big kids, (Emery Bikfalvy, Yovanni Borrego, Julia Embree, Carli Hutcheson, Amelia Hutto, Walter Oathout, Brooklyn Price, Aubriella Shrable and Josie Weldon) and the little kids (Emma Rose Vázquez-Díaz and Chloe West).

“Fortunately, there’s also kind librarian Mrs. Phelps (Isabella Valiente), who is enthralled by Matilda’s dramatic stories of the acrobat (Leighton Lightbody) and the escapologist (Caleb Shrable), with a glimpse of young Miss Honey (Rebecca Andrews). There’s a cook (Julia Embree) who can bake a chocolate cake like no other. And just maybe, Sergei (Joshua Demos) and the Russian Mafia (Yovanni Borrego, Brooklyn Price and Josie Weldon) might prove useful in the end. From A to Z, this miraculous musical is a joyful riot,” according to the release.

The production is directed by Sarah Curtis, with music director Justin Davis, choreographer Lisa Hamilton, scenic and projections designer Babatunde Adebisi, costume designer Lydia Oesterich, lighting designer Cheyenne Dever, sound designer Jazmine Whipple and props designer Tara Oathout.

Performances will take place at 7:30 p.m. July 17, 2 and 7:30 p.m. July 18 and 2 p.m. July 19.

Arts For All Too students (ages 6-8) will perform a quick sharecase to begin the 2 p.m. matinees on July 18 and 19.

The Civic is located at 4337 E. Silver Springs Blvd., Ocala. Get tickets at the box office, by phone at (352) 236-2274 or at thecivic.org