By: Michelle Kinsey—
Muncie, IN— “Even if you’re little, you can do a lot,” says super smart 5-year-old Matilda.
Proof of that can be found in the musical “Matilda” at Muncie Civic Theatre.
“Matilda” will take over the Mainstage Feb. 14-16, 21-23, and 27-29. Shows on Thursday, Friday and Saturday will begin at 7:30 p.m. and the Sunday matinees will begin at 2:30 p.m.
Tickets are $20 for adults, $17 for groups of 10 and more, and $15 for students and children. For tickets or more information, go to www.munciecivic.org or call (765) 288-PLAY.
Based on the 1988 book by Roald Dahl, “Matilda” tells the story of a “child prodigy who is born to terribly neglectful parents and turns to books to escape and teach her about the world,” according to director and Muncie Civic Managing Director Brittany Covert.
“In true Roald Dahl fashion it is larger than life and kind children rule the day,” she added. “This book, turned movie, finally turned Broadway sensation, all keep humor and the power of kindness at its core. Although based on a children’s book, this really is a show for all ages.”
Covert, whose love of “ridiculous comedies” drew her to the show, said what makes this Civic production unique is the cast.
“The vocal talents of this cast are incredible and feature actors from all walks of life,” she said. “Not only is this cast incredibly talented but they are kind and hard working. We have 11 young children, 6 teens, 5 college students and 11 adults from many walks of life ranging from doctors, to a lawyer, a pastor, teachers, a banker and business owners.”
This will be the first time the Oldfield family – Jessica, her husband Codi, and their daughter Dovie – has performed on the Civic stage. Jessica saw auditions pop up and the story of “Matilda” just happened to be one of her favorites from childhood.
“We checked out the music and decided to go for it,” she said. “Dovie and I had signed up for auditions and while we were all there, I convinced my husband to just give it a try.”
Jessica plays the Acrobat and Codi plays Sergei, a Russian mobster. Dovie plays Amanda Thripp, a classmate of Matilda, who is known for her pigtails.
“I have just loved to watch Dovie on stage,” Jessica said. “I love watching her come to life. While it has been difficult balancing schedules, with two other children as well, I also love seeing them in the audience even if that means my youngest has set up a bed in the theater aisles. It has been a great experience to do the show together as a family and I don’t think it will be the last time we all are on the stage.”
Covert said this a “relatively new musical that has never been done in Muncie before” and she hopes audiences come away “impressed by our community talents, but also laughing at these larger than life characters.”
And, perhaps, leave with a lesson or two.
“This story shows the power of the individual and standing up against the wrong we encounter in the world, but it does so in a pun-filled way,” she said. “The ‘revolting children’ in this musical show the bully headmistress who’s the boss. Matilda famously says ‘Nobody else is going to put it right for me, nobody but me is gonna change my story. Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.’”
Matilda is made possible through support by:
Edward Jones
Indiana Michigan Power
Inland Interiors
Mits Bus
Salyer-Taylor Mechanical Engineers
Starocket Media
The North Woods of Yorktown Magazine
Warner Supply
WLBC
