Children revolt in Matilda the Musical

The 30-member cast of next month’s Clearview Community Theatre production of Matilda the Musical is rehearsing four days per week to get ready for opening night on Oct. 18.

“Our group focusses around youth and Matilda is a great play with a lot of kids and teens and we wanted our production to really be about them,” said musical director Désirée Danbrook, who also plays The Trunchbull, the mean headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School.

Clearview Community Theatre has done more than 35 shows in its 28- year history.

Danbrook says many people get involved with community theatre as a family. Her husband and daughter are in the show and she points to many others who are related to someone else in the production. Grace Bray is playing Matilda. She is the granddaughter of Clearview Community Theatre’s Chief Advisory Officer Gren Bray, who is also acting in this production.

“It’s a great experience for youth. It’s really brought a lot of youth out of their shell. It’s given them a safe space to be in. Because half the cast are youth and half the cast are adults, it’s a great group of people working together,” said Danbrook. “A lot of us are teachers, or were teachers, so it’s nice for us to be working with teens and children in a different situation.”

In total, about 35 people are working on the production, directed by Ken Wilson, with some playing multiple roles as cast and crew. The show is based on the 1988 Roald Dahl novel and more closely on Matilda the Musical film released in 2022.

Matilda is a story about an extraordinary, clever young girl who, with the help of her favourite teachers, a lot of books, and a little bit of magic, stands up to her cruel and ignorant parents as well as a horribly abusive headmistress.

The Clearview Community Theatre production features 16 songs, choreography and even aerial acrobatics.

Shows will be at the GNE Fairgrounds, 2220 Fairgrounds Road N, Stayner. Showtimes: 7:30 p.m. onOct.18;3p.m.onOct.19;3 p.m. on Oct. 20; 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 25; 3 p.m. and 7:30 p.m. on Oct. 26. Tickets are available online at www. clearviewcommunitytheatre.ca. Adult tickets cost $25-$30; Children (13 and under), $20.

The show is suitable for all ages. The GNE is wheelchair accessible. There may be tickets available at the door (cash only). There will be a cash-only concession stand. For more information contact clearviewcommunitytheatre@gmail.com.