The Conant Middle High School Drama Club is bringing “Matilda: The Musical,” a musical adaptation of the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, to the stage.
“Matila” is the story of a lonely young girl who develops telekinetic powers and fights back against her terrible parents and headmistress, finding a new family along the way.
Unwanted and neglected by her parents, extraordinarily intelligent Matilda finds her escape in books and stories. The musical version was written by Dennis Kelley with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
When she is sent off on her first day of school at Crunchem Hall Primary School, Matilda meets her tyrannical, oppressive headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, as well as her kind, angelic teacher, Miss Honey.
The lead role of Matilda will be split between seventh grader Olivia Swift and eighth grader Eliana Ludlum. Each girl will lead one show of the three scheduled shows and split the role in the final show.
Swift has had several lead roles, and for Ludlam, it will be the biggest role she’s had yet.
“I enjoy just being a different person, and not being myself,” said Swift. “I definitely get a lot of fun experiences, and I have made a bunch of friends in drama that I wouldn’t have a chance to get to know otherwise, because they’re in different grades. It’s really fun to see everyone embody their character, even though sometimes that character is the absolutely opposite of who they really are.”
Ludlam agreed.
“I like the idea of putting on a new personality that everyone can see,” Ludlam said. “It feels very strengthening that I can be myself, but also relate to other people.”
Ludlam said that even though she and Matilda are different, she gets to portray a hero who overcomes her difficulties.
“I feel like Matilda, as a character, starts out with a rough childhood. Her parents don’t like her, but she finds an escape in books and stories, and she’s very smart and open-minded, and that’s who I want to be,” Ludlam said.
Scarlett Castiglioni, a sophomore and Drama Club president, who plays villainess Miss Trunchbull, said that Drama Club allows students to explore different characters, and that one of the things that attracts her to drama is how open it allows students to be with each other.
“I think there’s no judgment of how I am as a person. I don’t have to meet a certain standard; everyone’s accepted or equal, and that’s really hard to find when you’re new or trying to find a club you’re newly joining,” Castiglioni said, of being a member of Drama Club. “This is a great place to start building your own character.”
Sophomore Evelyn Bossov plays Miss Honey, who has a shy, nervous personality and has to grow throughout the play to be able to stand up to her abusive Aunt Trunchbull. Bossov said she tried to bring her own experiences with anxiety to the character.
Bossov has been part of the club for five years and has gone from one of its youngest members, looking up to older castmates, to one of its senior members helping the younger generation.
“We’re learning together, acting together, being embarrassing together,” Bossov said.
Castiglioni said that for the students of the Conant Drama Club, the after-school club is an outlet and a passion.
“I feel like it gives kids growing up a way to express themselves,” Castiglioni said. “I find my passion and what I’m good at to be here. I don’t struggle with this because it’s what I love to do. It’s a great place to be.”
Showtimes for “Matilda: The Musical” are May 15 at 7 p.m., and May 16 at 2 p.m. and 7 p.m. All shows are in the Pratt Auditorium at the Conant Middle High School. Tickets are $15 for adults, $10 for seniors and $5 for youths. Roald Dahl’s “Matilda: The Musical” is presented through a special arrangement with Music Theater International. All authorized performance materials are also supplied by MTI.