Matilda
Hale Center Theater OremView digital playbillFeb 21, 2020 – Apr 11, 2020
Director's note (Ashley Gardner Carlson): Matilda is told through the eyes of a preco- cious 5-year-old girl who loves to read. She uses books and stories to escape her own real- life narrative of an abusive family and school life. Not only is Matilda extremely bright and clever, she takes control of her situation and decides that she will not let the actions of others define her. I wanted everything the audience sees in this production to be seen through Matilda’s lens. A child has a vivid imagination and a sharp mind and what they remember as their reality, is bigger than life, more colorful, more exaggerated. I wanted the dance numbers, sets, costumes and scenes to all reflect this outlook. Matilda the Musical is based on a novel by Roald Dahl who is known for his terrifically clever and hugely popular, but sometimes dark and ironic, stories for children. This story definitely has some moments when Matilda and her classmates are in tense, dangerous, and even abusive situations. This only further highlights the message of this story, which is universal to everyone, at all ages. Just because you find that life’s not fair it, Doesn’t mean that you just have to grin and bear it, If you always take it on the chin and wear it, Nothing will change. Nothing ever changes by complaining about a situation. You might feel helpless at times, but by doing nothing, nothing will change. Matilda finds strength in her situation and even a power all her own. There is something so inspiring working with kids. Their resiliency, their stamina, their insatiable need to please are traits that wane after a certain age when we let our insecuri- ties rule. I love this show because it reminds us that we are the captains of our own ship. We are in control of our own destiny. If you don’t like something, change it. I hope that is what you take away with you today. Run February 21–April 11, 2020 (dates supplied for import). Program PDF: HCT_224.