Itawamba Indian Players presents “Matilda Jr.” musical
FULTON, MISS. (WCBI) – In this Indian Players’ production, longtime drama teacher Victoria Blake isn’t in the wings. She’s on the stage, playing the nefarious Miss Trunchbull.
Victoria’s daughter, Valerie, an English teacher at IAHS, is directing “Matilda Junior.”
Valerie says her mom is an expert when it comes to theater.
“She is doing great, I always tell her, no comments are good comments, there are a lot of times when I am not worried about her, she is a seasoned pro she is kind of , it is nice I can trust her to do what she needs to do on stage,” Plunkett said.
“Matilda Junior” follows the storyline of the well-known movie, but there are a few twists and turns.
Each year, the Itawamba Indian Players stage a musical.
All of the proceeds go back into the theater and arts programs.
Funds from the productions helped renovate the Robert and Victoria BLake Theater, in the Old FUlton Grammar School.
The cast is made up of students from all grade levels, and this production has a record number of grade schoolers.
“We have never had quite so many younger kids in the program, having to kind of navigate that and work around that,” Plunkett said.
Cast members say the musical has a message for the community.
“You should stand up for your friends, and yourself and why you can always be yourself,” said Renny Grace, who plays Matilda.
“She is really smart, but she doesn’t know she is so smart because no one encourages her,” said Selah Rose, who also plays Matilda.
A lot of people who have seen the movie remember Trunchbull, she picks your character up and does what.
“She picks me up by my pigtails,” said Presley, who plays Amanda Thripp
And you end up falling from the rafters, “Yes,” Presley said.
“I like this because it lets me come out of my shell, and be who I am,” said Wyatt, who plays Bruce Bogtrotter.
“At my old school there wasn’t a lot of different things to do and I have always wanted to be on stage,” said Amarhi, who plays Mrs. Phelps.
Mrs Wormwood, not a nice mom, right?
“No she is not, she is very concerned with her looks,” said Kaytee-Beth, who plays Mrs Wormwood.
“I love being a comic relief character, come see the show, because I am really funny,” Kaytee-Beth said.
Everyone involved in Matilda Junior, from cast, crew to community volunteers, has been working had since September. But they all say it is worth it, especially when you see young people getting interested in the arts.
Matilda Junior runs from February the twelfth to the fifteenth. For ticket information go to itawambaplayers.ludus.com
