EMBODIES THE YOUTHFUL SPIRIT

By Amy Luo & Nessa Tong Sta Writers

On January 13, StarStruck Youth Per eatre’s production of Roald Matilda the Musical opened at the Ohlone College Gary Soren Smith Center for the Fine and Performing Arts. e eatre rendition arrived just in time for the resurgence of Matilda the Musical’s popularity after the stream release of a critically-lauded Net ix lm adaptation on December 9, 2022. Based upon the eponymous children’s novel by Roald Dahl, the Broadway show centers on the adventures of Matilda Wormwood, a prodigious young girl who uses her intellect to overcome tricky predicaments at home and at school.

ough Matilda is neglected by both her parents and her dictatorial headmistress Agatha Trunchbull, she empowers herself through her love of reading and nds community amongst her fellow classmates and beloved schoolteacher Miss Honey.

As the lights dimmed down in the theater, a harmonious cacophony of utes and exaggerated brass from the orchestra set the tone of the show with an air of youthfulness and childlike ambience. e curtains rose to an ensemble of young children dressed in Halloween costumes performing “Miracle,” a lighthearted song about being pampered by their parents’ love. Midway through, how- ever, the tone darkened in contrast as the unhinged Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Garrison Garcia and Gemma Krotz) took the stage, bemoaning the birth of their daughter, Matilda Wormwood (Araceli Herrera). In a distinctive, high-pitched carol, Matilda joined the crew of dancing children to sing, “My mummy says I’m a lousy little worm / My daddy says I’m a bore,” introducing the audience to her pitiful childhood. cember. Even after countless hours of studying and practicing for the feat, Nazeer had her doubts about flying.

While subsequent musical numbers unfolded the show’s plotline and developed Matilda’s dreams of “changing her own story,” the production quality and set design bear a remarkable resemblance to the original Broadway production — the theater curtains were framed with a mix of alphabet toy blocks and brightly-hued and comically-sized bookcases were scattered across the stage, creating an interactive environment for the audience.

“My first time, I was… genuinely extremely nervous … I thought [the plane] was going to crash,” Nazeer said.

Once she obtains her pilot license, Nazeer plans to start working toward a commercial pilot license and eventually become an airline pilot. “It started out as a hobby, and still is a hobby, but after you get your pilot license you can ... [learn] instrument reading, which [lets] you fly in the clouds,” Nazeer said. For those who aspire to become young pilots, Nazeer advises them to persevere through challenges because the end result will be worth it. “Don’t give up. Even though there is a lot of studying and setbacks, it really is worth it to have that freedom of flying in the end,” Nazeer said. ▪

But the most noteworthy elements of the show lay in the young actors’ performances. One of the de ning qualities of Matilda the Musical is its primary use of child actors in its cast, making StarStruck eatre, an organization dedicated to fostering youth in performing arts, tailor- t to the show. While only in elementary school, Herrera evoked a larger-than-life stage presence that trans xed the entire theater, as she crooned with a witty smirk while pulling pranks on Mr. Wormwood in “Naughty.” Despite a few minutes of mishap with her microphone, Herrera’s crisp and resonant vocals continually underlined her tremendous talent.

Several of MSJ’s own students also played instrumental roles in the production. Junior Christopher Apy’s phenomenal interpretation of Miss Trunchbull left children and adults in the audience alike howling with laughter, and his mastery of Trunchbull’s o beat British accent, as well as his dynamic acting, cemented the grotesque nature of the villainous character. Senior Brian Loh’s amboyant salsa sequences and pompous persona as Rudolpho, Mrs. Wormwood’s Italian ballroom dance partner, provided perfectly-timed notes of comic relief throughout the show. Sibling duo Sophomore Russell Lym and Senior Ella Lym became the bold faces of youth in revolt as members of the ensemble, prancing across the stage as they united the schoolchildren against Trunchbull’s tyranny. In a hilarious twist at the end, Russell Lym made a reappearance as Sergei the Russian maa boss, greeting Matilda with “Priyatna Paznakomitsa” and chasing down the other Wormwoods in authentic Russian.

By allowing the child actors’ youthful energy to shine through, StarStruck eatre’s production of Matilda the Musical perfectly embodied the fun spirit and charm of Roald Dahl’s original novel, with numerous original changes. With its elaborate sets, animated choreography, and transformative acting, the show beautifully showed that, just as Matilda sings, “Even if you’re little you can do a lot.” ▪