Like a scene from a childhood memory, little kids flood the stage running up and down the seesaw, climbing down ladders, and going down the slide, carrying the nostalgic joy of childhood.
CPHS theater department put on the musical Matilda which they had been working on since the start of the school year. The show follows a young girl named Matilda played by junior Triniti Colbert and junior Lia Lagos featuring the show’s double cast with two actors playing the same character on different show nights.
“Her story is very important because it shows that as she says, even if you’re little, you can do a lot,” Colbert said. “She shows that just because she’s small, just because she’s young, she’s still mighty, she’s still powerful, and she will still be strong and confident and get her stuff done.”
Matilda’s mother, Mrs. Wormwood was played by senior Abigail Taylor who was also a dance captain for the choreography.
“Mrs. Wormwood is a fun character. She’s definitely very out there and it’s kind of a different tone compared to the rest of the show, so she adds a little bit of comedic relief,” Taylor said. “She’s just a fun, spunky person.”
Senior Bryce Zamoski plays a mean-spirited car salesman who is also Matilda’s father.
“Mr. Wormwood adds comedy to the show, as well as a little chance to see more of Matilda’s struggles which I think really is the big one,” Zamoski said. “I also really enjoy my little song, ‘Telly.’ It’s a really fun song and I can’t lie, I enjoy the limelight.”
Matilda’s headmistress Agatha Trunchbull, a former Olympic Hammer Thrower was another example of the double cast played by senior Sasha Trajkovski and junior Trent Joselyn. Both casts had to put in extra hours to learn the roles with shared rehearsal time but there were benefits to acting the same role as someone else.
“I like that I get to both be on stage and rehearse, but also watch my double Trent,” Trajkovski said. “He does an amazing job and I learn a lot about our character and about acting from him.”
Matilda has to face the bullying from both her family and her headmistress aided by her loving teacher going through her own journey of growth, Miss Honey, played by junior Lili Cuevas and junior Lily Egan.
“Miss Honey adds a nice contrast from Miss Trunchbull. They’re kind of like complete opposites, but they balance each other out in a way,” Cuevas said.
For two weekends in November, over 3,500 people came to watch the show. The show concluded the theatre department’s fall season.