There’s a character trait fostered in young people involved in theatre — a planted seed that grows into something complicated to explain and easy to admire.
It’s not “fearlessness,” at least not precisely; StageCoach Theatre School artistic director Christina Penhale’s young thespians are familiar with a metaphor she uses often: that fear is in the car with you, so to speak, but you’re the one driving — and fear, she said, doesn’t get to touch the radio. The phrase got nods of approval all down the line from members of the OnStage performance class, StageCoach’s oldest group of students and the anchor around which the school’s 25th anniversary performance of Matilda the Musical JR. swings.
For the first time in years, and as a celebration of a quarter century of helping nurture new generations of “theatre kids,” all the school’s classes are combining in a single massive performance with 14 musical numbers and a cast of 35 — from the Theatre Seekers’ five- to seven-year-olds to the Intermediate Theatre class. There are even StageCoach alumni; one of the adult ensemble is current Theatre Seekers instructor Metta Rose, who islanders may not realize played the first lead of the first StageCoach class show back in 1999, as Alice during their production of Alice in Wonderland.
In a moment just before rehearsal, Penhale put it to the OnStage class — a proper troupe now, deep into final preparations for a show together — what message they think audiences will take away from Matilda?
Several just started singing: “Even if you’re little, you can do a lot . . . !”
Penhale beamed. “That’s one of my favourite songs in the show,” she admitted.
The story of Matilda centres on a young, sweet girl who overcomes problematic parenting and outright tyrannical teachers by discovering her own power, explained senior OnStage student Abby Bouchard, who said she was thrilled with her casting as the bizarrely cruel Miss Trunchbull.
“It is such a fun role,” said Bouchard. “She’s so unhinged; a really big bully.”
But Trunchbull’s cruelty helps the play deliver its core message, she said, that anyone can be brave enough to stand up to bullies — and, fellow cast member Pepper Roscoe-Duvall says, bravery has been part of the process for every student going in front of an audience.
“I’ve had stage fright my whole life!” laughed Roscoe-Duvall, who shares the titular role of Matilda with Larkin Hemstreet and Rosie Tauriac. “With people like Abby, who were in the show last year and know what it’s like — it’s less scary to be on stage with them because they’ve done it before. We’ve become like a family up here.”
One new twist for the stage production of Matilda — at least new to StageCoach — is the addition of microphones, meaning even the quietest will be heard by the audience. For troupe members who are naturally more soft-spoken, it’s a new opportunity to express themselves — and again, a notion not too far from the show’s message.
“It’s about speaking up for what you think is not right,” said Lucy Dagenais, who plays Ms. Honey and Mrs. Phelps. “And about making your voice heard.”
Not to be left out, for two of the shows — the family matinee April 27 and the closing performance May 3 — the StageCoach Dancers will join the production for a number before the second half. It’s a huge undertaking that’s required major behind-the-scenes support, Penhale said, a village’s worth of parent volunteers, crew and board members to pull it off.
“This is the biggest show we’ve ever done. It’s going to be a spectacle,” said Penhale, looking fondly at the students as they scattered to warm up before rehearsal. “I’m so proud of how hard they’ve worked; I’ve asked a lot of them, and they’ve really risen to the occasion.”
From among the shuffling feet, young voices could be heard singing right through the din:
“If you sit around and let them get on top, you might as well be saying you think that it’s okay. And that’s not right. And if it’s not right you have to put it right.”
“These kids are just amazing,” said Penhale with a smile. “Having the privilege of facilitating this experience for them is the just the most fulfilling thing. This is my ‘why’ in life.”
Matilda the Musical JR. runs at ArtSpring April 25 and 26 and May 1, 2 and 3 at 7 p.m. with a 2 p.m. show April 27. For more information visit stagecoachtheatre.ca.
A gala 25th anniversary celebration is also set for Monday, April 28 from 6:30 to 9 p.m. at ArtSpring. A fundraising appeal for the StageCoach Legacy Fund through the Salt Spring Island Foundation is also underway.