Beverly Theatre Guild returns with ‘Matilda’
Stops and starts have been a challenging way of life for many people involved in theater for more than a year and a half.
The Beverly Theatre Guild Chicago’s “Matilda the Musical” will be performed Oct. 8-10.
Much of the cast continues to be involved in the show despite the long delay from the original dates in 2020. “It shows they have tenacity, passion and that they all care for each other,” said Robbie Distasio, director of “Matilda the Musical.”
“They all wanted to stay in this together and do this together. They were having such a good time before we had to break for COVID-19. The memories they made before we left it kept them going through COVID.
“It’s different from any musical you’ve seen. It’s
funny, kooky, magical and whimsical. They’re excited for people to see them perform and to see how they’ve grown from when they first started.”
Roald Dahl’s “Matilda the Musical,” which is being staged at Morgan Park Academy Arts Center in Chicago, features book by Dennis Kelly, who received a Tony Award for best book of a musical for the show’s 2013 Broadway production, and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
“‘Matilda’ is about a little girl whose love of books sprouts into something great when she goes to school,” said Distasio, of Chicago’s Garfield Ridge community.
“The school’s run by an evil woman named Miss Trunchbull but Miss Honey is Matilda’s schoolteacher. Miss Honey mentors Matilda in many different ways. Through this they make some magic together.”
The musical is based on the late Dahl’s 1988 novel, “Matilda,” which was adapted into a 1996 film of the same name.
“Back in the day I saw the movie ‘Matilda,’ which we all know and love with Danny DeVito, who was both in it and directed,” said Distasio, choir director at Marist High School in Chicago where he has taught Spanish, speech, theater and chorus during his four years on staff.
“The magical element of it was something I loved. The musical is based more on the book than the movie but it has those great movie moments in it still. Roald Dahl created stories that were not run-of-the-mill. The girl Matilda is so extraordinary in so many ways.”
“I love ‘James and the Giant Peach’ and the stories and worlds that Roald Dahl created. ‘Matilda the Musical’ has this little British sweetness to it that adds a little class and touch of humor that makes it really unique and lovely.”
The Beverly Theatre Guild Chicago’s “Matilda the Musical” is produced by Jean Friend, of Yorkville, and Brandy See with music direction by Sharon Mason of Chicago’s Ashburn community and choreography by Leslie
Ann Harkins of Chicago’s Lincoln Square community.
None of Distasio’s students are in the show because it conflicted with Marist High School’s fall play and speech season but several 10- to 15-year-olds, including students from Burbank’s St. Laurence and Chicago’s Whitney Young Magnet high schools, are in the cast.
“These kids are so talented. The adults in the show are absolutely lovely. I have professional caliber adults but the kids in the show really carry it and show how dedicated to theater they are,” Distasio said.
Alsip; Blue Island; Chicago’s Ashburn, Beverly, Lakeview, Morgan Park and North Center communities and Garfield Park neighborhood; Evergreen Park, Glenview; Midlothian, New Lenox, Oak
Lawn, Orland Park, Palos Hills, Palos Park, Tinley Park, Westmont, Worth and St. John, Indiana, residents are the cast.
“This has been one of the shows I’ve been waiting for and been really wanting to do for so long, not only with COVID but when I first heard of it and saw it when it started on the West End of London,” Distasio said.
“I thought it would be so cool to direct. We’re so close to finally putting it onstage and having an audience.”
The Beverly Theatre Guild Chicago, which returned to live theater with “Harvey” from April 30-May 2, follows “Matilda the Musical” with “The Sting” from Feb. 11-13 and “The King and I” from April 29-May 1.