See the world through Matilda’s perspective

Danny Tiegen, a member of the cast of the musical “Matilda the Musical” which plays Proctors Tuesday through Dec. 13 is thrilled to be playing the area. He’s a Skidmore College graduate who during a recent telephone interview said he feels fondly of the area which gave him direction in life. “I think of Skidmore and the general community as the place that helped me figure out who I was both as a person and an artist.”

After graduating Skidmore in 2008, Tiegan embarked on a journey of discovery and accomplishment. He’s not only a working actor he’s also a musician, songwriter and educator. Indeed those last three things led to his being a published author. His book “I Am Your Songwriting Journal,” is an interactive guide written to help teenagers turn their ideas into songs.

He wrote the book because he couldn’t find any written guide that he could offer to a young music student get to the next level. “I believe that when you discover something doesn’t exist it becomes a mandate to create it yourself.

Clearly Tiegen is the opposite of his character in the show. In “Matilda the Musical” he plays Michael Wormwood, Matilda’s older 10 year old brother. While 5-year old Matilda is an exceptional child who loves to read and help others, Michael is what Tiegen calls a “vididiot.” “Whereas Matilda is reading Dickens and Chaucer’s ‘Canterbury Tales’ Michael blobs in front of the T.V. He’s the kind of kid who doesn’t even look up from the television when someone enters the room. He has no aspirations and certainly no social skills,” says Tiegen.

If the idea of a college graduate playing a 5th grader sounds odd, to Tiegan it seems normal. “One of the great thing about this show is it is quirky in an almost subversive way. Once you get used to the show’s conceits – and it is very easy to do so – you start to understand the world in which Matilda lives.”

He explains: “On stage adults playing fifth graders lets us see the world through Matilda’s perspective. When you are in first grade all fifth graders look like grownups who must be married and drive cars. Then you become a fifth grader only to realize you’re still eating peanut butter sandwiches. The audience starts out seeing adults as 5th graders, but quickly they simply become big kids who wear the same clothes. It’s a very complicated theatrical notion that is easy to accept in performance.”

His favorite moment is when the father, who is also a television addict, sings the song “Telie,” and Michael is on stage staring at the audience.

“My Skidmore training won’t permit me just to stare into space without a purpose. In his mind I think Michael sees himself living an interesting and exciting internal life. Maybe he is, but it isn’t real. So when he comes on stage and looks out, it has to be mind-bending for him to look real people in the face. He can only be thinking, ‘Wow, what a great giant television.’ That’s what I’m trying to play.”

Although he describes the show as visually exciting he recommends audiences take the advice of the show’s resident director Ryan Emmons (another Skidmore graduate).

“Make sure you really listen to Matilda’s story.” He explains that in this world of juke box musical this show challenges the audience to be active and pay attention to the complex story of a seemingly powerless girl who does great things. “It’s a very rewarding experience,” he says.