Finally, the Fall Theater show weekend was here. Anabelle had been practicing almost every day after school. And this year, she was not just part of the ensemble, but had broken a leg and been "casted". We were so excited for her to be Lavender in the upcoming musical "Matilda". Even more exciting was that her best friend from school, Isabella Grace, was one of the Matildas, and Linley Rawls was Ms. Honey. Now, I will admit that when I heard all these names, I had no idea what she was talking about as I had never seen Matilda the show, the musical, the movie, nothing...and had no idea of the story. But every day was amazing picking up Belle and Linley, and getting to hear them singing in the back of the van.
The week was crazy busy as they did shows for Elementary, Junior High, and High School on Tues/Wed/Thurs, then had the opening night for all on Friday Night. They then had a matinee on Saturday, Senior night on Saturday night, and a final matinee on Sunday afternoon. Because family was coming, and I did not want to miss opening night, I was locked into 3 of these shows, but it worked out well as I got to watch both different casts. Fortunately, the Matinee shows were the best with family there to see. The matinee shows featured Linley's amazing voice as Ms. Honey "It's not much, but its enough for me". The matinee also had Isabella Grace as Matilda, Belle's other good friend Hannah as the ballerina, and a more fun Trunchbull.
I think if you would have recorded my face through every showing of every visit, I was just in a big smile. Not knowing the story, made me see a little something new each time. And with my ears, each time through helped me hear a little more of the story. But seeing my Belle on stage, in her zone, was amazing to watch. I could hear her voice shining through in those big ensemble numbers, and could not help chuckling a little when I heard the lines that I had heard so many times around the house.
Lavender: "My mummy says I'm a precious barrelina. She has never seen a...prettier barrelina. She says if I'm keen, I have to cut down on the cream, but I'm a barrelina so give me more cake!
Then later, She entered stage from left and walked right up to Matilda...
Lavender: "Matilda, can I ask you a question? Do all those brains in your head give you a headache? I mean, It's got to hurt, all squished in there"
Matilda: "No, its fine. I think they just fit"
Lavender: "Right. Well look, I'd better hang around just in case. If they start to squeeze out of your ears you're going to need help. I'm Lavender, and I think its probably for the best if we're best friends"
And finally, we had been prepped all week that her big scene was part of the intermission. I ran to/from the bathroom to make sure I did not miss it, but it began with a fun song about "All I know I learned from Telly". And then the spotlight was on, and it was just Belle, my beautiful belle, talking to all of us as Lavender.
Lavender: "Hello. I'm Lavender by the way. Matilda's best friend. There's a bit coming up that's all about me. Well, not exactly about me, but I play a big part in it. But I'm not gonna say what happens because I don't' want to spoil it for you. (PAUSE) Alright, look, what I do is I volunteer to get the Trunchbull a jug of water and then...NO! I don't want to tell you any more because I don't want to ruin it! (PAUSE) Well, on the way back I find a newt. A newt is like a really ugly lizard that lives in water, so I pick it up and ... NO! I will not say any more! (WALKING OFF STAGE, THEN STOPPING) I'm going to put the newt in the Trunchbull's jug! Its going to be brilliant!
My favorite show was probably Saturday, because at this big moment for Belle, I had both Eloise and Ivey both in my lap. And while Eloise was a little shy, Ivey helped me yell for Belle (Lavender) each time she tried to leave the stage. And while the show was super funny in many areas, the big laugh from both Eloise and Ivey came when the Bulgarian Mafia guy said "Matilda" in a loud voice. Oh well, I bet he did not know he would get that big of a laugh either.
After the show on Saturday, Ivey wanted pictures with all of the characters, and maybe like her older cousin, also had no problems going up on stage after the show to be in a picture with the full cast. Even better was a big hug for Belle when she came down the stairs off the main set to see Ivey.
This was an amazing weekend. I loved loved loved every moment with Belle. I admitted to Linley that I could not cheer for her as I may have been choking back tears when she was singing. I laughed hard at Bruce's big burp and Trunchbull's kid toss. But the funniest show was the Sunday matinee, which Belle gave us a warning was the Sunday Shenanigan show, where the actors could go off script a little bit. In this show, Mr Wormwood showed up in the first scene smoking three cigarettes instead of 1, as "this was the new trend". Mr. Wormwood also later changed his hair color from green to blue for this show. And one of the best lines was Bruce at start of a big song saying "This feels like a song". They also had a fun gag where they brought up Cash from the crowd during the intermission as another long lost son of Mr. Wormwood, but the best was in the final scene where Mr. Wormwoods other son, Michael, who had basically played a character who seemed to be an idiot walked over to Matilda and apologized with a string of highly intelligent expressions of his utmost wishes for her good wishes on future endeavors. It was a well played and delivered shenanigan piece to which Isabella Grace, at a loss for words as Matilda just said "Well, that was new".
And Scene. The curtain came down, then back up for all to run across the stage and get their cheers. Weird on Friday night, no one ever stood up, which was just strange. But on Saturday and Sunday, we gave them the traditional standing ovation. I think one show probably had about 25 people from church there. And here I am writing this blog weeks later, but I still here IG's Matilda voice "and if it's not right, you gotta put it right". I am positive I could watch it all over again. Which I may do...it is on youtube always ready... https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1424P-BtKMQ&t=127s
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