February 26, 2020

ROTARY SHOW MUST GO ON SAYS TINY TROUPER ‘MATILDA’

Story and photos by Mark Clairmont | MuskokaTODAY.com

BRACEBRIDGE — What do you do when the star comes down with laryngitis days just days before opening night?

In the old days you’d wrap a towel around her neck, tell her to gargle with salt water, drink plenty of fluids including honey tea — and hang over a humidifier.

Today you tell her to take it easy, refrain from any ad lib dialogue and maybe try antibiotics.

All good advice — any or most of which Andi Stevenson received this week as she prepares for tomorrow night’s Rotary gala dinner performance at the Rene Caisse Theatre in Matilda The Musical.

Undaunted and in true — “the show must go on fashion” — the tiny, talented, thespian trouper will be on the stage ready to sing and dance.

Just as she was Monday night at the first of two dress rehearsals for the play, which runs this weekend and next for seven performances.

After countless hours of reciting and rehearsing hundreds of lines, the nine-year-old Huntsville Riverside Public School student has mastered them over four months and in doing so taxed her vocal chords.

Producer Jean Polak said in an email Wednesday afternoon — on a rare and much deserved off day for the cast and crew — that all systems are go.

“Andi said she felt much better (after Monday) and certainly did very well at last night’s dress rehearsal.

“She was forbidden from singing by the choral director (Fran Harvey), so it is too early to tell what shape her voice is in.

“But all signs are that the marvellous little trouper will be OK to open tomorrow.”

Polak said she “didn’t advocate any home remedies, leaving that for her parents to decide.”

Audiences will be thrilled to hear the news — and to hear that Stevenson (and her classmates) will be able to take on her stage parents, the bullies and Miss Trunchem the headmistress at Crunchem Hall Primary School, as Matilda uses her mischievious, telekinetic powers to overcome and conquer all who stand in her path.

Matilda The Musical is on at the Rene Caisse Theatre in Bracebridge, Feb. 27 to March 7. Tickets available at the box office.
This year’s run begins Thursday night with the big Rotary gala
Then it’s Friday at 7:30 p.m. and Saturday and Sunday at 2 p.m.
The next week it’s Thursday and Friday March 5-6 at 7:30 p.m., and Saturday March 7 at 2 p.m.
Tickets are $30 for adult and seniors; and $25 for youth 18 and under.
There are no discount matinees this year.