by Bonnie Collings
Chairo Christian School's Middle School performance of "Matilda the Musical Jr" proved that if you're little, you really can do a lot!
The young cast wowed the audience with their vocal performances, commitment to character and energy on stage. It was clear through their performance the students were having so much on stage.

Mataya Scott channelled the passion, courage and defiance of the beloved storybook character Matilda. Her strong vocals were fantastic and it was clear she had put a lot of dedication into her role. Mataya's standout scene was her cheeky and fun rendition of "Naughty."
Even though she was the bad guy in the story, it was hard not to love Miss Trunchball thanks to Jada Ball's incredible performance. Jada's natural talent as a performer saw her shine on stage and it was clear she was loving every moment. Her standout moment was when she found a "newt in her knickers", leaving the stage leaping up and down and shrieking.
Other supporting cast members including Eli Grant and Annabel Stephens as the Woormwoods, Maverick Rovers as Bruce and Rachelle Ho as Nigella shone on stage with their strong comedic timing and they connection they built with the audience.
A number of scenes in the performance showcased the power of stage magic, but the scene where Miss Trunchbull throws Amanda Thripp by her pigtails was a crowd favourite.
A whirling effect projected at the back of the stage paired with bright flickering lights made the audience feel like they were the ones being spun around. The real shock came when a dummy version of Amanda Thripp fell down from the ceiling, replaced quickly with young actress Hayley Norbury. The mix of modern effects and classic theatre magic worked perfectly, leaving the audience shocked and wowed.
Choreography was strong throughout the show, and technical moments like the movement of alphabet blocks in "School Song" and the movements in "Revolting Children" were well staged.
My favourite scene was the song "When I Grow Up". Known for the use of on-stage swings in the Broadway show, I was very excited to see play equipment including a swing-set on stage for the scene. The cast did well to sing while riding their scooters across the stage.
A beautiful and moving song, the audience couldn't stop smiling as the ensemble cast ran in down the stairs with their kites and toys to join in the second verse and create a powerful wall of sound.
The Chairo Middle School cast and crew did a fantastic job of bringing the classic story to life on stage. Audiences left the theatre with smiles on their faces, humming their favourite songs.