The Riverside City College theatre brings Roald Dahl's Matilda to life on the stage this weekend at the Landis Performing Arts Centers on the RCC campus opening on Friday July 19 at 7pm. The cast consisting of local professionals, students in the RCC theatre program, and children from around the local community participating in the RCC Summer Conservatory program.

Matilda the musical, based on a 1988 novel by Roald Dahl, has received wide acclaim throughout its Broadway run and even includes a movie adaptation. In the story, Mrs. Wormwood, played by Sallie Griffin, gives birth to Matilda, played by Brooklyn Sosa, who is quickly dismissed by her father, played by Austin Arnwine, who would prefer she was a boy. The whole family lacks any sort of intelligence, and suffers from a television addiction. Matilda's genius leads her to success in school, despite the horrible school mistress, Mrs. Trunchill, played by Ryder Thompson, with the support and help of her teacher Miss Honey, played by Emily Davila.

The blending of professional, student, and children actors really serves this story well, and brings an amazing opportunity for the younger actors who are able to work closely with seasoned actors, and this really shows in the performance. The obvious stand out in this show is Brooklyn Sosa's Matilda. Not only can Sosa sing and dance like she has been doing it all her life, her ability to match wits with the adults in the show was amazing. The interactions between Sosa and Arnwine were especially fun to watch. At one point Sosa banters in a foreign language like she was a fluent speaker.

Austin Arnwine's performance of Mr. Wormwood also deserves some special note. I have been covering Arnwine since he first showed up in the RCC Theatre program, and he has always been an amazingly fun performer to watch as he does a great job bringing his own signature style to each character he becomes without allowing that style to overwhelm the character potentially making it one-note, I am looking at you Ryan Reynolds. Arnwine's TV addicted, bungling salesman role brings a lot of fun comedic moments, as well as a some great interactions with another up and comer in the RCC Theatre program, Austin McConnell who plays several different characters like the Children's Entertainer, Mechanic, and Sergei. Arnwine and McConnell have great chemistry together on stage and are always fun to watch.

Many of the children in the production bring some real potential star quality to their performances. Sawyer Thompson, who plays Bruce, provided the necessary comic relief in the school settings, and belts out his own number with fantastic success. Several of the kids bring all the adorableness, and there is even a budding aerialist in the group.

Speaking of aerialists, I always get a little more excited when I notice Brenda Castillo on hand for the performance as I know that we will get a treat of watching her perform her aerialist stunts on stage, and this was no exception. As the fairy tale story version of Matilda's parents, Castillo pairs up with Derrick Robinson as the Escapologist, for some exciting, fun, and really emotional story telling with almost no dialog.

Ryder Thompson brings an exceptional twist to the roll of Head Mistress Trunchbull, beyond the obvious gender changes, deftly creating a character that is comically fear inducing and makes you love, hate, and fear him all at the same time.

This is a fantastic show, and really highlights the important work that RCC is doing with their Summer Conservatory program. Director of the Theatre Arts program Jodi Julian says "Our hope is to challenge and channel students' talents into having an equitable, local, and global impact as artists, technicians, educators, audience members, and supporters of the arts." The program endeavors to create a learning environment that is inclusive and representative of its community as a whole. Julian also said "We encourage students to develop their artistic expression and technical ability in preparation for their continuing education and future careers."

Don't miss out on this summer spectacular at the Landis Performing Arts Center on Friday July 19 at 7pm, Saturday July 20 at 2pm and 7pm. Tickets are available online at the RCC Box Office.