Interview: Windsor Light's 2 Matildas & Their Nasty Mother Are Delightful
/Interview: Windsor Light's 2 Matildas & Their Nasty Mother Are Delightful
Posted on November 20, 2019 by Eric Bonnici wrote in Entertainment News. It has 0 Comment.
Windsor Light Music Theatre shined when they opened a spectacular production of Matilda The Musical last weekend at The Chrysler Theatre. Cast members Josephine 'Posy' Cormier and Morgan DeYong sharing the role of Matilda, and Dayna Cornwall playing their mother Mrs. Wormwood took some time to talk about the show during their first dress rehearsal last week (Nov. 13).
There are a lot of special effects in this production Dayna explained saying, "it's a really magical show all about the power of imagination and the power of reading. I think Matilda herself and all of the kids in the story are really inspirational. It's the kind of show people are going to go away from feeling and saying, yeah let's stand up to bogus authority, you know right the wrongs of the world and not be bullied."
Dayna Cornwall cast as Mrs. Wormwood standing on stage just before Windsor Light Music Theatre's rehearsal of Matilda The Musical at The Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, Ontario, on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Dayna said there are just over thirty cast members with about twelve of them being children. Adding they all have been rehearsing twice a week since June. " It's a great cast, the kids are incredible, really talented and really sweet, they're a good bunch of kids," she added.
Matilda is Dayna's eighth production with Windsor Light Music Theatre. She first sang in the pit chorus for Sister Act. "Then I got my nerve up and auditioned for Beauty and the Beast," she explained. "I've been doing it pretty consistently since then."
After reviewing the script Dayna liked and decided to audition for the role of Mrs. Wormwood. This is her first time playing a villain. "I thought it would be a lot of fun to play the nasty mother who is focused on her own ambition, which is to be a champion salsa dancer. She does not care about her kids at all. It's definitely something different for me."
During the play Mrs. Wormwood gets the spotlight late in Act 2 during a scene featuring the song Loud. The scene involves a lot of singing and dance choreography on Dayna's part. "There has been a lot of training and working on it over the last few months but I love it and it's a lot of fun to do," she explains. "It's Mrs. Wormwood kind of singing about how you have to be loud and really go for it in life, don't be a shrinking violet, basically it's like her whole demeanor."
Unlike the nasty character she plays, Dayna was a delightful person to interview. Likewise, the two Matilda's, Josephine 'Posy' Cormier and Morgan DeYong, were smart and witty delights to speak with.
Josephine 'Posy' Cormier (left) and Morgan DeYong both cast as Matilda standing on stage just before Windsor Light Music Theatre's rehearsal of Matilda The Musical at The Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, Ontario, on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Morgan and Posy feel sharing the role of Matilda has brought them closer together as opposed to being competitive. In fact, "we were in the same theatre summer camp together so it was fun to see each other at the auditions," explained Posy. "The play has brought us closer together because we were friends but we weren't really close but now we are," says Morgan.
They feel the entire cast are like a big family to them. Morgan said she will probably cry when it's over because she won't be able to see everyone at rehearsals anymore.
Posy auditioned because she thought that she looked like Matilda, likes to read books like her, and it would be a good opportunity. Most importantly she explained, "we both like to rebel against things that we don't think are right."
Morgan said she auditioned for the role because "I really like the character and I feel that it's cool that she's strong and independent. I really think it's cool that she's a little mischievous and I really like her cool (telekinetic) powers."
Both of these Matildas think people should come out and see the show. Posy says, the play features interactive dance numbers, some audience participation, and humor even though the play is about people and Matilda's parents not being so nice to her. "Matilda has a really great message. No matter how small you are you can fight and stand up to bullies." Posy points out that there's a line in the play that says, "even if you're little you can do a lot."
Morgan says people should come see it because, "there are some sad moments in the play but then there are some happy moments and big dance numbers. It's fun and cheerful but also a sad play, it's intermixed to make it not too cheerful but not too sad. It's the perfect mix of sad and happy."
Morgan DeYong (left) cast as Matilda and Dayna Cornwall cast as Mrs. Wormwood standing on stage just before Windsor Light Music Theatre's rehearsal of Matilda The Musical at The Chrysler Theatre in Windsor, Ontario, on Wednesday, November 13, 2019. Photo by Eric Bonnici / Eyes On Windsor.
Matilda take place at The Chrysler Theater at The St. Clair Centre For The Arts with final performances this weekend Friday, November 22 and Saturday, November 23 at 7:30pm and Sunday, November 24 at 2pm.
For more information or to purchase tickets visit https://www.windsorlight.com
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