8
BEHIND THE SCENES
SEPTEMBER 22�29, 2021
FROM THE
COVER
Elgin Opera House opens ‘Matilda’ Oct. 1
By Lisa Britton
Go! Magazine
MATILDA
Oct. 1-23
Fridays: 7:30 p.m.
Saturdays: 12:30 p.m. and
4:30 p.m.
Elgin Opera House
104 N. Eighth Ave.
www.elginoperahouse.com
541-663-6324
E
LGIN — It’s a tale of two
Matildas.
One actor was cast 18 months
ago, right before the coronavirus
pandemic shut down theater
productions across the nation.
She’s been practicing her lines
ever since.
The other actor began re-
hearsing three weeks ago, and
is using tricks to memorize the
script.
Dressed in matching gray
jumpers, Abigale Roulet and Re-
becca Austin are ready to bring
Roald Dahl’s Matilda to life on the
Elgin Opera House stage.
They will not, however, both
be Matilda at the same time.
Terry Hale, artistic director of the
Opera House, said doubling up
on the main character seemed a
good idea when faced with the
uncertainty of COVID-19. If Rou-
let or Austin can’t perform, the
other can step right into the role.
The current plan, though, is to
Lisa Britton/Go! Magazine
Matilda (played by Rebecca Austin, far right, and Abigale Roulet on different days), tries to win tug-of-war against
Miss Trunchbull.
alternate who plays Matilda, while
the other actor slips into the en-
semble on her not-Matilda nights.
Opening night is Friday, Oct.
1, and shows continue on Fri-
days (7:30 p.m.) and Saturdays
(12:30 p.m. and 4:30 p.m.) until
Oct. 23. Tickets are $18 for the
orchestra level and lower balco-
ny. Upper balcony tickets are $8.
Roulet is a veteran of the
Opera House stage with 17
productions behind her.
“This is one of my fi rst main
roles,” she said.
She was cast as Matilda in
early 2020. She, along with
much of the original cast, grew
a bit over the last 18 months.
“They all grew six inches to a
foot,” said Grant Turner, Opera
House assistant artistic direc-
tor.
At almost 13, Roulet now
stands more upstage from her
other actors as she portrays
the young Matilda. Also, she sits
more than Austin, who is 9.
“It’s two diff erent shows, in a
way,” Turner said.
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Austin’s fi rst experience
at the Opera House was this
summer for the “James and the
Giant Peach Jr.” summer camp.
This is her fi rst regular season
show.
When purchasing tickets,
patrons can see which actor is
featured as Matilda on a particu-
lar night.
The play was developed by
the Royal Shakespeare Co., with
lyrics by Tim Minchin.
“It became a big hit,” Turner
said. “(Minchin) is a comic genius
and highly revered in the U.K.”
Purchase tickets at www.
elginoperahouse.com/box-offi ce
or call 541-663-6324.