Mill Mountain Theatre filling up last night.

An Timely Look at a Little Girl and Books  It was a rollicking, laughing, boisterous nearly full house at Mill Mountain Theatre last night as MMT’s children and professionals let loose with their production of “Matilda the Musical.” It was a truly local production of the Roald Dahl work with 25 young actors bouncing, dancing and singing their way to crowd approval last night, as the play heads into its final weekend.  The busy group followed the choreography of Hector Flores, Jr. Flores Jr., who previously directed “In The Heights” at Mill Mountain Theatre.  For ticket information, visit millmountain.org or call the box office at 540-342-5740.  It is an especially appropriate production at this time in our region because libraries and books are being attacked and Matilda is a little girl of considerable intelligence (whether to be smart or pretty is a consistent theme) who loves books. (Thank you, Mill Mountain, for this gift.)  This is the story of Matilda’s question for education, which is supported strongly by her teacher, Miss Honey, and equally strongly opposed by the school’s head mistress, Miss Trunchbull, an outsized, hilarious, mean character who nearly steals the show several times.  Children love the absurdity of this presentation and laugh vigorously at Miss Trumchbull.  The Tony Award-winning play features stage veterans such as Ben Armstrong (Doctor/Ensemble), Alivia Brown (Ensemble), Carter Cecil (Ensemble), Drew D’Alessandro (Tommy/Ensemble), Rory Grant (Bruce), Emma Harvey (Ensemble), Elise LeGault (Ensemble), Sylvia MacNab (Ensemble), Eve McLoney (Alice), Belle McNamara (Amanda), Caroline Moledor (Mrs. Wormwood), Riley Parks (Ensemble), Ruth Parsons (Lavender), Amelia Raring (Matilda), Jadyn Rhodes (Ensemble), William Richardson (Ensemble), Ellen Riegger (Mrs. Phelps), Brent Saunders (Eric), Ruby Spence (Trunchbull), Jack Swank (Nigel), Natalie Thorell (Hotensia/Ensemble), Ann Marie Thorell (Ensemble), Lilah Vanke (Miss Honey), Holden White (Michael Wormwood), DeMarion Williams (Escapologist/Ensemble) and Cameron Wimbish (Mr. Wormwood).   Filling out the creative team for “Matilda the Musical” is Ginger Poole (Producing Artistic Director), Héctor Flores Jr. (Director/Choreographer), Bethany Costello (Music Director), Will Farris (Production Stage Manager), Tyler Osgood (Rehearsal Stage Manager), Ashlinn Blevins (Assistant Stage Manager), Jimmy Ray Ward (Scenic Designer), Addie Pawlick (Lighting Designer), Sarah Holsted (Props Designer), Jessica Gaffney (Costume Designer), Savannah Woodruff (Sound Designer) and Matt Shields (Director of Production). A digital program is provided by Marquee Digital.