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By: Johanna Geboy 2/8/23
Did you see the billboards around Bloomington? There was a local musical “Matilda” here in Bloomington. One of the actresses for the main character “Matilda” in the show was my friend, Miriam Spillman, who has a passion for acting. Matilda was a little girl who loved growing her knowledge but she was treated badly.
Matilda was in a family that disliked her and treated her like she was the worst thing in the world. She was this innocent little girl who loved to read books. Her mom and dad sent her to school with a mean principal, Miss. Trunchbull and a loving teacher, Miss. Honey. Miss. Honey was so impressed with Matilda’s reading and math skills that she got her a book to read. Miss. Honey found out that Matilda's parents did not like her and mistreated her. At the library, Matilda told a detailed story about a girl losing her parents and having to live with her mean aunt. Little did she know that the story that she told was Miss. Honey’s life. Then, one school afternoon, Miss. Honey invited her to her shed, and then Matilda saw the Acterback robe. “I recognize this,” said Matilda. Then Matilda found out that the story she told was not fake, it was real, and Miss. Trunchbull is Miss. Honey’s aunt. They did not see Miss. Trunchbull ever again and Miss. Honey got back what she deserved with a little help from Matilda. Miss. Honey did her a favor and asked if Matilda could stay with her. Through hard work and determination, this little girl was able to turn her life around and follow her dreams.
Miriam Spillman is an 11-year-old girl who played the part of Matilda. As a main character, Miriam had a lot of lines to memorize. She said in regards to memorizing all the lines, “I thought it would be hard, but it was not. I just practiced with my mom, and after a few shows, I had it down.” She started acting very young by playing games after finishing her book. The first play she acted in was “Don’t Let the Pigeon Drive the Bus.” This is not the end, she is currently practicing for her part in “Annie” the musical in Bloomfield, Indiana. She has a dream of being “Winnie Foster” from “Tuck Everlasting.”
Though Miriam does not have the same life story as “Matilda”, they share the same character traits. They are both hard-working and brave. This is noticed by all the hard work that Miriam put into singing, memorizing lines, and the actions of this play. In this show, you can see that Matilda has a similar drive to learn all she can even through hard times.
“Matilda,” written by Roald Daul, is fun to watch but also gives motivation to all kids to make the best of their life even when it is hard. Matilda learned all she could in the hope of someday being free like her teacher Mis. Honey. Even if you do not have it as hard as Matilda in life, it still can make an impact to do the best you can on what you do.
Spillman, Miriam, Interview. Conducted by Johanna Geboy. 4 February 2023.
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