‘James and the Giant Peach Jr.’ continues this weekend at Leeds
Published 9:42 am Friday, November 15, 2019
“James and the Giant Peach Jr.” performances continue this weekend at the Leeds Center for the Arts.
Performances are at 7:30 p.m. Friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday at Leeds, 37 N. Main St.
The musical follows the story of James, whose parents died in a run-in with a rhinoceros. Following their deaths, James — played by Wyatt Jackson and David Lin — is sent to live with his conniving aunts (Becca Wallingford as Spiker and Cassie Shields as Sponge).
Upon James’ arrival, the aunts send him to chop down their old fruit tree. There, James meets Ladahlord (Will Wyatt) who shows him a book of spells. James then makes a potion, but trips and spills it on the old fruit tree on the way back to his aunt’s house. The potion causes the tree to grow a gigantic peach, which later rolls into the ocean with James in tow, launching a journey of epic proportions.
Inside the peach, James befriends a collection of singing insects (Galen Arnett as Grasshopper; Emma Carty as Ladybug; Ella Brock as Spider; Drew Wyatt as Earthworm; and Dylan Diguette as Centipede) that ride the giant piece of fruit across the ocean. Throughout their journey, they face hunger, sharks and plenty of disagreements along the way.
“James and the Giant Peach Jr.” is inspired by Roald Dahl’s “James and the Giant Peach.”
The new take on this “masterpeach” of a tale features a score by Justin Paul and Benj Pasek; its book is by Timothy Allen McDonald. This musical about courage and self-discovery is an instant classic, according to the show’s description.
Performed by a cast of more than 50 students — more than 100 children initially auditioned — ages 8 through high school, this dazzling show is full of twists and turns, high-energy music and dance and one giant peach.
Tickets are $15 for children under 13 and $18 for adults. Tickets are available online at leedscenter.org.