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James and the Giant Peach Performance is Coming to a Close

Time is running out to catch the McLeod Summer Playhouse’s performance of James and the Giant Peach.

With only 2 shows left tickets are going fast.

http://youtu.be/93DJ5OQh5oI

Last month we took you behind the scenes to see how the peach was made.

Now that the dust is settled and the construction is finished,

James and the Giant Peach is in full production.

For the past few weeks, audiences have gathered in the small C.H. Moe Theater in the SIU Communications building.

The shows will end next week but it’s left a lasting impression on audience members young…

“I liked it, I thought the worm was really funny.” 

…And not so young.

“ I love the show, I was expecting it to be a little kidish, but I’m 15 and I thoroughly enjoyed it.” 

Actor Vincent Hale plays the grasshopper and the reporter,

He says with only 8 actors playing all of the roles, the one-hour performance can be exhausting.

“It takes so much energy I am pouring with sweat right now after the show, but its worth it to see the smiles and the gleam and the kids eyes and even the parents eyes its so worth all the effort that we exude on the stage to make sure their having a great time.” 

It's so worth all the effort that we exude on the stage to make sure their having a great time. -Vincent Hale, "The Grasshopper"

Play director Wes Drummond says part of that great time comes from the audience getting the chance to be part of the show.

“It is very interactive and it will be interactive with the audience as well, some of the kids will be asked to come on stage and maybe knock on a door or they might be in control of the water once the peach is in the sea there’s a lot of cool surprises where the kids are interacting with the actors but I don’t want to give them all away.”

Breaking the “4th wall” is something that got Alexis Jones to really enjoy the show.

“It was really cool, there was a lot of interactive stuff especially with the younger kids and I thought it was a great show if people have never gone to a play before because it didn’t let you just sit there it let’s you actually interact.”

Keagan Schlosser came with her friend Alexis to see the show.

She also loved the interaction.

“I loved it I was waiting for them to bring me up to the peach but they didn’t.”

“The show is so much fun it’s so whimsical and lively its really eye candy for anybody that’s going to come to watch it, It’s so much to see on the stage all the colors all the costume changes all the lighting cues the peach revolving around its really exciting.” 

“My favorite part were the two songs that they sang. I was thinking it was just going to be a play, but the music added a lot of fun.”

The centerpiece of the performance is the peach itself.

At over 8 foot tall and able to spin around, it adds a new element of synergy with the audience and cast.

“A completely different outlook and atmosphere on the stage, you have the house, and then you have just the peach, and then you have New York City and you have all of that being able to be incorporated into one set piece it’s pretty exciting.”

A giant spinning peach, frequent costume changes and a small cast make this show high energy and up beat for this cast.

“I’d say its something we look forward to as actors, to be able to be able to play as many characters and as many roles as we possibly can especially in one show, it just keeps your chops up it makes you think on your feet and makes sure your presenting a fresh show for the audience every single time.”

The last 2 performances are Wednesday at 10am and Saturday at 2pm.

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