MILLSTONE – Youngsters who attend Cornerstone Music Studios’ Summer Music and Theater Arts Camp are getting ready to perform their annual show.
The young actors and actresses will perform “James and the Giant Peach Jr.” at 2 p.m. and 6 p.m. Aug. 9 at the Millstone Performing Arts Center, 5 Dawson Court, Millstone Township. Admission is $10.
A musical adaptation of Roald Dahl’s book of the same name, “James and the Giant Peach” tells the story of James, an orphaned boy who travels in a magically-enlarged peach with anthropomorphic arthropods as his companions.
The Summer Music and Theater Arts Camp runs for three weeks, Monday through Thursday, from 9:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m. Participants are incoming third-graders through incoming ninth-graders.
Portraying James will be rising third-grader Grayson Guterl of Millstone.
“He’s a lovable person, but I don’t think his aunts see that in him,” Grayson said. “They are mean and only care about money. But he goes on this big adventure and he’s very smart. He has a plan to get away from the aunts who are trying to catch the peach and sell it for money.”
One of James’ aunts is Aunt Spiker, played by rising eighth-grader Angelina Villalva of Millstone, who also noted that her character is only concerned with money.
“Aunt Spiker is a very greedy and selfish person who only thinks about making money and surviving,” Angelina said. “She puts herself above everything else and uses James just for work. I’m not really like her because I don’t focus on money, I focus on making things better and at a slower pace. So to be like her, I think of things that are extravagant.”
The giant peach James’ aunts try to sell is enlarged by a magic potion created by the character Ladahlord, who is played by rising fifth-grader Sarina Valentine of Monroe Township.
“Ladahlord is a mysterious, magical and sneaky character,” Sarina said. “He’s like a mad scientist, but with magic, and he’s always sneaking around. I think of him like a magician.”
Along with the peach, Ladahlord’s magic enlarges five arthropods, one of whom is Ladybug, portrayed by rising eighth-grader Emily Landolfi of Freehold Township.
“She is very motherly and caring, but has this royal stance to her,” Emily said. “I’m pretty caring and motherly, too, but I don’t see myself as a royal. She has a royal stance to her posture, so my posture changes to become more upright when I’m playing her.”
Although there are points when Ladybug takes charge, the recognized leader of the five is Grasshopper, played by rising sixth-grader Lily Schechter of Manalapan.
“Grasshopper is a parent, a dad kind of character,” Lily said. “He’ll reassure James and tell him everything is OK. He makes everyone believe they will make it through. I like to be the leader like him, but sometimes, I know when things will go wrong and I’m not as optimistic. But I like playing characters who are different from me because it puts me outside of my comfort zone.”
Described as the opposite of Grasshopper by rising seventh-grader Julia Grau of Millstone is Earthworm, whom Julia plays.
“Earthworm is afraid of everything,” Julia said. “He can’t see very well and has bad eyesight, so he’s prone to irrational fits of fear. I also have bad eyesight when I don’t have my glasses and some things startle me, but I’m not startled by everything. It’s a funny role with a lot of laughs and I’m glad I get to play him.”
Also joining the arthropods is Centipede, portrayed by rising ninth-grader Samantha Rivera of Freehold Township.
“Centipede is always agitated, angry and conniving,” Samantha said. “People don’t want to mess with him because he’s always on edge. I’m not like that at all, I like to help others out in any way I can, but he thinks everyone is out to get him because he’s a bug. It challenges me, but it’s very exciting because I get to play a another side of myself – a new, angry side.”
Rounding out the five is Spider, played by rising eighth-grader Makenna O’Grady of Freehold Township.
“She loses her fiancee early on and she can be very sassy, but also caring and she helps out all of her friends,” Makenna said. “I’m caring, too, but not really sassy. She’s fun to play because she has all these mixed emotions and you get to see different sides of her.”
In the role of Spider’s fiancee is rising fifth-grader Jack McHugh of Monroe Township, who also plays Buzz, a Hollywood show agent.
“Buzz is greedy and doing it for the money, but he’s also willing to help,” Jack said. “He’s interested in the giant peach and wants to put the peach in films. I don’t have much in common with him, but he’s a fun character to play and I get to imagine that I have this big agent job.”
Joining Buzz as a Hollywood agent is rising ninth-grader Cristian Rodriguez of Freehold Township, who also portrays Billy Bobby-Cop.
“The Hollywood agents are fans who want attention and to be popular,” Cristian said. “They are upbeat and it’s fun to act out, to be needy and want all the attention. Billy Bobby-Cop is laid back and doesn’t care or see what’s going on around him. He represents more of my lazy side.”
Similarly, rising sixth-grader Roland McCaleb of Jackson partners with Billy Bobby-Cop as Bobby Bobby-Cop, as well as portraying a Hollywood agent.
“Bobby Bobby-Cop shows Aunt Spiker the adoption papers for James,” Roland said. “He and the Hollywood agent are similar characters because they are both trying help. I’m not really like them, and I’m not thinking of being a cop in the future, but I also like to help people.”
Both police officers are shown to be seemingly oblivious of the aunts’ illegal actions, who are helped by vagrants including Doreen Driggles, played by rising fifth-grader Samantha Shearer of Millstone.
“Doreen is a vagrant who steals,” Samantha said. “It’s very fun because I’ve never played someone like her before.”
Before James is adopted by his aunts, he lives in an orphanage run by the matron nurse, who is played by rising sixth-grader Isabella Creighton of Millstone.
“She’s a little mean because she needs a break, but she’s always working,” Isabella said. “She’s a very fun character to play.”
James lives in the orphanage due to the early deaths of his parents. His mother, Mrs. Trotter, is played by rising third-grader Rose Appel of Millstone.
“As Mrs. Trotter, I get to pull Mr. Trotter,” Rose said. “I like her because I like pulling people.”
Mr. Trotter, James’ father, is played by rising third-grader Brennan Caldwell of Millstone, who also portrays a shark.
“It’s really crazy being Mr. Trotter because I get to run away from a rhino,” Brennan said. “The shark gets to attack the peach and gets a tasty snack.”
Joining the sharks is rising fourth-grader Amanda Shearer of Millstone, who is also one of the three youngsters in the role of the rhino who chases the Trotters.
“I’m in the middle of the rhino and I have my own space,” Amanda said. “The rhino chases and I like to run.”
Rising third-grader Joseph Landolfi of Freehold Township joins in as the front of the rhino.
“I’m in the front of the rhino, so I get to see stuff,” Joseph said. “I’m the person kind of controlling it.”
Rising fifth-grader Isabella Garrison of Millstone rounds out the three youngsters who play the rhino, as well as being part of the sharks, reporters and a zoo crowd.
“It’s really fun,” Isabella said. “The sharks are mean and try to attack the giant peach. I’m not as energetic as them. And the reporters want people to sign a contract.”
The reporters are among the individuals who react to seeing the peach, alongside Lucille Van Kooglestein, played by rising eighth-grader Navya Anush of Monroe Township, who also plays the Ladies Garden Guild.
“The Ladies Garden Guild are crazy people,” Navya said. “They are overbearing, energized and express their feelings. I can be happy and energetic, too, but I’m not overbearing.”
Reacting to the rhino and the peach is rising fifth-grader Mia Rodriguez of Freehold Township in her roles as Karl Kreatour and Bunny Mackenzie the Third.
“Karl looks out for people and tries to warn them about the rhino, while Bunny is scared by the peach,” Mia said. “They are both funny.”
Helping put the scenes together during the musical are the lead dancers, who include rising sixth-grader Mary Januszka of Bordentown and rising fifth-grader Annina Valenti of Jamesburg.
“I’ve been a dancer for seven years and it’s fun taking it into the camp,” Mary said. “Dancing takes me away from everything and if I’m worried, it helps me feel better.”
“I love being featured in the numbers,” Annina said. “I love the songs and I love being part of it.”
The crew of the production, including choreographer Samantha Sayah, music director Shane Tapley, assistant music director Isabel Wittman, assistant music director and accompanist Elizabeth Wojtowicz, stage director Michelle Sayah, and arts administration coordinator Danyel Shiflet all had high praise for the young performers, as did intern assistants Delaney Bogusz, Rose Lichtman and Emily Schulz.
As the camp prepares for what will be its eighth show, Cornerstone Music Studios owner Laura Wittman also had words of praise for the cast and crew as they put together a production in less than three weeks.
“When it comes to the shows we present, the common themes are to have a wholesome bottom line in the message and a nurturing quality to the story,” Wittman said. “It is also imperative that we select a show that incorporates and celebrates the campers’ talents and celebrates the arts.
“After I opened Cornerstone 11 years ago, my goal was to put Millstone on the map with this camp by providing a cultural outlet and artistic enrichment in the summer. We now have children from all over and we are attracting a great deal of interest. They know where to go for an exceptional youth arts experience.
“We have a terrific core of directors and our choreographer, who just got off a Disney cruise, is world class,” Wittman said. “We don’t compromise on staff and we’ve held true to using a live pit orchestra. And the campers put it all together in just three weeks in a show that has a positive story and celebrates the arts.”
