Written by Roald Dahl and Adapted by David Wood
The story of Roald Dahl’s classic tale is faithfully told by James himself and the insect characters – Miss Spider, Old-Green-Grasshopper, Centipede, Ladybird, and Earthworm. The play begins at the end of the story, when James and his friends are living in the giant peach stone in Central Park, New York.
A tour guide brings a party of tourists (the audience) to see this major attraction, and James and his friends tell the story of how they came to live in New York. The insects play the other roles, like James’s cruel Aunt Sponge and Aunt Spiker, and the epic journey across the Atlantic is acted out with live action, puppetry and storytelling in David Wood’s masterful adaptation.
PLEASE NOTE – This is not a musical version. The script, however, includes song lyrics, and for this production Original Music was composed and recorded by Greg Borodulin.
The Cast:
James and his Insect Friends: Ethan Hildonen as James Trotter, Jon Workman as Old Green Grasshopper, Brooks Workman as Centipede, Andrew Quinney as Earthworm, Kate Petipas as Ladybird, and Phyllis Scalia-D’Eon as Miss Spider.
The Ensemble: Lily Murphy as Tour Guide, Aunt Spiker, Mrs. Trotter, and Octopus. Kathy Rapino as Aunt Sponge, Number One, and Octopus. Amy Workman as Number Two, Rhino, Peach Visitor, and Octopus. Rylan Workman as Old Man, Captain, Mr. Trotter, and Peach Visitor. Zack Perry as TV Reporter, NY News Reporter, Rhino, and Mayor of NYC. Everyone in the Ensemble played the Sharks, Seagulls, and Citizens of NYC.
Production Team
Director: Annabeth Lucas
Stage Manager: Joanne Fafard
Producers: Amanda Allen, Deirdre A. L. Shaw, and Larry Segel
Lighting Design: Richie DeJesus
Sound Design: Duncan Shaw and Annabeth Lucas
Set Design: Annabeth Lucas
Master Carpenter: John Ramonas
Costume Design: Amanda Allen.
Performance Dates
Fri, Feb 21 at 7PM
Sat, Feb 22 at 2PM
Sun, Feb 23 at 2PM
Fri, Feb 28 at 7PM
Sat, Feb 29 at 2PM
Sun, Mar 1 at 2PM
Appropriate for all audiences.
James and the Giant Peach was a joint commission by the Sherman Theatre, Cardiff and the Birmingham Stage Company, for the 2001-02 Christmas season. The Birmingham production opened at the Old Rep., and then toured the UK. The US premiere was presented by the San Diego Junior Theatre in 2003.
Theatre Company of Saugus 