The name of the play is fairly self-explanatory.  The SMSU theatre department is putting on the story of a young boy and an enormous piece of fruit.  Based on the novel by Roald Dahl and subsequent film, this production follows the adventures of a boy named James Trotter and a gang of magically enhanced insect friends.

Set to open on Feb. 19, this play features Sophomore Thomas Knudson playing the role of James.  He commented on how this play would compare to other versions of the story.

“The play will hit on the same key points as the film,” Knudson said. “There are some differences, however.  There’s no glow worm character, who was not in the book version either.  Also, there is no underwater pirate scene like the one in the movie.”

As a play with fantasy elements, the set design will be ambitious.  Knudson says he’s excited to see how the set pieces develop over the next few weeks leading up to the performances.

“The thing I’m most excited to see is the peach,” he said. “It’s going to be two stories tall.”

The response from the community has been positive.  Already, all of the planned elementary school showings are sold out, and the general public showings are filling up.  These will take place on Feb. 19-21 and 27-28 at 7:30 PM in the theatre, as well as a matinee on March 1 at 2:00 PM.  A dinner theatre will take place on Feb. 21 and 28.

Knudson’s favorite scene in the play is the one in which the main characters try to capture seagulls to fly the peach with.  To do this, they use the character Earthworm as bait.  At this point, Knudson gets to deliver this line:

“Come on, seagulls!  Earthworm, wave about a bit!  Act tasty!”