The Witches

Growing up, I was a voracious and indiscriminate reader, devouring whatever I could get my hands on, be it Jane Austen’s Pride and Prejudice, Shel Silverstein’s A Light in the Attic, Laura Ingalls Wilder’s Little House series, or the nutrition facts and ingredients list on the back of my Honey Nut Cheerios. Out of everything I have ever read, though, children’s books in general sit on a special shelf in my heart, even today, and Roald Dahl’s books in particular hold a place of honor.

As is typical of the protagonists in Dahl’s other books, The Witches’ Boy shows intelligence, resiliency, tenacity, and resourcefulness, with the added benefit of having a fiery and unconditional protector in the form of his Grandmamma. Their relationship is one of the few constants in his world, and he tells us that he doesn’t “think it is at all a bad thing to be a mouse” because “it doesn’t matter who you are or what you look like so long as somebody loves you.” The truth in this lesson is the reason why, even after countless re-reads, The Witches remains one of my top three favorite Roald Dahl books.

It has been a pleasure directing this show and seeing one of my favorite children’s books come to life with this wonderful Ponderosa cast, many of whom started as first graders in the Jr. Theatre program. Whether this was their first time in a show, or their tenth, having the opportunity to watch everyone’s growth has been an honor and a privilege. Thank you to all the students and parents for your hard work and support!

Melissa Tom,
Director

Photos