What's Happening in Aberdeen, WA…

A clever play about resilience and standing up to bullies is on the way to Aberdeen.

The musical “Matilda” was written by Dennis Kelly with lyrics by Tim Minchin, and is based on Roald Dahl’s children’s book “Matilda,” which was published in 1988. The plot centers on five-year-old Matilda Wormwood, who has telekinetic abilities. She fights against the obstacles created by her school and her family and develops strong bonds with a librarian and with her teacher, Miss Honey.

Like most of Dahl’s work, there is humor hiding darker themes such as abandonment, cruelty (both mental and physical), and bullying. Characters’ names are clues to their personalities; Miss Trunchbull is a bully, Matilda’s selfish parents are the Wormwoods, while Miss Honey is sweet and caring.

The musical had its initial run at the Royal Shakespeare Company’s theater in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 and transferred to the West End in November 2011. It opened on Broadway in 2013. The show has been a critical and commercial success, winning seven Olivier Awards in 2012, including Best New Musical; and four Tonys in 2013.

The Driftwood Players will present “Matilda” beginning Friday, May 1. The company was founded by cast members in the 1950s and has performed in several venues over the years until settling into its permanent home, the Driftwood Theater, in 1982. The theater is at 120 East Third Street. Shows like this benefit from the support they receive when organizers use poster printing to create advertising for them.