Colorful bugs skitter across stage during 'James and the Giant Peach'

MIDDLEBORO -- Magical garden bugs will serve as tour guides for a fantastical journey onstage at Nichols Middle School.

“James and the Giant Peach’’ will be performed by the Nichols Middle School Drama Club at 7 p.m. Friday, May 8 and 3 and 7 p.m. Saturday, May 9 at the middle school, 112 Tiger Drive.

The plot centers on a young English orphan boy who enters a gigantic, magical peach and has a wild and surreal adventure with seven magically altered garden bugs he meets.

Cast members dressed as ladybugs, centipedes and a plethora of interesting insects filled the halls of Nichols as they prepared for their stage cues during a recent dress rehearsal.

The cast’s enthusiasm for the show was infectious. Burt Wood School veteran Samantha Ring has been performing in theater since age five.

“I love this role,’’ the young performer said.  “I love that is has a happy ending.’’

Jane Adler had to stretch to play one of the mean aunts. “It’s hard to be mean,’’ she said. “I think of myself as a nice person.’’

Her fellow mean aunt Kaitlyn Enos said that being nasty to the James character was not particularly difficult since Samantha, who portrays the title character, is a friend and understands she is just reading words on a script.

“If if was just a random person, I’d feel bad,’’ she said.

For director Susan Schoel, who is working with assistant director Natalie LaPerriere, putting the production together has been rewarding.

“It is great watching the students grow as performers each year,’ she said.” Putting this show together has been a lot of fun. The cast has really made the script come to life.’’

Tickets will be sold at door for $10.