The Big Friendly Giant is a perfect example of that and he’s going to show that in the Martin Luther College auditorium when MLC’s Forum presents “The BFG.”

This stage adaptation of Roald Dahl’s beloved story follows a young girl Sophie, who sees the Big Friendly Giant (BFG) blowing a dream into a house one night. After spotting her, the BFG takes her to his cave and the two become friends, experiencing the joys of whizzpopping, scrumdiddlyumptious frobscottle, and dream blowing together. However, there is trouble in Giant Country. Each night, the other giants travel all over the world to snatch and gobble up sleeping children. Eager to stop them, Sophie and the BFG team up, and with some additional royal help, try to stop the other giants once and for all.

“The BFG” will have two showings on May 2 at 3 p.m. and 7 p.m. in the MLC Auditorium, located on campus at 1995 Luther Court in New Ulm. Tickets are just $5 for all, which will be sold at the door only, beginning 30 minutes before each show time. Forum accepts cash, check and credit.

Performances for school children will take place on April 30 and May 1.

Taylor Schuettpelz, center, smiles in her role as Gizzardgulper during a rehearsal of “The BFG” at MLC Auditorium. Also pictured left is Lillian Heldt (Childchewer), Elijah Ruddat (back-center, Bloodbottler) and Katie Gilkey (right, Meatdripper). Photo by Travis Rosenau

The play will be directed by MLC sophomore Jenna Weigand, assisted by assistant director Bailey Schwab. Weigand said this will be the first time directing a play and she couldn’t be more excited about it.

“I have loved theater for as long as I can remember, and have always wanted to direct,” Weigand said. “I enjoy reading and getting creative, so when I heard we were doing this show, I thought it would be a good fit for me. It has been such a wonderful challenge to bring this story to life onstage.

“I spent many long nights brainstorming how to portray all its whimsical elements, and I am eager to see it all come together. Still, none of this would be possible without this incredible cast, my spectacular support team, or my Savior.”

“The BFG” will bring many unique elements to the stage, such as special puppets, dolls, toys and costumes and will utilize the full MLC auditorium at times. Weigand said the biggest challenge for this production has been incorporating more technical elements, specifically the puppets.

“I admit I have no experience with puppets, so it has been a learning curve,” Weigand said. “Still, Faith Belt — our puppet creator — has been extremely helpful, and the cast is up for the challenge. Each day, the puppet becomes more lifelike, and I can’t wait to see the kids’ initial  reaction to its size.”

Three giants battle for a chair during a rehearsal at MLC Auditorium. Those tugging on the chair giants from left to right are Katie Gilkey (left in the role of Meatdripper), Caleb Jensen (center in the role of Bonecruncher) and Taylor Schuettpelz (right in the role of Gizzardgulper). Photo by Travis Rosenau

Perspective will play a unique role to the show. Weigand the first half of the show is from the perspective of the BFG, so he and the other giants are “regular” size, while Sophie is a small puppet manipulated by her actress Noelle Vanderhoof. Halfway through, the perspective switches to Sophie’s human perspective, making the BFG grow to his massive size, portrayed by a puppet worked by three people.

Vanderhoof is an MLC freshman who has been involved in theater since playing the role of Jane in “Mary Poppins” at age 10. She said this will be her second play at MLC. However, this one will be a much bigger role for her as her last role was in a dance ensemble in “Little Women.”

“This is a very different atmosphere, but I’m super excited,” she said. “I love performing stuff, because the first show was just dancing, so this I get to do actually dancing and acting, which is super fun. I’m excited to be acting and interacting with other actors.”

Taking on the role of Sophie, Vanderhoof described Sophie as a curious little girl that eventually becomes a narrator of the play. Her bravery has her quickly become friends with the BFG.

Vanderhoof is excited to work with a puppet for the first act of the show and something she’s never done before, but it also presents a challenge.

Eliah Ruddat (left, playing the role of Bloodbottler) and Tommy Doerr (right, playing the role of Fleshlumpeater) talk to Joe Schroeder (middle, playing the role of the BFG) during a rehearsal at MLC Auditorium. Photo by Travis Rosenau

“It’s a little bit weird because when Joe’s talking to the doll, he’s not actually looking at me, he’s looking at the doll, so I kind of have to mimic my own actions to the doll, which has been kind of hard getting used to,” she said. “But I think I’m getting more of the hang of it, so I think that’s super fun. When Joe is a giant, I can’t like look at this face, I’m interacting with a puppet face, so that’s a little bit different, something I haven’t done before.”

Joe Schroeder will star as the Big Friendly Giant and it will be the sophomore’s fifth play at MLC. His last role was for a more serious play in “Murder on the Orient Express,” but he’s excited to take on the role of the BFG in a more child-friendly environment.

“As an actor, the biggest thing for me is when I have an audience to bounce off, to feed off of, because that’s why we’re doing it, to bring some people some joy and take them into a different world,” Schroeder said. “Sometimes they learn some things along the way, too. But then when you have that many kids, getting to see what they find funny, but just getting to make them smile and to make them laugh and to hear that, that’s what means everything.

“So that’s one of the unique opportunities of children’s theater. Kids think a lot less about what other people are thinking, so they’re more inclined to jut start giggling, whereas adults might be thinking, ‘Should I laugh?'”

Schroeder said the Big Friendly Giant is kind of off by himself, but he gets to know Sophie and it opens up a new world for him.

Noelle Vanderhoof, playing the role of Sophie, acts during a rehearsal at MLC Auditorium. Photo by Travis Rosenau

“The thing I’m always trying to think about is just an overwhelming amount of kindness and care behind each of the lines that he says,” Schroeder said. “So even if he’s not getting things, there’s miscommunication, he still really cares about [Sophie] and all he wants is for her to be safe and to be cared for and he wants to show her all these cool things that are part of his life. And of course, he’s got a moral code, too, it’s not OK to eat people, he’s different from [the other giants].”

Schroeder said this production of “The BFG” is full of talented individuals and really puts on a show.

“You’ve got so many people performing at a high level and in this one especially, you’re talking about some crazy world-building,” Schroeder said.