The last Matchbox Children’s Theatre’s production of the 2008-09 season could be the best.

At least, it has all the makings to be a genuine audience-pleasing play.

“Sleeping Beauty” is coming to the Paramount Theatre for three performances by the Matchbox Children’s Theatre company of actors.

Cameron Davis is the director.

There are 11 main roles in the play, plus additional characters that push the total of performers to 25 for the MCT finale.

Sleeping Beauty will be performed at 7 p.m. Friday and 2 p.m. Saturday and Sunday.

The Matchbox Children’s Theatre production of the classic Sleeping Beauty will be told from the evil witch’s point-of-view.

The play starts out like a traditional portrayal of the beloved fairy tale, but things go haywire quickly when the feisty villain, Griselda, takes over the stage.

She is the “Bad Fairy” and wants to show everyone her version of what really happened to Sleeping Beauty.

She uses a magic spell to turn back the hands of time and the fun begins. This comedy has lots of twists and turns as the good fairies and a magical frog struggle with Griselda. The audience gets into the act, too, when the good fairies need their help to set things right and get back to happily ever after.

Dylan Kaercher, an Austin High School freshman, plays “Griselda.”

“Dylan is absolutely convincing in the role,” Davis said.

According to Davis, Kaercher came to him and asked if he could tryout for the role. “I told him to go ahead and give it a try,” he said.

Kaercher gave an “incredible audition,” according to the director and gained the play’s leading role.

Davis praised the entire cast.

“They all have rehearsed well and audiences will see a slightly older cast than usual for a Matchbox play. We have many actors who are 20 or 21 years old,” he said.

Davis is a veteran of local theater productions, both as an actor at Summerset Community Theatre and a CMT director.

As the curtain comes down on another CMT season, Davis said the community should be grateful.

“Matchbox gives children access to theater at a very reasonable price, when compared to other types of entertainment like movies,” he said. “It also exposes them to the theater and all of the aspects of performing arts.There are important behind-the-scenes jobs such as costuming, set design and other work involved in a theater production.”

Cindy Bellrichard, president of the CMT board of directors, is also pleased at the CMT influence on the greater Austin community.

“It was an exciting 34th season for Matchbox,” Bellrichard said. “We welcomed back Cameron Davis, who was in MCT plays as a youth and now has returned to not just act but also direct and build sets.

“This season we have enjoyed the talents of some new actors and actresses from not just Austin, but area towns as well.,” she said. “It is so exciting to see their talent develop.”

The final performance coming this weekend has Bellrichard excited.

“We are really looking forward to ‘Sleeping Beauty’ as it is from the bad fairy’s point of view,” she said.

Ticket prices for the final production are under 2 free; under 14 are $4; and adults are $6.

The Paramount Theatre box office is open from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Monday through Friday.

For more information, call 434-0934.