Young Orlando actor comes home in 'Mrs. Doubtfire' tour - Orlando Sentinel
There's a scene in the musical "Mrs. Doubtfire" in which things go comedically awry for young Christopher Hillard at his birthday party. But everything's going right for Orlando actor Axel Bernard Rimmele, who plays Chris in the national tour of the Broadway musical.
"I actually got to celebrate my birthday onstage," says Axel, who turned 12 on a day he performed in the touring production, which stops at Orlando's Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts from April 23-28. "It was really cool."
"Cool" seems like an understatement for the career trajectory of the sixth-grader, who already made a mark on the Central Florida theater scene before heading out on the road with "Mrs. Doubtfire," the musical comedy based on the hit Robin Williams-Sally Field film.
You may have caught him cheerfully picking a pocket or two as the Artful Dodger in the musical "Oliver" at St. Luke's United Methodist Church in southwest Orlando. Or at Orlando Family Stage, playing a boy with sensory-spectrum issues determined to keep his family together in the world-premiere Christmas musical "True North." Or maybe as petulant, bedridden Colin Craven in Central Florida Vocal Arts' production of "The Secret Garden."
Like many before him, Axel was inspired to try performing by the magic of Walt Disney World. At age 6, he was pulled onstage by Captain Jack Sparrow himself in a Magic Kingdom show. A pirate, and then a star, was born.
"My parents like to tell me I've always been a performer," he says.
"We always knew he was very comfortable in front of people," says dad Zack Rimmele, who uses words like "a whirlwind" and "incredible" to describe his son's success. "We never thought it would get to this point, but the arts scene in Orlando was so beneficial to him."
His big break came with "Oliver." Theatre at St. Luke's director Steve MacKinnon was wowed from the first time he saw Axel perform.
"I was like, 'Where did you come from?'" MacKinnon recalls of Axel's audition. "He is precocious, brave, unique and just an amazingly gifted and natural performer. He was pretty new to the theater scene, but was so brave, committed and willing to make the iconic Artful Dodger character uniquely and authentically his own."
"He was the nicest director I've ever worked with," Axel says of MacKinnon. "He knew I was a kid, but he treated me like a professional."
He also enjoyed "Oliver," with its large ensemble of orphans in Fagin's gang, because it offered a chance to meet folks his own age.
"It was really nice to be able to hang out with more kids," Axel says.
The "Mrs. Doubtfire" cast has three other child actors: Axel shares the role of Christopher with another young man, and two actresses share the role of his sister, Natalie.
It's bittersweet that some of his fellow child actors will be leaving the tour right before it arrives in Orlando. But he can't wait to see his Central Florida friends.
So far, Axel has visited more than 20 cities. Washington, D.C., stands out because he was able to visit the White House and the Library of Congress.
So does Fort Myers because he stayed "five minutes away from the beach."
Even though he was born in Pennsylvania, Axel's obviously a true Florida boy.
The family moved to Orlando three years ago when Zack Rimmele took a job here. Axel saw other benefits: "Pools in backyards; you don't see a lot of that in Pennsylvania."
He attended Annunciation Catholic Academy in Altamonte Springs before switching to Florida Virtual School while on tour. Active in sports, he enjoys swimming and flag football in particular but also has played volleyball and soccer and run track in addition to his performing.
"I like to joke I have the most busy schedule," he says.
Dad, his mom, Sarah and his sister are on tour with him, and the family eats dinner together nightly.
"It makes this sort of feel a little more normal," he says. Plus, those dinners fuel his performances.
"I always think it's good to have a home-cooked meal for the energy," he says.
Landing the tour was cause for big celebrations: Another visit to Disney's Magic Kingdom, where his love of performing was kindled. And a visit to MacKinnon, as well.
Axel came with a gift.
"I opened it," MacKinnon says, "and it was a 'Mrs. Doubtfire' cookie — and that's how he told me he booked the show. I started bawling from behind the piano out of pure pride and joy for him. He's just really special."
Axel's favorite scene in "Mrs. Doubtfire" is the uplifting finale with its rousing "As Long As There Is Love" number.
"It's the lighthearted part of the show; it's what everything has led up to," he says. "It's really special to me."
Oh, and there's another more childlike reason that scene stands out: "There are all these monkey puppets, and I just really like that."
He has about six more months to spend on the tour. It's a role he's bound to age out of eventually. In fact, it's happening already — based on his costume, which includes a sweater worn by the original Broadway actor.
"At the start of the tour, it was huge on me, and now I'm starting to grow into it," Axel says.
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Zack Rimmele says the family will support Axel in whatever the future brings.
"We're happy he has this opportunity," he says, "and happy to see what comes next."
For his part, Axel offers words to live by, whatever your age or profession.
"My advice would be to get up onstage whenever you can," he says. "Have fun. And give your best show every time."
Follow me at facebook.com/matthew.j.palm or email me at mpalm@orlandosentinel.com. Find more arts news at OrlandoSentinel.com/entertainment.
'Mrs. Doubtfire'
- What: Touring production of the Broadway musical based on the hit comedy film
- Where: Walt Disney Theater at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts, 445 S. Magnolia Ave. in Orlando
- When: April 23-28
- Cost: $45 and up
- Info: drphillipscenter.org
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