If you’re my age (which is a secret, and also it depends on what year you’re reading this), then you’ll definitely have read Roald Dahl’s Matilda. Like the book, Honey and Matilda’s relationship is the heart of the story in the musical. And also like the book, the story is one that’s ostensibly aimed at children in the musical adaptation, which makes it a family friendly choice. But if you look deeper, you’ll find some messages that stand the test of time – regardless of age.
Writer: Dennis Kelly
Music and Lyrics: Tim Minchin
Cast: Yolani Balfour (Matilda Wormwood), Donna Craig (Matilda Wormwood), Myla Williams (Matilda Wormwood), Ryan Anderson (Rudolpho), Londiwe Dhlomo-Dlamini (Mrs Phelps), Jason Kajdi (Escapologist), Jamie Kaye (Michael Wormwood/Tommy), Matthew Rowland (Mr Wormwood), Gemma Scholes (Miss Honey), Emily Squibb (Mrs Wormwood), Lucy Warway (Lavender) and James Wolstenholme (Miss Trunchbull)
Rating: 3.5 stars out of 5 stars
Matilda The Musical is a musical that’s based on Roald Dahl’s Matilda. It follows the adventures of Matilda, a precocious young girl who’s stifled by both family and school. But when she develops special abilities, it proves to be a gamechanger for everyone around her.
Honey & Matilda’s heartwarming relationship
For anyone who has grown up with parents who didn’t understand them, Matilda’s predicament is relatable. What’s worse is not just that Matilda’s parents have different interests from her – it’s that they have different values from her. Enter Miss Honey, who’s not only like Matilda in terms of hobbies, but also in terms of the principles they share. While the introverted Miss Honey shares a different temperament from the extroverted Matilda, they resonate with each other – and consequently, their relationship resonates. They make each other feel seen, which is what both of them lack in their lives, and what makes it so heartwarming to watch.
Good vocals and performances
There’s no doubting the powerful and practiced vocals of the cast – they can certainly belt out the musical numbers with aplomb, switching between their speaking voices and singing voices seamlessly. They work with what they have, and deliver performances that are entirely in character, even if it might make them slightly less endearing at times. I was impressed with their delivery.
Family friendly tone
Matilda The Musical abounds in physical humour as well as wordplay, but it never crosses over into crassness. While physical humour isn’t quite my thing, I can see how it appeals to children and different demographics. The larger-than-life acting is also fitting for a younger audience (mostly in Act One), even though there’s less of it in Act Two (when it gets darker). Overall, I think it’s a good idea to have this show running during the March holidays, when both parents and children can watch it together.
Themes depicted in a relatable way
Like the book, Matilda The Musical is a story about tyranny, neglect, and abuse – but depicted in a way that makes it relatable to younger audiences. Which student hasn’t had a tyrannical teacher bully them in class? Which child hasn’t felt neglected by the parental figures who were supposed to take care of them? Which child hasn’t witnessed abuse carried out, whether it’s by peers or those older than them? Having such themes in the story creates opportunities for parents to have these sorts of conversations with children, and to expose them to it in an open, non-threatening way.
Some light effects can be uncomfortable
However, there are some flashing light effects that were downright painful. In a dark theatre, the effect of any sort of flashing lights is magnified – and it felt rather debilitating. For dramatic purposes, I understand why they were there – but the intensity could have been dialled down to provide contrast, rather than physical discomfort.
Updating the story would have been beneficial
Matilda was written in 1988, and Matilda The Musical was written in 2010. While the musical is faithful to the story, there are some parts that feel like they need updating. Some instances which made audiences really feel the age of the story are the mentions of the evils of television, the physical punishments and name-calling (which would be unacceptable in this time and age), and the fact that the children do actually get away with wrongdoings. It might mean a drastic reworking of the story, but I felt that having it be modernised would have made it more relatable.
Overall, Matilda The Musical has a cast that delivers what you’re looking for in a musical – memorable performances and sonorous vocals. It’s family friendly, while providing deeper layers of meaning for those who want to explore its themes. While some production decisions could have been improved, it’s a worthy contender for introducing younger audiences to the world of musicals.
Matilda The Musical is on sale now.
This is an original article on marcusgohmarcusgoh.com.
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