Matilda Jr

Many thanks once again for your wonderful welcome I was looking forward to the production following the previous performance and was not disappointed.

You provided an all-encompassing experience from the outside in. The schools name had been covered over and declared that the audience was entering ‘Crunchem Hall’. Just inside the door on the notice board was a picture of your headteacher which I think if I was a pupil would immediately send me running and the school logo which I understand was created by your artistic choreographer. All the front of house were dressed as members of staff with identical neck scarves on. Following this I was not at all surprised to enter the hall and finding the stage apron adorned with fantastic scenery which I found out had been designed by your talented Director and constructed in house. I am sure your team with all their skills could provide workshops to other amateur companies as the stage set was of a professional quality. It was wonderful to see a full house and lovely to see the excited children (and adults) who no doubt knew the story. It was especially great to sit next to a young lady and her mum. They couldn’t get tickets last year and she was transfixed and kept stating ‘this is my favourite song; I know this one’ what a fantastic introduction to live theatre!

The curtain was closed with the company’s logo and name projected onto it and cubes with A and Y on the floor. To the right of the apron there were two oversized piles of Roald Dahl books placed at an angle to each other. The smaller pile had a blanket and teddy on it and adjacent to it a bedside table with a lamp and some books, this we discovered was Matilda’s bedroom, The larger stack of books was adorned on the top with a book which had open pages with appropriate illustrations. To the left was a beautiful constructed L shaped display unit which was obviously Miss Trunchbull’s office/room with steps up to it. This was thoughtfully decorated with trophies, a shield, crossed swords, a barometer, books and other items which were obviously important to her. There was a terrifying rope and pully system leaning against the side of the unit, what it was used for we don’t know but we could imagine. This wonderfully imaginative scenery continued when the curtains opened the stage was set up like a library with bookcases with marble columns joining them. These did not only have books on them but contained all the items used during the performance which were expertly taken and replaced by the actors. The other large part of the scenery was the numerous blocks which were continuously moved around by the cast to create the Wormwood’s home, classrooms, the gym and of course the library. These were decorated appropriately to enhance the scene and brilliantly and effortlessly moved by the young people.

The additional props were excellent from the magic chalkboard, disappearing cake and pigtailed child to the more mundane decorated library trolley, scooters and smaller items. These were all brilliantly used by the cast.

The sound and lighting were well controlled at the back of the hall. The lighting enhanced the scenes and added to the tension as did the sound. The radio mics were well balanced but one small problem was the some of the children in the opening scene without radio mics were a little difficult to hear. I totally understand the cost of radio mics is prohibitive and it is great to let other members of your cast have a few words to sing, just maybe something to think about. The backing tracks were set at the correct level for the performance.

The costumes were outstanding and time had obviously been taken to ensure all of those playing parts costumes aided their performances. I know many people say that the correct costume helps them get into character and I feel this was definitely true with some of your players. They were varied and well fitting throughout and as I mentioned before to design your own school logo and print it on costumes is going above and beyond it is certainly more detailed than the ‘CH’ used in the new musical.

The hair and makeup were all appropriate to the playing members and added detail to the performances.

It was great to be able to speak to your Musical Director this year about the complexity of the songs the children had to perform and how they had worked hard to ensure the harmonies were correct. Tim Minchin certainly does not make lyrics easy to deliver and therefore diction is very important to guarantee all the text can be heard so the story moved along. All your actors’ diction was clear and crisp and the actions they had to achieve during many songs like ‘Miracle’ and ‘School Song’ didn’t detract from their delivery.  Another comment I would like to make is how she was able to deliver through the tracks the different emotions which were appropriate at times in the performance. A talented lady indeed.

The variety of dances and movement routines throughout this show was outstanding, from the gently movements of the acrobat to the frenetic movements in ‘Miracle’ through the scooters dancing and gym routine I could go on. Each number entailed complexities which she carefully trained the young people to demonstrate skills beyond their years. They obviously all enjoyed performing all they had been taught! You as a company are truly blessed to have a young lady with such skill her choreography was exemplary!

I would like to praise your team again for the skills they have passed onto their whole cast. They were all totally focused throughout the entire performance there were never any down moments every young person on the stage knew their task and completed it to a very high standard. I spoke to your director in the interval and she told me that 50 per cent of the performers were new, you would never have known this fact they all looked like seasoned performers. You are a very lucky company to have such a fantastic team of adults who are completely committed to ensure you develop into well rounded talented individuals who I’m sure I will see in professional positions later in life!

The understudy who played Matilda was outstanding, this just proves to me the quality of those young people within your group! She demonstrated all the facets of this young hero her resilience to survive against all odds, her determination to succeed and her creativeness and ultimately her skills at overthrowing a bully. She spoke her text in a confident clear manner had a beautiful singing voice and moved well.

The Wormwood family were brilliantly played, such characterisation. The player portraying Dad was totally over the top from his brash costume, manic movements, to his rude, egotistical attitude.  He inhabited the part completely and was unbelievably mean to Matilda.  Mrs Wormwood also disliked and did not understand her daughter. Why did she like to read when there were far better things to do like watch tv?  This young actor created a fantastic character who was selfish, entirely obsessed with her appearance and lives for her dancing lessons with Rudolpho. Michael who was the apple of his father’s eye did not have many words to say but your player created a believable favourite son. What can I say about Rudolpho? His portrayal of the effeminate over the top dancer certainly created a stir in the hall. He had all the moves and pulled out every comic moment.

Mrs Phelps the kindly librarian who obviously enjoyed Matilda’s stories was thoughtfully played by your cast member. She was totally enthralled when Matilda told her tale and reacted appropriately. She certainly looked the part in her hippy outfit.

Matilda’s story about the escapologist and the acrobat was credibly brought to life by your actors. They created a lovely tableau of the tale and it was great to see his more powerful character when he collected his daughter.

Another crucial member of the cast is the kind, generous class teacher Miss Honey who despite her terrible upbringing really cares for the children within her class and wants what is best for them. Her vocals were clear and strong and her empathy for Matilda was evident and her delivery of ‘This Little Girl’ was done with such feeling.

I would like to say the most outstanding performance for me in this show which was full of unbelievably talented children was Miss Trunchbull. Following his successful depiction of Gomez Adamas, I wondered how this young actor would create the character of the terrifying bully but WOW!! His inhabited the part and made it his own from his choice of voice to his physicality in movement to his delivery of songs he was exceptional. He shone in this role but was careful not to upstage any of the other actors on the stage. I expect to see him in an adult role soon.

Lavender who decided early on that she was going to be Matilda’s best friend was convincingly played by your cast member and Bruce Bogtrotter had a good clear singing and speaking voice and we felt his pain during the cake eating scene. The Russians were suitably scary with great accents.

I’m sorry I cannot mention you all by name but a show such as this requires an ensemble with effortless energy, great acting skills, brilliant movement and fantastic vocal gymnastics which you all had. I realise you all played a variety of parts and the show was enhanced by them all.

Matilda has a complex script which was delivered brilliantly. It has many well-known songs with complex harmonies which were fantastically sung a tour de force performance by the whole cast. I would like to bottle the enthusiasm from your team and sell it on I’m sure I would make a lot of money!

Disclaimer 

Any observation made by the reviewer can only be based on what he sees at the performance in question.  The reviewer may have received information in advance of the performance and it is inevitable that his assessment will be affected by that knowledge. 

The NODA Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular, the performance.  It should be remembered that any review of this nature can only be objective as far as the techniques used during the performance observed.  Any criticisms expressed may not have been valid at other performances and are only made to encourage higher standards in Amateur Theatre. 

 It is hoped that the audience’s appreciation of your efforts will have given everyone a lift and encouraged you to greater achievements in the future and that the observations made by the reviewer will prove helpful in improving future productions.

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