Matilda Jr

It was my pleasure to return to the Rogers Theatre Malvern to see this performing arts group of 40+, 4 -18-year olds perform Matilda Jr. The audience were welcomed with an open good-looking set based partially on a library setting, the lounge area of the Wormwood home and a number of lettered cubes to give additional opportunity for a range of heights, well used throughout the entire production, all directed by Leanne Hollyhead.

This is not an easy show for youngsters which included no less than 8 company numbers which were sung and choreographed well. The opening number ‘Miracle’ got the show off to an excellent start and Matilda’s ‘Naughty’ was very well sung.

There was a strong principal line up. ‘Matilda’ played by Maisie Forrester for the performance I attended, had great stage presence and a voice to match, forever having to correct her father that she was a girl, not a boy. Parents ‘Mr and Mrs Wormwood’ played by Matthew Houghton and Olivia Dyde were suitably vindictive and unappreciative of their talented daughter, both impressively dressed. Frankie Stephens played the gormless ‘Michael’ just right.

‘Matilda’ shared her love for books with the school librarian ‘Mrs Phelps’, played sympathetically by Beth Needham.  I enjoyed the story telling, evolving around the ‘Escapologist’ and ‘Acrobat’ played well by Sophie Cockeram and Libby Faulkner .  But ‘Matilda’s saviour was teacher ‘Miss Honey’ played with such a lovely pleasant disposition by Florence Sinfield, and who also had a mature voice and sang ‘This Little Girl’ with sensitivity.

I also thought Grace Griffiths as the overbearing ‘Miss Trunchbull’ had great stage (and frightening) presence, forever admonishing the kids for no reason but clearly enjoying it and singing ‘The Hammer’ with strength. Well done to Pheonix Wilson as ‘Bruce’ devouring the cake! ‘Naughty’ was a great company number to conclude Act 1.

‘When I Grow up’ in Act 2 was uplifting with some nice harmony and Grace (Miss Trunchbull) led the children with a very good number ‘The Smell of Rebellion’. The final number ‘Revolting Children’ lived up to its well-known reputation, sang with great energy by the company which brought the house down. The roles of Matilda, Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull, were all doubled and I understand Demi Delord, Cecelia Powell and Kyesha Khan respectively were just as capable. Scenes were changed without any fuss and there was some very effective lighting, right on cue, and impressive costumes.  It’s not easy to sing to recorded music but it was obvious it was well learnt, well timed and sung without hesitation. Congratulations to all involved with this impressive production.

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