Matilda Jr.

It was a pleasure to visit the Greig Hall once more for Top Box’s latest show, Matilda Jr.  This was a first outing for Top Box’s new Stratford-based group, many of whom were new to the stage.  If I hadn’t been told that, I would never have known, as these young performers delivered a confident, polished performance. 

Matilda Jr, based on the book by Roald Dahl, tells the tale of young Matilda Wormwood, an intelligent, bookish young girl who is ignored by her boorish family. When she is sent to school at Crunchem Hall, she finds a family of her own amongst her schoolmates and kindly teacher Miss Honey, as her gift for telekinesis helps them to vanquish the formidable Miss Trunchbull and rescue her friends from the horrors of Chokey.

As is often the case for Top Box shows (so popular are they), the performers were split into two teams, who took it in turns to take the stage.  The performance that I attended was from Team Maggots, with Team Worms being the other cast.  The whole cast had great energy, showing really effective movement in the group numbers and with engaging performances across the principals.  The singing was strong across the board, with the cast doing very well to manage the often complex lyrics. 

Lexy B gave a strong, confident performance as the mischievous Matilda, really drawing us into the story and giving us a hero that was easy to root for.  She sang very well, with the famous ‘Naughty’ a particular highlight.  I also really liked the performances of the rest of her dysfunctional family – Maisie A-D as the hapless Mr Wormwood (loved the green hair!); Genevieve S as Mrs Wormwood, amusingly obsessed with her dance teacher Rudolpho (Madison G, in an engaging cameo); and Amae O as Michael, whose insertion of single word comments was impeccably timed and never failed to raise a laugh.

Over at Crunchem Hall School, we met the formidable Miss Trunchbull, played by Eden T with a really strong presence, using her height and physicality to embody the role.  Great casting and a good performance.  Emma W was equally strong as Miss Honey, her song ‘This Little Girl’ was really well delivered and an emotional high point.  Honey W also made an impression as Miss Phelps, the librarian to whom Matilda tells her stories and who becomes a supportive friend.  Talking of Matilda’s tale, I must congratulate Ella C (Escapologist) and Sophie J (Acrobat), who gave an object lesson in how to make the most of smaller roles, really giving their all and lifting the scenes in which they were involved.  Well done!

Amongst Matilda’s schoolmates, Harry W was very good as Bruce Bogtrotter, showing good comic timing and a strong singing voice, particularly as ‘Bruce’ closed the first half.  Well done also to the rest of the school kids, all of whom played their part in a very effective ensemble – I particularly liked ‘School Song’, with the class huddled behind metal gates and really showing the fear that the place instilled in these characters.  The ‘spelling’ scene was also very well executed – not easy!

My congratulations once more to the Top Box creative team, Tracy, Georgie and George, whose devotion to their cause and commitment to get these kids on stage is evident.  It is great to see the togetherness and joy in performance which characterises this group. 

The technical requirements of this show were very well delivered – the set had some very nice elements, including a set of imposing school gates and scenery featuring letter blocks that nicely evoked the original set.  The lighting was also good, with especially effective use of red lighting from time to time.  Some good special effects – particularly as Matilda levitates a cup, really added to the high quality feel of this show.

My congratulations to everyone involved with Matilda Jr.  I have seen a few Top Box shows now, and this one was certainly up there with the best of them.  I look forward to seeing the team again soon, at one of the six shows (count ‘em!) coming up later in 2024.  I don’t know how they do it, but I, and I’m sure the kids that they give these opportunities to, are very glad that they do.

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