Matilda Jr

It was my pleasure to attend RGS The Grange’s first production since becoming NODA members and what a delight it was to see 50+, 10 and 11 year olds perform Matilda Jr, which one could argue was most appropriate for a school setting! The opening picture, set on several levels, depicted a birthday party and as each scene changed some well-made stage props were used and efficiently moved on and off with great speed by the students. In-fact before referring to the talented cast I would like to compliment the sound, lighting and good use of projections, which I believe were also under the control of students, which must have provided a great technical experience. The costumes throughout were excellent and will have represented a great deal of work.

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. Matilda was played by Maia Goold with great stage presence and a voice to match and was forever having to correct her father that she was a girl, not a boy. Parents Mr and Mrs Wormwood played by Max Lane and Emily Taylor were suitably vindictive and unappreciative of their talented daughter, and impressively dressed. Their gormless son Michael was played by Joshua Henderson with odd lines all delivered with an innocent smile, which made me chuckle.

Matilda shared her love for books with the school librarian Mrs Phelps, played sympathetically and with lots of natural expression by Aanya Kannan.  I enjoyed the story telling, evolving around the Escapologist and Acrobat played well by Austin Butler and Nina Thornton. ‘School Song’ by the kids was full of expression and I liked the clever link to all the letters of the alphabet. Later the ‘Chokey Chant’ was nice and sharp and when Amanda (Pig Tales), well played by Isla-Rae Johnston (Act 1) and Molly Jean Simpson (Act 2), was ‘thrown’ from the stage by Miss Trunchbull, it was very funny.

But Matilda’s saviour was teacher Miss Honey played with such a lovely pleasant disposition by Felicity Skidmore in act 1, and Ava Roberts also doing well in Act 2. ‘This Little Girl’ was lovely; sung with sensitivity. I also thought Heidi Terry as the overbearing ‘Miss Trunchbull’ had great stage presence with strength and Heidi’s performance was matched by Iona Laidler in Act 2. Well done to Ben Pritchard as Bruce devouring the cake! Ben also had a good voice in fact ‘When I grow up’ which concluded Act 1 was quite uplifting and in once sense quite thought provoking, given the students would soon in reality be moving from Year 6 to the next stage in their education.

Iona (Miss Trunchbull) led the children with a very good number ‘The Smell of Rebellion’. I liked the effect of Matilda moving the glass with just her eyes and particularly enjoyed the scene between  Miss Honey and Matilda at Miss Honey’s home. The Mafia arriving to take a way the Wormwoods was great fun and the final number ‘Revolting Children’ lived up to its well-known reputation, sang with great energy by the company which brought the house down.

Great support was also provided by Felipe Torronteguy (Rudulpho), George Cooper (Sergei), George Ball (Eric), Bailey Hunt (Tommy), Heidi Laugharne (Lavender), Becky Dunnett (Alice), Edith Brown (Hortensia), Henry Lougher & Theo Church (Nigel) as well as Oliver Daly (Mechanic) and Elizabeth Watt (Cook). The Year 5 choir sang from the sides of the Hall and I’m sure we will see them on stage next year.

It’s not easy to sing to recorded music but it was well learnt, well timed and sung without hesitation. Congratulations to all involved with this impressive production.

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