Matilda the Musical Jr

Matilda the Musical Jr a musical performed by Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company Youth on Saturday 9th July, 2022 at Merchant Taylor’s School, Liverpool Road, Crosby.

In 1912 Waterloo and Crosby Amateur Operatic Society was formed and in 1982 they merged with a society called The Cambridge Players to form the Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company as we know them today… as such, the society are not only celebrating their 110th Anniversary overall, but also their 40th as Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company! So,on behalf of NODA and myself, can I take the opportunity to wish them well and hope that their many celebrations planned, throughout this year, go really well?

‘Attention, Maggots!’ … Roald Dahl’s ‘Matilda the Musical Jr’, is based on the book by Dennis Kelly with Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin. Matilda, a young lady with astonishing wit, intelligence and special powers! She's unloved by her cruel parents, but impresses her schoolteacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey. Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing however – the school's mean headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those who don't abide by her rules. But Matilda has courage and cleverness in equal amounts, and could be the school pupils' saving grace!

This was not the first time that Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company had used Merchant Taylors School to host a production, but it was their first time since the ‘theatres facelift’ and having seen what was on offer and four complete sell out performances… then I’m sure we will all be back again soon!  Saturday Matinee was packed to the ‘rafters’ with children, parents and grandparents all sitting patiently just waiting for the performance to start… with a huge cast of forty-four, there was an air of expectancy… we were not to be disappointed!

Where to start… well, let’s start by saying, if you missed this production, then you missed a ‘real treat’!  So, it is many congratulations to the Production Team led by Nicci Henshaw (Director). If you ever meet or speak with Nicci you just know/feel/see her dedication to anything and everything Waterloo and Crosby related! Congrats Nicci, be assured that all that hard work paid off… be ever so proud… great show!  Sarah Henchskelt (Musical Director/Choreographer) and Sarah Bentham (Choreographer), were the two responsible for moving forty-four young people around stage… they made it look far easier than it obviously was!  Well done you two, some simple yet effective choreography, that played to the strengths of all the cast and enhanced the production so much... (PS: the final scene and bows, with all forty-four moving on stage at same time, was perfect and superbly choreographed)!  Finally, let’s not forget the amazing Annie Dickenson MBE WCTC pianist.  The licence for this show stipulated that, ‘recorded music’ had to be used… so where did that leave Annie?  For sure, she was never going to miss this… she was found ‘mucking in’ with the rest and at the end, was seen with tear filled eyes of joy!  Congrats to you all… wonderful job, be proud!

Before I continue with this review, I need to share a decision made by WCTC at the commencement of this venture… that decision was to cast two sets of principals for most parts. The reason was two-fold… to give more opportunity to the many talented young people who auditioned and as an insurance should someone fall foul of Covid… great idea and great insurance!  Each principal was given two shows to perform and two casts were formed… ‘Cast Naughty’ and ‘Cast Revolting’. I was invited to watch both sets on Saturday (at the matinee, when I saw ‘Cast Naughty’ and that evening when I saw ‘Cast Revolting’).  This review is based on the ’matinee performance’ and ‘Cast Naughty’ with a paragraph toward the end talking about the evening performance and ‘Cast Revolting’! 

So – ‘Cast Naughty’… anyone familiar with my reviews will know this is where I ‘stick my neck out’ and start selecting favourites, MY favourites… ask anyone else present and they’d probably come up with something / someone completely different… but this is me!  My ‘Show Stealer’ and the only ‘principal’ to retain his role in both casts… was James Sheppard who took on the role of ‘Agatha Trunchbull’ and what a job he made!  This was not only James’s first role with Waterloo and Crosby, but, I’m told, his first appearance on stage… ‘where have you been’?  Confident, completely comfortable in this role, looked amazing, great characterisation, great mannerisms, wonderful stage presence and a good singing voice; if I may offer just one ever so small piece of ‘constructive advice’ not only for James but for everyone really… always remember that those at the rear of the auditorium need to hear your every word… even the quiet ones!  NOT a criticism at all, just something to remember and to work toward for the future… be proud James very proud… brilliant job!   Olivia Evans another ‘first timer’ with WCTC, took on the lead role ‘Matilda’. Olivia was following in her ‘nans’ footsteps, ‘Nan’ having been a leading lady with WCTC many times over the years. Olivia did an amazing job, another with great stage presence, never out of character, good singing voice…loved her rendition of ‘Naughty’ … be proud young lady, bet nan is!  ‘Miss Honey’ was played wonderfully well by Gabriela Matchett… another first timer with WCTC.  Wonderful stage presence, great characterisation, great diction and a voice to kill for, loved the song ‘This Little Girl’ which she sang and acted ever so well… be proud!  ‘The Wormwoods’ Matilda’s family; ‘Mr Wormwood’ was played by Joseph Ramsay, ‘Mrs Wormwood’ played by Ava Moriarty and Emily Farrington who took on the role of brother ‘Michael’. All three worked really well together, giving well-judged performances… be proud!  ‘Bruce Bogtrotter’ our ‘cake eating scholar’ was played well by Olivia Jones; good characterisation, another with a good singing voice… well done Olivia!  Olivia Williams took on the role of ‘Mrs Phelps’ the Librarian probably the first to notice Matilda’s gift for reading.  Olivia did a good job with the role and worked really well with ‘Matilda’…well done young lady!  Two performances of note came from Emily Farrington who, as well as playing ‘Michael Wormwood’ stood in, with less than twenty-four hours’ notice to take on the role of the ‘Escapologist’ (well done Emily, great job) and Raphaela Thacker who played the ‘Acrobat’…be proud girls… great movement, confident performances!  Emily Wall played ‘Lavender’, Hannah Thompson played ‘Amanda’, Alexis Smith played ‘Eric’; Arabella Thacker played ‘Tommy’; Jonah Hargreaves played 'Nigel', Elise Williams played ‘Alice’; Scarlett Sugden played ‘Hortensia’; Jessica Dearden played a ‘Cook’; Georgie Wilson played a ‘Mechanic’; Daniel Housley played ‘Rudolpho’. The Chorus… ‘Sergie and the Russians’ played by Louie Jones, Aaliyah Chopra and Freya Maddock.  The ‘Big Kids’ … Sophie Paterson, Matilda Dorrity and Lily Ennis. ‘Mums/Dads and Big Kids’ were played by Millie Jones, Isabel Todd, Jasmine Chopra, Faz White, Summer Edward, Alice Melling, and Heidi Saunders. The ‘Little Kids’ Aaliyah Chopra, Nieve Marshall, Alice Deardon, Alice Edward, Zerrin Bentham, Annie Wakefield, Anastasia Garner, Louis Jones, Matthias Thacker, Micah Edward, Poppie Saunders, Jemima Hargreaves. Congrats to each and every one… be proud!

This is MY REVIEW of the ‘principals’ from ‘Cast Revolting’ … the part of ‘Matilda’ was played ever so well by Jemima Hargreaves.  This was Jemima’s first show with WCTC. Jemima looked totally comfortable in this role and made it her own. Great stage presence, good singing voice, loved her rendition of ‘Naughty’ and enjoyed the accompanying movements… well done young lady!  Alice Melling took on the role of ‘Miss Honey’ and did a wonderful job with it!  Alice has been with WCTC since 2018 and was one of the oldest in the show.  Alice was the perfect fit for this role… the empathy shown toward ‘Matilda’ throughout (especially when they ‘hugged’ centre stage and the reaction from the audience), belied her years… a really confident performance… be ever so proud Alice!  ‘The Wormwoods’… Matilda’s family… Faz White played ‘Mr Wormwood’, Yasmine Chopra played Mrs Wormwood and Emily Farrington played brother ‘Michael’.  All three created believable characters, worked well to form the family… good work guys!  Our ‘Cake Eating Student’… ‘Bruce Bogtrotter’ was played ever so well by Poppie Saunders another long standing member here at WCTC.  Poppie created a ‘larger-than-life’ character, did a great job with the cake eating episode and is blessed with a good singing voice, well done Poppie, great job!  Two other changes… Annie Wakefield played ‘Lavender’ and Zerrin Bentham played ‘Amanda’… well done girls!  

Staging, Set Design and Back Stage Team… looking at the programme there are so many named people listed under this category...to many to mention unfortunately, but I do think it would be remiss of me not to name their ‘leader and magician’ … Colin Wilson (Stage Manager!) Colin needs to be ‘named in this review’…  desks, gates with posts, swings all made to measure! TV’s, furniture, beds all on runners, so the Cast’, who were tasked and choreographed, to do most of the scene changes didn’t have to lift a thing… everything worked smoothly, it allowed ‘scenes chances’ to be ‘swift, clean and quiet’ well done Colin, your talents did not go unnoticed sir and I know they were appreciated by everyone at WCTC. Sound (SSDJ Events UK., Merchant Taylor’s Staff and Sarah Henchskelt) and Lighting (Nathaniel Sinclair) were good!  We did have one or two minor hiccups with ‘personal mikes’ and I did think, at times, the ‘recorded music’ was a little loud and slightly overpowered some of the young singers, but with so many on stage, so many comings and goings, a newish venue and a completely new sound system to understand and work with, these were small issues that did not detract from the overall performance!   Costumes were apt and of a high quality… congrats to Louise Dearden, Joanne Dorrity and Nicci Henshaw… great job ladies, be proud!

Last but certainly not least… MATRONS!  When you have forty-four young people in a production, you really do need solid people around who will ensure that those young people are properly looked after and supervised.  So, congrats to all those who helped and well done to Louise Dearden for co-ordinating this task.  Being a registered chaperone myself… I do know the challenges these roles can and do throw up… so well done one and all…without YOU this production would never have reached the stage! 

Finally, can I take this opportunity to say thank you to everyone at Waterloo and Crosby Theatre Company for inviting both Susan and I and I’m sure I speak for Kit as well… it really was a privilege and pleasure to spend the day with you!  Thank you so much for your hospitality throughout and for allowing me to speak with both casts after each performance.  We thoroughly enjoyed the show and we’re already looking forward to seeing you all again soon… hope the panto auditions and rehearsals go well… see you soon!

Stay safe and keep well

Jim Briscoe
NODA North West
District 6 Rep

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