Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical Jr

ADC YOUTH

When the youngsters, all aged between 9 and 17 years, involved in this production grow up they will be able look back with enormous pride, played for just three performances but to packed houses it was simply outstanding!

On the opening night, the full auditorium buzzed with eager anticipation but soon settled down  in response to the clever “front-of-house” announcement delivered in the spirit of a strict schoolroom environment, a promise of what was to come!

NO PHOTOS OR TIK TOC

MOBILES TO BE SWITCHED OFF OR THEY WILL BE LOCKED AWAY

ALL CHOCOLATE CAKE TO BE HANDED IN

After a lively overture, the “kids” took to the stage, in striking uniforms of grey and maroon, for a great opening number accompanied by appropriately dressed “boring adults”.  

The story followed the adventures of the “well read” and intelligent Matilda, unloved and cruelly treated by her ghastly parents Mr and Mrs Wormwood, as she joins a new school where she  successfully champions her classmates and challenges the bullying antics of the  terrifying Headmistress Miss Trunchball.

The title role of Matilda was beautifully and gently played, her empathy with her classmates standing out, she most certainly was a “fish out of water” at home.

The young man playing Miss Trunchball showed strong stage presence from the start, and the moment when he spun poor little “pig-tailed” Amanda round and round and round on the spot eventually tossing her into the wings was truly amazing!

Other many memorable moments included poor Bruce Bogtotter being forced to stuff down copious amounts of chocolate cake, Nigella’s cheeky face as she emerged from under the mountain of jumpers, and Donna Marie, especially, in the wheelchair joining in the Company song and dance numbers and “signing” expertly at times from DSL!

Matilda’s parents and her brother were just perfectly awful throughout, Mr Wormwood sporting a magnificent loud check suit was the epitome of a dishonest “used car salesman”, and brother Michael was most suitably obnoxious!

As for Mrs Wormwood she was just a revelation! This young performer simply sashayed her way through the piece with complete confidence in an array of what can only be described as extremely tasteless outfits crowned by a magnificent platinum blonde wig.  Also responsible for the excellent choreography this 15-year-old gave a performance that belied her years, the moment when she raised her leg and placed it on the shoulder of her dance partner was a showstopper! Her brash and common character as an aspiring “dance star” was beautifully portrayed, and she was well accompanied by Rudolph particularly in the “samba”.

Another stunning performance came from yet another 15-year-old member of the Company in the role of Miss Honey, the quiet schoolteacher who recognised Matilda’s extraordinary abilities from the outset. This gentle but sad character was again beautifully portrayed, giving the impression of a much older performer, and she had the most lovely singing voice.

With such a large cast it is impossible to mention everyone. Amanda and Nigella shone in their moments of limelight, and Lavender gave sterling support as Matilda’s best friend, but this was most definitely an ensemble production with everyone working together and supporting each other, with a strong feeling of camaraderie simply spilling from the stage.

All the dance numbers were expertly performed with a myriad of fantastic moves, cartwheels, back-flips and splits, and all the familiar songs such as When I Grow Up and Revolting Children were very well put over. 

The simple set was fine with an upstage rostrum for the Escapologist and his Acrobat partner, two more good performances, together with a “magic” blackboard, and an appropriate “library flat” DSR for the quieter moments. 

The Wormwood’s sitting-room DSL was represented when required by an armchair, chintz trimmed standard lamp, and a period  box TV, which was mostly definitely not “smart”, all brought on and off neatly by members of the cast. 

Of course, everything came to a satisfactory conclusion, with the sympathetic Miss Honey becoming the new Headmistress, after regaining her family inheritance and taking Matilda under her wing as the Wormwoods departed for Spain – most probably to Benidorm!

Tightly but expertly directed this superb and brilliant production richly deserved the rapturous applause and standing ovation at the end – well done everyone!

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

The N.O.D.A. Representative’s intention is to give an objective critique of the overall production and in particular the performance viewed.  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.

 

© NODA CIO. All rights reserved.