Hello Beautiful People,
Deidra and I had the pleasure of seeing Matilda last Friday.
Four days later, it was nominated for twelve Tony Awards. TWELVE. And I couldn’t be happier for the cast, crew, and creative team.
For those of you who missed the memo, Matilda is a new musical, based on the beloved children’s book by Roald Dahl, illustrated by Quentin Blake. The musical was first birthed in 2008, when director Matthew Warchus approached Tim Minchin about writing the music and lyrics for a stage musical adaptation of the beloved book, to be produced by The Royal Shakespeare Company. After Stratford-Upon-Avon, the play then went to London’s West End and found a home at the Cambridge Theatre. After quite a bit of success, Matilda opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on March 4, 2013.
Photo by Megan Minutillo
So, lets recap, shall we? Dennis Kelly wrote the book, Tim Minchin wrote the music and lyrics, and Matthew Warchus has been the director since it’s inception.
I don’t know how many words there are in the English dictionary for genius, but that’s what you get when you combine the vision of Kelly, Minchin, and Warchus.
Pure. Brilliance.
But as always, I digress. Lets get back to the show.
As I said, Deidra and I had the pleasure of seeing Matilda last Friday, and my head may have exploded off of my body with joy. As we entered the house, we quite literally stopped to marvel at the stage. Friends, there is no “show curtain”. So, you’re standing there, looking at the set in all it’s splendor. Hundreds, and I mean hundreds of gigantic Scrabble pieces decorate the proscenium arch, and the multitude of flats that are showing onstage. As you’re waiting for the show to start, you begin to realize that practically every letter spells out a word that you know will soon be referenced in the show. There’s nothing arbitrary here, folks! Oh wait, did I mention the 7 swings that are hanging, with each letter of M-A-T-I-L-D-A having its own piece and brightly lit color? I’m not a technician or a designer, but I could absolutely gush about this set for days. The way they played with color & shape, the way the library was constructed, the way Miss Honey’s home was designed, the gates to the school…it’s design heaven. When leaving the theater, I said, verbatim, that if the designers are not nominated for Tony Awards I’d be floored. So, I have nothing but high praise and congratulations to give to Rob Howell and Hugh Vanstone – visually speaking, this play was outstanding.
That brings me to the cast…
Oh. My.
What can I say? When I saw the show, Oona Laurence was playing Matilda, and she was just awesome. It’s amazing to watch such a young performer who has such…ferocity, dedication, energy, passion…I can go on and on. Oona, you taught all of the adults in that house a lesson or two for sure. (Just a reminder, the role of Matilda is rotated between four girls of exquisite talent: Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro. They may be tiny, but their voices and presence are gigantic; there is a reason that they will recieve Tony Honors for Excellence in the Theatre – they’re fantastic.)
Photo: matildaonbroadway.com
I don’t know if my writing chops are up to describing all that is the performance of Bertie Carvel as Ms. Trunchbull. Watching him in this show is like taking a mastercalss in acting. He’s funny, he’s quick, his energy and commitment does not falter even in the breifest beat. I could go on and on, but I will just urge you to go see him for yourself.
The humor & heart of Karen Aldrige and the humor & delicious hatred of Lesli Margherita and Gabriel Ebert were utterly delightful. The Wormwoods played evil with class & sass, if that’s even possible. You loved to hate them – it was great.
I had a soft spot in my heart for “Revolting Children”, “Quiet”, and “When I Grow Up” even before I saw the show, and they are still some of my favorite songs from this musical. But, on Friday, I was absolutely blown away, moved to tears, and covered in goosebumps when Lauren Ward sang “My House”. Her performance was absolutely stunning. The combination of the Ward’s voice and Minchin’s music and lyrics result in one of those moments in theater when the world around you stops moving, the people around you fade away, and all that remains is you, the actor, and the music. It’s my kind of magic.
For me, one of the threads that holds a musical together, one of the elements that keeps it strong and the story clear is the ensemble. So, to Frenie Acoba, Erica Barnett, Judah Bellamy, Jack Broderick, Ava DeMary,John Arthur Greene, Emma Howard, Nadine Isenegger, Colin Israel, Thayne Jasperson, Luke Mannikus, Madilyn Morrow, Sawyer Nunes, Jared Parker, Celia Mei Rubin, John Sanders, Tamika Sonja Lawrence, Phillip Spaeth, Ryan Steele, Betsy Struxness, Samantha Sturm,Heather Tepe, Ben Thompson, Clay Thomson, Taylor Trensch, Beatrice Tulchin, and Ted Wilson – Bravo! I am in awe of each and every one of you.
This has always been a beautiful story, and now it’s gone from the page to the stage. Watching this show, listening to this soundtrack, will bring you nothing but joy. Get thee to the theater. I do believe you’ll love it.
Live, Love, Learn,