Venue: Cambridge Theatre, London, UK
Date: 29th November 2011 at 19:00
Adult Cast: Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull), Lauren Ward (Miss Honey), Paul Kaye (Mr. Wormwood) and Josie Walker (Mrs. Wormwood)
Children Cast: Cleo Demetriou (Matilda), Jemima Eaton (Lavender), James Beesley (Bruce), Alfie Manser (Nigel), Lily Laight (Aanda), Toby Murray (Eric), Alicia Gould (Alice), Oonagh Cox (Hortensia) and Thomas Atkinson (Tommy)
Children Cast: Cleo Demetriou (Matilda), Jemima Eaton (Lavender), James Beesley (Bruce), Alfie Manser (Nigel), Lily Laight (Aanda), Toby Murray (Eric), Alicia Gould (Alice), Oonagh Cox (Hortensia) and Thomas Atkinson (Tommy)
Rating: ****
Review:
One of the most anticipating West End musicals of this season must be the musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda, directed by Matthew Warchus (who also brought us another big hit of the year, Ghost: The Musical). This Royal Shakespeare Company production started its life in 2010 in Stratford and with its successful sold-out run, no doubt that the musical was able to make its way to the West End.
The first thing that impressed me is the theatre design, from the first moment you walk in to the Cambridge Theatre, everywhere you see blackboard and kids' handwriting with colorful interior design. Even the cast list was written in chalk on a blackboard. Inside the theatre, I must say it was probably one of the beautiful sights I've seen. The top part of the stage was filled with colorful letters with 7 swings each bearing a letter of Matilda's name.
And as the show began, I was very impressed with the whole production design. It was very innovative and creatively implemented. Every cast in the show, whether leading or ensemble, adult or children, performed their hearts out and made the 2 hours and 40 minutes fly by so fast that you wish you could turn back time and enjoy it all over again.
Cleo Demetriou was one of the four girls sharing the role of Matilda and at the performance I attended, she was simply adorable and no less talented than any of the adult cast members around her. All the children in the show were extremely impressive as they were able to pull off the singing, dancing and acting required. This show probably boasts one of the most difficult children's roles I've seen in professional theatre alongside Billy Elliot. Special mentions go to Jemima Eaton as the quirky and funny Lavender and the scene-stealer James Beesley as Bruce (who also originated this role in Stratford) who was greatly talented both in his acting (during "Bruce") and in his singing (during "Revolting Children").
Bertie Carvel was an amazing Miss Trunchbull. Though very different from the movie, Bertie was able to create a perfect Miss Truchbull fit for the stage who were both scary and funny at the same time. He also provided most comedic reliefs in the show while still being able to portray a strict and mean headmistress of the school. On the contrary, Lauren Ward brought a perfectly sweet and lovely Miss Honey to the show. Her beautiful soprano voice, from her first "Pathetic" to her heartwrenching "My House," was simply beautiful beyond words and there were always tears in her eyes when she sang.
Paul Kaye and Josie Walker joined forces in successfully bringing to life Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood who were "disgustingly" terrific! Peter Howe also successfully played a believeable retarded Matilda's brother, Michael Wormwood.
The rest of the supporting cast were no less wonderful. Tim Walton started off the show in the dual roles of Teacher/Doctor and set the right mood and tone for the rest of the show brilliantly. Matthew Malthouse and Emily Shaw had an amazing chemistry as The Escapologist and The Acrobat. Gary Watson was a funny and serviceable Mrs. Wormwood's Italian dance partner, Rudolpho, while Melanie La Barrie stole the show as Mrs. Phelps, the librarian.
I also enjoyed the music and lyrics of Matilda: The Musical by Tim Minchin very much. It was very catchy and the lyrics was very witty especially when you were able to take time to take them in a little bit (through the cast recording, of course). "School Song" (with its A-Z gimmick) and "When I Grow Up" were my favourites. I feel that "Revolting Children" made me feel like I was watching the school version of "Spring Awakening" a bit (and that's actually a compliment). The set design and stage effects were quite fun to watch as well. I love the effects of the swings during "When I Grow Up" and how the story of the escapologist and the acrobat was presented.
From the artistic view, this is a perfectly crafted show. However, from my own view as a non-native regular theatregoer (that forced me to sadly take a star away from it), I have to admit that I wasn't able to follow the story and the songs 100%. Still, the amazing talent of the cast and the children and the clever production design will definitely make you enjoy the show even though at times you don't actually know what was going on. *SPOILER ALERT* Additionally, I wish that Matilda would do more magic tricks and the ending wasn't so easy. I also wish that there was an actual chokey but the laser was pretty neat and funny. *SPOILER ENDS*
I would recommend this show to everyone, certainly! It is probably one of the best shows currently running in London and I'm sure that it's going to be here for quite some time...!
MUSICAL NUMBERS
One of the most anticipating West End musicals of this season must be the musical version of Roald Dahl's Matilda, directed by Matthew Warchus (who also brought us another big hit of the year, Ghost: The Musical). This Royal Shakespeare Company production started its life in 2010 in Stratford and with its successful sold-out run, no doubt that the musical was able to make its way to the West End.
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| Cambridge Theatre |
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| Before the show |
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| A view from where I sat if you look above |
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| Children Cast List creatively written on a blackboard in chalk |
Cleo Demetriou was one of the four girls sharing the role of Matilda and at the performance I attended, she was simply adorable and no less talented than any of the adult cast members around her. All the children in the show were extremely impressive as they were able to pull off the singing, dancing and acting required. This show probably boasts one of the most difficult children's roles I've seen in professional theatre alongside Billy Elliot. Special mentions go to Jemima Eaton as the quirky and funny Lavender and the scene-stealer James Beesley as Bruce (who also originated this role in Stratford) who was greatly talented both in his acting (during "Bruce") and in his singing (during "Revolting Children").
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| Cleo Demetriou as Matilda during "Quiet" |
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| James Beesley as Bruce during act one finale "Bruce" |
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| The amazing children cast seen here during "Revolting Children" (Spring Awakening, anyone?) |
Bertie Carvel was an amazing Miss Trunchbull. Though very different from the movie, Bertie was able to create a perfect Miss Truchbull fit for the stage who were both scary and funny at the same time. He also provided most comedic reliefs in the show while still being able to portray a strict and mean headmistress of the school. On the contrary, Lauren Ward brought a perfectly sweet and lovely Miss Honey to the show. Her beautiful soprano voice, from her first "Pathetic" to her heartwrenching "My House," was simply beautiful beyond words and there were always tears in her eyes when she sang.
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| Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey |
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| Paul Kaye, Josie Walker and Peter Howe as the Wormwood Family |
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| Melanie La Barrie as Mrs. Phelps the librarian |
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| When I Grow Up |
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| Act One Opening: Miracle |
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| Act Two Finale: Revolting Children |
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| Kerry Ingram as Matilda during "Naughty" |
ACT ONE
Miracle... Company
Naughty... Matilda
School Song... Company
Pathetic... Miss Honey
The Hammer... Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
The Chokey Chant... Company
Loud... Mrs. Wormwood and Rudolpho
This Little Girl... Miss Honey
Bruce... Children
ACT TWO
Telly... Mr. Wormwood and Michael Wormwood
When I Grow Up... Company
I'm Here... Matilda and Escapologist
The Smell of Rebellion... Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
Quiet... Matilda
My House... Miss Honey
Revolting Children... Company
When I Grow Up (Reprise)... Company
Miracle... Company
Naughty... Matilda
School Song... Company
Pathetic... Miss Honey
The Hammer... Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
The Chokey Chant... Company
Loud... Mrs. Wormwood and Rudolpho
This Little Girl... Miss Honey
Bruce... Children
ACT TWO
Telly... Mr. Wormwood and Michael Wormwood
When I Grow Up... Company
I'm Here... Matilda and Escapologist
The Smell of Rebellion... Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
Quiet... Matilda
My House... Miss Honey
Revolting Children... Company
When I Grow Up (Reprise)... Company
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