insideKENT Magazine Issue 56 - November 2016 | Page 122
LONDON
even if you’re little, you can do a lot
MATILDA THE MUSICAL
© Helen Maybanks
A special little girl, a horrible headmistress, too much chocolate cake and a happily
ever after. Most of us are familiar with the award-winning Roald Dahl book Matilda,
but never before have we seen it in such a spectacular setting. BY DONNA MARTIN
©Manuel Harlan
©Manuel Harlan
Like many books-turned-film-turned-musical, I
wasn’t so sure about seeing the beloved Matilda
characters – my beloved characters that I so
adored as a child – turned into singing, dancing
performers; something they weren’t originally
intended to be. Sometimes it’s best to leave well
enough alone, but with Matilda, the musical
works. The show’s 70+ international awards
don’t lie…
The premise is familiar, but as is expected when
the story originates in book form, the musical
takes its own spin on things. But don’t worry –
it’s a good spin. The characters are hilarious, the
songs are infectious, and the production is both
impressive and simplistic in the intimate setting
of the Cambridge Theatre in London’s West End.
I couldn’t have imagined a better Matilda, played
by the charming Sara Sheen – her fragile, tiny
frame, tangled mess of a hairdo and cute-as-abutton voice soon gave way to her strong-assteel personality with a sprinkle of naughtiness.
All the characters I knew and loved from my
childhood were perfectly represented by each
and every actor: Michael Begley as Mr
Wormwood, Miria Parvin as Miss Honey, and
Oliver Llewelyn-Williams as the infamous, cakeeating Bruce Bogtrotter.
And then there’s Miss Trunchbull. Ah yes, the
Trunchbull.
If you read the story of Matilda as a child, the
horrendously strict, borderline evil Miss Trunchbull
isn’t a headteacher you ever wished to have. In
fact, you hoped – and probably still do – that
someone like Miss Trunchbull never crosses your
path, full stop, and that’s exactly the feeling you
get from Craige Els’s brilliant performance. From
the top-heavy looming figure, to the genuinely
insane hatred of children (with a bit of laugh-outloud humour thrown in for good measure),
Craige’s spot-on depiction of good ol’ Agatha
was the standout act for me.
The painfully un-classy Mrs Wormwood is
portrayed – big hair, make-up and all – by
Rebecca Thornhill. Just like the book, Matilda’s
mum is more interested in her telly than her genius
daughter, and instead of a bingo obsession as
originally written by Mr Dahl, Mrs Wormwood is
instead preoccupied with her dancing, and her
wholly entertaining and flamboyant dance partner
Rudolpho (played by Daniel Ioannou).
Throughout the evening’s show, there was not
a single moment when I wasn’t entirely convinced
that everyone on stage, and in the audience,
weren’t having the time of their lives. I guess if
my job required me to fly over a crowd on a giant
swing, or sing joyous songs for hours, or play
practical jokes on despicable headteachers, I’d
be pretty happy too.
Matilda the Musical
Cambridge Theatre
Earlham Street
London
WC2H 9HU
www.matildathemusical.com
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