By Amanda VanNostrand.
Girl power is running strong at Walnut Street Theatre between now and January 6th. Matilda The Musical brings ‘Revolting Children’ who are just ‘A Little Bit Naughty’ to the stage to wow the audience with their quick wit and strong ability to tell the truth. Matilda The Musical is based on the children’s book Matilda by Roald Dahl, which incidentally has recently celebrated its 30th birthday. A strong musical for all, this is definitely worth seeing this holiday season.
Matilda The Musical tells the story of a pivotal time in the life of the young girl Matilda. Her love of books and wisdom earns her scoff and sarcasm from the parents and brother who begrudgingly reside in her family. Matilda is both fortunate and unfortunate to attend the school where the foreboding Miss Trunchbull works as headmistress, while Trunchbull’s antithesis Miss Honey, is a teacher and ultimately Matilda’s saving grace. As Matilda discovers powers she holds within (magical and non-magical alike), the audience witnesses the beautiful and painful moments that she endures in her self-discovery.
This production is phenomenal. The set (scenic design by Dennis Kelly) consists of piles of books and alphabet blocks on both sides of the stage as well as blocks that spell out our main girls’ name, and books that hang from the ceiling. (Kelly is dead set on us knowing that Matilda is definitely literate.) The set is incorporated into the first scenes, allowing large boxes which match it to be brought out towards the beginning of the opening number so that some adorable children can climb out into the performance. (And to remind us that this is a holiday production!)
As the story takes place predominantly at school, there are many children in the cast and they are all talented. Their voices are precise and they carry out the choreography (Michelle Gaudette) and music (Tim Minchin) to the highest of standards. The main characters have also been well chosen. Matilda is played by Jemma Bleu Greenbaum and is an absolutely beautiful choice for this role – her voice is one of those angelic children’s voices while her acting makes for the perfect Matilda with the Little Bit Naughty scenes being played in the most convincing of manners. Laura Ginkis plays Miss Honey and is a great combination of angelic and genuinely sweet, bringing Miss Honey’s role to life on Walnut’s stage. Matilda’s parents, Mr. & Mrs. Wormwood, are played by the real-life couple Lyn Philistine and Christopher Sutton and they’re both downright hysterical, simply nailing both of the roles. Ian Merrill Peakes as Ms. Trunchbull, however, takes the cake (not literally; Bruce {Nicky Intrieri) is the one to eat the cake in this show and he is downright hysterical as well). Peakes somehow takes the role of Trunchbull – a character who we all love to hate – and encourages the audience to look forward to her scenes. He is amazing in this role and brings it to a new level – one that makes her enjoyable to watch while holding on to some serious resentment. Peakes was the absolute best choice for this part.
Matilda The Musical is lighthearted and fun, but tells tragic stories within. Matilda delights the librarian with a story throughout, and this story takes twists and turns and is told in the most beautiful of ways – this is just one gem within this gem of a show. Matilda The Musical allows the brainy girl who normally gets left behind, the chance to shine. Matilda’s character is one that is meant to inspire young girls who desire to read and tell stories in a world full of people ready to quiet them. From the little girls dressed as doctors in the delivery room at the start of the show, to the savior of the show Miss Honey, down to Matilda and her friends at school, the girls in this show are heroines and make being smart and strong into something worth striving for. Matilda The Musical is fun and meaningful for all.