‘Matilda the Musical’ is undoubtedly one of the most celebrated musicals in the world over. This interesting play was adapted by Dennis Kelly from a children’s book that was written by Roald Dahl. The captivating part of it; the music and lyrics, were done by Tim Minchin. I got an opportunity to be part of the audience in St. Louis Fox Theater on Wednesday through Friday at 7:30 in the evening, on Saturday at 2 p.m and 7:30 p.m. and on Sunday the 1st of November at 6:30 p.m. last year (2015) when Matilda the musical narrative brought the town to a standstill. Thus, this paper gives a detailed review of ‘Matilda the Musical’ and identifies key elements that make the play a success.
The musical is centered on one, significantly young but talented and extraordinary girl called Matilda. Matilda possesses telekinetic ability which is one of the tools she uses to overcome many obstacles that she encounters in her life as a character. In this Tony award winner based on a 1988 novel tilted Matilda, the adult characters are seen inconsiderate of the young girl’s intellectual capability and cognitive prowess until she manages to pull her teacher, Ms. Honey, close to her and through the clout of telekinesis takes her fortune in her own hands.
In the play, Matilda Wormwood is born to parents who seem unwilling or rather not ready to have her. While the doctor thinks that she is the most beautiful girl she has ever seen, Mrs. Wormwood is less concerned and what seems to matter to her is the dance competition she had missed because of Matilda. On the other hand, her father constantly mocks Matilda of being ugly and keeps wishing that his wife would have given him a son instead. Just at five years, Matilda cannot stop surprising me with her love for books and what can be termed as frankness and outspokenness. She is a young girl who openly rebukes her father of lying to them after selling 155 used cars to a Russian businessman. However, her curiosity and hilarity due to what can be termed as ‘too much reading’ goes overboard when she mixes her mother’s hair dye and her father’s tonic leaving Mr. Woodworm with green hair.
In school, Matilda gives one the feeling of amusement, anger and discomfiture at how she interacts with both teachers and fellow students. It can clearly be seen that her intellectual capability is way much above the rest of her colleagues. For instance, Matilda is so swift to protect Nigel (her classmate) after he accidentally poured treacle on Ms. Trunchbull’s seat so intellectually that another student ends up shouldering the consequences. It is funny how she thinks of narcolepsy and how she easily convinces her classmates to buy her idea that later sees Amanda suffer the penalties. One heaves a sigh of relief that at least Nigel with the help of Matilda escapes the terrible ‘Chokey chant.’ It is through her magical character that Miss Honey decides to visit her family and makes a recommendation that she (Matilda) be promoted to an advanced class; which of course lands on deaf ears.
In the second act of the play, Matilda uses her powers to frustrate and scare Ms. Trunchbull who apparently grows cruel and crueler day in day out. During the physical education lesson, Ms. Trunchbull forces Matilda’s classmates to undertake rigorous exercises in a bid to single out rebellious students. It is hilarious how Matilda uses her powers to turn a jug that Lavender her classmate had put a newt inside. The newt lands on Trunchbull’s head prompting her to end the lesson in fright and confusion. In class, Ms. Trunchbull mercilessly lock Matilda’s classmates in Chokey chants as a punishment for misspelling words and this prompts her to use her powers to write on the chalkboard. Amidst pandemonium, she explains to Ms. Trunchbull that it was the ghost of Magnus (her late husband) that wrote demanding that she returns his daughter’s house (Ms. Honey) or he would revenge. Finally, Trunchbull flees the town never to be seen again. It never gets better than in the end when the woodworm family comes to pick their daughter so that they can run away from the wrath of Russians, and Matilda and Miss Honey enfold each other glad that they found themselves.
One thing that stands out in this play is the perfection with which the characters have mastered their roles. Whether one is five years old or ninety-five, loving Matilda is inevitable. Only one word can describe her role in the play, brilliance. From the strong vocals of Miss Honey, to the funny and biphasic character of Ms. Trunchbull, the play stirred the love for art and creativity that live deep inside me. Above and beyond everything, Tim Minchin is unarguably fabulous. His lyrics and soft musicals that leave you singing for a week make the play memorable and unforgettable and in fact, Minchin should write many more musicals.
