Matilda the Musical is probably one of the best shows aimed at both adults and kids alike. It was last in Auckland in 2017 and proved to be a monster hit. With it’s engaging story and great variety of wonderful songs and themes, this is a musical that rarely disappoints.
Now Matilda is back for a run at Auckland’s Bruce Mason Centre and it hasn’t lost any of it’s magical charm. I’m fairly sure you will know the plot, but if you don’t here’s a brief explanation.
Matilda is a very clever girl born in to a family of idiots and grifters. Her father sells junk cars and her mother is obsessed with winning dance competitions. Her brother meanwhile is quite a deadbeat. None of them care for Matilda and indeed treat her appallingly. She’s packed off to a school run by a monster – Agatha Trunchbull who basically abuses and tortures her young charges. The one consoling thing about the school is in the form of Miss Honey, a golden haired angel who loves children and who takes Matilda under her wing.
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Based on Roald Dahl’s eponymous story, this show is replete with villainy, courage, and fortitude. It’s also very funny and stylish and imbued with plenty of slapstick.
This version is a collaboration between The Amici Trust, North Shore Music Theatre, and Encore Theatre Collective, so has quite the pedigree behind it and they have assembled a lot of talent to bring the show to life.
The ensemble cast are excellent, and the child actors are an engaging and talented bunch with great harmonies and plenty of personality. The three largest roles belong to Matilda (Ann Deng on opening night); Trunchbull (George Keenan-Davies); and Miss Honey (Rebekah Head). Each of them brought a special quality to their parts that anchored the show brilliantly.
The show is of course named after its lead character, but the larger than life Trunchbull usually steals the show, and Keenan-Davies did not disappoint.
From the music to the costuming and set, to the glorious cast, this was an almost perfect delivery of this famous musical.
I say almost perfect because there was one issue that came up a few times on opening night – in more than one song, and at times during spoken scenes some of the dialogue and lyrics were lost when the music reached a crescendo.
As a reviewer, I noticed this, but judging from the audience reactions to each song and to the show in general this production is and will be a hit.
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MATILDA THE MUSICAL
25th September – 13th October 2024
Bruce Mason Centre – Auckland