A strong creative team, talented cast, wonderful music and above all, a heart-warming story; Matilda the Musical has all the elements of a Broadway blockbuster. This captivating musical has already proved its mettle by grabbing multiple Tony and Drama Desk Awards. The amazing sales figures of further establish its superiority in the world of theater. If you have not watched this masterpiece by Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly inspired by Roald Dahl's children book then waste no time and make a plan to catch it in a theater near you.
The Plot:
The musical tells the story of a little girl, Matilda who possessing extraordinary talents can read at the young age of five. At home she is shunned by her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood. In contrast to Matilda, her parents are more interested in watching TV and do their utmost to discourage her from reading. Problems for the little girl don't stop there. She is given a hard time at school as well by the tyrannical head teacher Miss Trunchbull. But help is at hand in the shape of the school teacher Miss Honey and Matilda's school friends. Together they try to solve the problems and help each other.
This dancing and singing extravaganza telling the story of the little girl covers the themes of bullying, suffering, empowerment and revenge. A combination of great story, tuneful music and impressive dancing, the musical has proved to be a crowd pleaser. It has received rave reviews and is highly recommended for great family entertainment.
Production History:
Premier of the musical was held in December 2010 in Stratford-upon-Avon, England. Right away, it captivated the audiences and the show was repeatedly sold out. Soon the musical made its West End debut in 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre. The West End production was also widely lauded by both critics and audiences. Impressively it went on to win five different awards in the ‘Best Musical' category.
With some modifications the musical was opened on Broadway in April 2013. The opening night saw the production getting a standing ovation. This was just the start of the great reception that the musical received in the US as well. Reviews by Time Magazine, Huffington Post, The New York Times and many more publications have hailed the musical as a major creative and theatrical success.
Within a few months of opening the production went on to win several awards. Awards won by the production include Drama Desk Award, Theatre World Award, Outer Critics Circle Awards and New York Drama Critics' Circle. Recently the production has also won four prestigious Tony Awards.
Creative Team:
Matilda the Musical boasts of many notable names. Book for the musical has been written by award winning writer Dennis Kelly. The production has especially been praised for its catchy lyrics which have been written by the renowned artist Tim Minchin. Part of the production's appeal lies in its superb choreography, which has been done by none other than Peter Darling. The renowned artist known for his multiple award winning choreography for Billy Elliot has worked his magic again. Worth mentioning is the impressive lighting by Hugh Vanstone which has won a Tony Award for the musical. Not to forget the awe inspiring special affects which are the work of Paul Kieve. A renowned name, the illusionist has previously won a Drama Desk Award for the Broadway production of Ghost the Musical.
The Tony Award winning musical revolves around the eventful story of a five year old girl. Facing hurdles at home and at school, Matilda boldly decides to take matters in her hands and carve her own way in life. It leads to many interesting turns where her teacher's life also changes for the better.
‘Matilda', Then and Now
Royal Shakespeare Company premiered Matilda in Stratford in 2010, where it continued to capture the attention and imagination of children and adults alike. The play kept running for twelve weeks straight, and then moved to the Cambridge Theater, where it still continues to entertain packed houses. Now the genius creation of Roald Dahl is being shown on Broadway. The captivating masterpiece is gaining as much critical acclaim and public appreciation as a Broadway production as it did with the RSC.
Sneak-peek
"Matilda Wormwood" is born to a ballroom-dancing obsessed TV addict mother, who is more worried about missing a dancing show than her new born beautiful baby. Her father, a devious used-car salesman father immediately disavows Matilda because he wanted a son. The rejected Matilda finds peace in reading. Her natural ability to read books at such a tender age shows her intellect but her parents fail to recognize it and even ridicule her for being lost in the books. Matilda being a bright girl decides to set things right for herself. There are some fun moments in the musical when the mischievous side of Matilda is revealed. For instance, an amusing prank leads Matilda to mix her mother's hydrogen peroxide to her father's hair oil, which leads him to have bright green hair.
When Matilda joins school she finds an alien world waiting for her. The eccentric and interesting characters of her teachers and the inflexible and strict principal pose more challenges for her. Matilda and her fellows sing along as the story progresses, sharing their own experience with the audiences, taking the story forward. Another major character in the story is of Mrs. Phelps, the librarian at the library where Matilda regularly goes. The beautifully written lyrics and incredible music given by Tim Minchin make it an extraordinary piece of art, enjoyed by children and elders alike.
The Thinking Heads
Matilda is based on the classic children's book written by Roald Dahl. This heartwarming story depicting early childhood struggles of a smart young girl is directed by Matthew Warchus and choreographed by Peter Darling. The lyrics and music are the same as given by the original creator Tim Minchin. Rob Howell is responsible for the design of the play, while musical supervision and orchestration is taken care of by Christopher Nightingale. Simon Baker is providing the sound and Paul Kieve has the task of providing the much needed special effects. All these talented professionals are working together to make the play absolutely amazing.