Most Magical Matilda - part 3

It is incredible how much you can ramble but "Matilda" is just for me the most incredible musical of the year.

Just everything is right here. It starts with the moment you enter the Cambridge theatre and see the so beautifully designed foyer with the set from the stage being copied into the foyer. The theatre was full with excited chatter as children and adults settle themselves down for an afternoon of pure theatrical entertainment when I went.

Once you are inside the auditorium and you face the stage which is, as already said in part 1, decorated by giant brightly coloured scrabble tiles and books spilling out beyond the stage stretching out over the audience. You can see that these spell out key words from the story.

The sets used during the show are simple and unobtrusive as the classroom of the children being foldable school desks rising from the floor or Mrs Phelps library is made of giant book cases floating in and out from the sides, and odd chairs and other stuff here and there, a telly of course but this show just does not need more set as it would have spoilt the point of the show.

And there are also of course as mentioned before the little extra bits during some of the songs as the “School Song” with the fence etc.

The lighting supports the set just perfectly, Rather simple but still effective during the normal scenes they get more “dramatic” when Matilda tells her story. The costumes suit the parts and are apparently close to Quentin Blake’s illustrations but I can’t say for sure that is the case. The choreography is adventurous, punchy and pin-sharped especially the PE lesson is so energetic but without going OTT as some shows do looking out of place.

The cast around Kerry Ingram is of highest standard. Knowing a few of them, the focus on casting these was definitely on TALENT and not names. There is not one weak link for me – a most strong cast giving a vibrant and heartfelt performance being led by a wonderful inspiring Kerry as Matilda (I would love to see the other three Matilda though too). Matilda is a huge role, almost permanently-on-stage but Kerry carries the weight so perfectly with incredible controlled vocal abilities, some impressive stage presence finding the right balance between frustration, bravery, charm and vulnerability. Especially in the mischievous moments she shines with so much confidence in what she does that she outplays a lot of other West End leading ladies twice her age. I have seen a lot of talent in shows as Mary Poppins, Oliver! etc. but this is even more stunning to watch.

The other kids besides Kerry are also terrific, full of likeable talents without being too sickeningly sweet. Jemima Eaton as Lavender is loud, brassy and genuinely funny. James Beesley as Bruce is just perfect for the plump and slightly clumsy part who gets all the cheers when he manages to eat the gigantic chocolate cake. I could go on and on…

Paul Kaye and Josie Walker as Matilda’s cartoonish and grotesque parents are so brilliantly entertaining. Josie sounds so trashy, brash and cheap that it makes you laugh and her ballroom dance number is performed with so much fire. Paul Kaye comes across so vile and vulgar that it also is so much fun to watch him especially how he delivers his little interval speech is just so entertaining. Peter Howe as their son Michael – gosh you’d hardly notice that this is a grown up man playing the part after a first tiny “shock”. He plays Michael so delightfully dumb and slow that even though he is a twit you cannot help but like him.

Lauren Ward as Miss Honey is so touchingly sweet without going too sweet. Some people stated she needs a few eccentricities but I couldn’t agree less. Among all the eccentric characters it is good to have one kinda normal person but one who is good-hearted, gentle and kind. Also the melancholic parts as when she sings (so beautifully with lovely clear soprano voice) “Pathetic” or “My House” are done without going too “sobby”.

Melanie La Barrie as the librarian Mrs Phelps is too adorable as well. Having known her since she was in Mary Poppins am slightly biased anyway when it comes up to her but she also gives so much heart to that part, I love the faces she pulls and how she acts when she gets totally absorbed by Matilda’s stories. Kudos also go to Tim Walton as teacher/doctor and Matthew Malthouse as the escapologist. I had forgotten what amazing voices both have but am so pleased to see both back on a stage to hear these finally again.

But credits also to all the others I have not mentioned yet though it is Bertie Carvel who steals the show as the terrifying grotesque hammer-throwing Miss Trunchbull giving one of the best performances of the year, no the best performance.

Casting a man in that part could have gone imho totally wrong going down the pantomime route being a total drag but what he delivers is the perfect combination of menace, whimsy and caricature bringing to life the legendary mesmerising villain. It is fascinating to watch how this tall man, looking a bit like a big busty Margaret Thatcher on steroids, portrays Miss Trunchbull so well. Just everything is perfect: the voice (with saliva dropping down on the sides of the mouth, urgh lol) sounding rather soft-spoken but full of cold and sinister in the quieter moments which then EXPLODES when all the suppressed rage and anger bursts out, every gesture and movements just is right, like the fingers twitch constantly – seriously he has so much to do during the various scenes. How he still manages to get that done, I do not know – or in total how he moves around looking so dangerous and heavy, like one of these gigantic spiders, but strangely light as a feather as well. You actually have to watch it to believe how spot on this performance is as no words to describe seem worth this performance. The stagecraft he possess is just simply superb.

But of course what besides the incredible cast is as important are Tim Minchin and co's work.

The book by Dennis Kelly brings Roald Dahl’s novel to life exactly as you expect it: It is grotesque, bright, surreal and dark but also has so much joy, humour, heart and tenderness and deepens and improves the original but staying true to it though keeping the dark tone. The way the songs are part of the story are as you want it from a musical with the songs developing the plot and understanding the characters. But also the ones more familiar with the saccharine movie will see a lot of familiar scenes. The style of how it is written is something extraordinary, it is witty, it is acerbic, it is so sharp coming through especially when Matilda’s love for words, sentences, stories and books becomes the focus.

But it also comes through during the songs so incredibly written and composed by the Australian comedian Tim Minchin. Especially the lyrics are so witty an stirring and sometimes satirical and cheeky, when you watch the show and while it must be hard try really to focus on them and carefully listen. The lyrics of songs as the “School Song” are one of a genius spelling out the ABC during the song in a rather odd way.

The music is full of strong tunes covering various styles of music, even in just one song, never too overpowering or misplaced and the melody of the nostalgic “When I Grow Up” is just frankly beautiful supported by one as beautiful staging with the cast on swings and was stuck in my head still days after I watched the show. There is just not one weak song for me in the whole show, each has its eligibility and is just right and perfectly reflects the moment of the show.

Direction is also so clear and well outlined, Matthew Warchus (who shockingly also worked on the crap Ghost musical) has definitely brought all the elements together so well that it is just a perfect result.

Overall

Matilda is just a real gem, it is an exquisite stunning theatrical spectacular without losing its heart and appeal for the audience. It is hilarious, grotesque, funny, moving and magical, it moves fast, is properly character and plot driven with music that is so brilliant and witty and has characters you can somehow identify with and tells of a story of oppression and standing up to bullies – even with that you may identify – and of the power of imagination and knowledge over imitation and physical strength.

What more would you want from a musical? I do not know and I can't wait to see it again.