Theatre review: Theatre Under the Stars rises brilliantly to the demands of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
High-level production values and a remarkably talented young cast bring the story of “revolting children” to darkly comedic life
Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical. Photo by Emily Cooper
Theatre Under the Stars presents Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical to August 24
THIS SUMMER, the Malkin Bowl in Stanley Park has been transformed into a whimsical storybook world, thanks to Theatre Under The Stars’ production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical.
With director Stephanie Graham at the helm, every creative-team and cast member has stepped up to the challenge of staging this ambitious show, and the result is an imaginative and polished production that will thrill, entertain, and empower audiences of all ages. Add to that the fact that Matilda showcases a group of phenomenally talented children, led by the brilliant Siggi Kaldestad, and what we have here is something very special.
Based on Dahl’s beloved novel, the story follows the journey of Matilda Wormwood, a little girl with extraordinary intelligence and telekinetic powers, subjugated by her mentally and verbally abusive parents, and her wildly abusive school headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. Finding solace in reading books far beyond her age level, Matilda spends her free time at the library and shares creative stories she envisions with the librarian Mrs. Phelps. At school, Matilda’s gifts are recognized by her teacher Miss Honey, who tries her best to support her. As the bizarre and unhinged rage of Miss Trunchbull escalates to frightening levels, Matilda uses her genius and kindness to save herself and those around her.
Graham and set designer Brian Ball have devised an enjoyably clever concept for this production. An assortment of giant books are clustered across the stage, and we’re transported to different settings when actors open them to reveal illustrations of such places as the Wormwood living room, Matilda’s tiny bedroom, or the shed that Miss Honey lives in.
Christine Reimer’s costume designs bring the visions of Dahl’s well-known characters to life, including transforming actress Jyla Robinson into the treacherous Trunchbull via a heavily padded suit under her green military-like uniform. Thanks to lighting designer Robert Sondergaard and sound designer Michael Kidder, and head of props Stephanie Barclay, we're thrown into a world where anything can happen. At one point, we see Trunchbull punish kids by tossing them into the air or stretching their ears; at another, Matilda use her telekinetic powers to make objects move. During the library scenes, Matilda’s story of a romance between an acrobat and escapologist in a circus unfolds before our eyes in an emotionally moving and eerie way.
Kaldestad is remarkable as Matilda, impressively poised and well spoken, with a gift for singing and storytelling. A true triple-threat performer, she’s nimble in her physicality, and even does a cartwheel while singing “Naughty”. Later in the show, she’s so captivating in “Quiet” that it’s as if she stops time—you could hear a pin drop among the 2,000-odd audience members when she paused during the number on opening night. Or as Matilda would say, “You could hear a fly burp.”
Paula Higgins is warm and loving as Miss Honey, and like Kaldestad, she is highly adept in storytelling through solos like “Pathetic” and “My House”. The relationship between Higgins and Kaldestad is wonderfully sweet and affectionate.
Photo by Emily Cooper
Robinson makes for a sensational Miss Trunchbull, with a performance that bolsters skilled physical comedy, characterization, and vocal delivery. In her larger-than-life performance, she mixes comedy with sinister scowls. Highlights are her opening song “The Hammer” and “The Smell of Rebellion”, in which she hams it up to the extreme.
Speaking of hamming it up, Victor Hunter and Madeleine Suddaby go to town as Matilda’s terrible but hilarious parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood. With their silly antics and extreme narcissism, they provide welcome comic relief. The highlight for Hunter is his solo “All I Know”, in which he amusingly interacts with the audience. The highlight for Suddaby is the ballroom dance number “Loud”, where she partners with standout dancer Jaren Guerreiro as the sassy Rudolpho. The pair perform alongside two other dynamic dance couples, which includes cast member Hang Kin (Simon) Chung, a competitive ballroom dancer who helped choreograph this piece.
Leading an exceptionally talented ensemble of children are Preston Culili as Bruce, Vienna Vasquez as Lavender, and Noah Park as Nigel. All of the young performers in this show have fantastic stage presence, demonstrating great versatility; they swing easily from behaving sweetly in the opening “Miracle” to fiercely tearing up the stage in the unforgettable “Revolting Children”—the song-and-dance highlight of the show.
Choreographer Krystal Kiran has done standout work throughout, including with “The Smell of Rebellion”—an ode to the tortures of group fitness-training classes. Kiran’s choreography also carries the story forward—take “School Song”, when adult ensemble members playing the older kids threateningly welcome the new students to Trunchbull’s nightmare of a school, leading them from the foreboding gates into their classroom.
Given the requirements of this show—namely its demands on young performers and need for high-level production values—staging Matilda is a tall order for TUTS. Seeing the company rise to the occasion is a huge win and opens up the possibilities for what TUTS can achieve in future years. This production goes far beyond serving as a training ground for young talent. Matilda is a magical theatrical experience and is a must-see this summer.
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