Stage: Matilda the Musical – Playhouse Drama theatre, Durban
(Performances until Sunday, June 23)
REVIEW BY BILLY SUTER
THE offbeat and colourful Matilda the Musical, based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl, is not the easiest to mount, Tim Minchin’s fun, quirky songs and lyrics being a sometimes tricky affair. Kudos, then, to director Nick Jourdan and his zealous cast from Johannesburg’s Northcliff High School for tackling and doing a pretty good job with this project.
Sure, as with any non-professional production, not all the acting, vocals and choreography here can be rated top-notch, but there is a lot of heart, oodles of vim and vigour, as well as some truly impressive performances in this very enjoyable high school musical which is at Durban’s Playhouse Drama theatre only until Sunday.
The production marks the 24th year that the school, long noted for its high standard of shows, has presented its annual production at Durban’s Playhouse in an effort to allow pupils to experience a professional theatre environment and touring. And, once again, talented Nick Jourdan does well taking the reins.
This production is the 40th show Jourdan has produced and directed for Northcliff High, previous successes having included The Addams Family, Spamalot, Sister Act, High School Musical, Footloose, Chicago, Hello Dolly!, Joseph, The Pirates of Penzance and Me and My Girl.
Matilda the Musical tells of bright and spunky Matilda Wormwood, a young girl with a nasty family and beast of a school headmistress. Mischievous Matilda has a passion for reading and storytelling, the gift of telekinesis, and slowly overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school to help both herself and her caring teacher, Miss Honey, reclaim their lives.
The show bobs along at a good pace and has a number of cleverly conceived scenes, highlights being the When I Grow Up number, which makes good use of skipping-ropes, as well as scenes involving a large classroom blackboard. There are also many doses of comedy derived from scenes including green hair, a newt in a jug, the scoffing of a cake, a girl in piglets being flung into the sky, and an exhausting physical training lesson.
Grade 10 pupil Adriana Sevell exudes great confidence on stage and proves a constant delight as Matilda. Others worth special mention are Tristan Marques (great in drag, as imposing principal Agatha Trunchbull, although he could have been even more menacing); Angelica Rennie (as exuberant, hippie-like librarian Mrs Phelps, who lives for Matilda’s stories); and Gabrielle Flaum (as Matilda’s loud, dance-crazy, dimwit mother).
A standout is pretty Caitlyn Scholtz, who is vocally well ahead of the pack and perfectly cast as sweet teacher Miss Honey, who has a troubled past. A name to watch.
Presented with live accompaniment of a 10-member group of musicians conducted by Matthew Vlok, Matilda the Musical is being staged at 7.30 nightly until Saturday, with an additional 2pm Saturday performance. The final performance is at 3pm on the Sunday, June 23. Do lend support!
Tickets cost R100 (R80 for pensioners) and booking is at Webtickets.
.....SoSuterBill..... 