Broadway in Chicago presents Roald Dahl’s MATILDA THE MUSICAL.
Disney princesses and Marvel superheroes step aside. MATILDA has landed in Chicago! And she is one smart cookie… genius, actually! Even lacking a loving, supportive family, Matilda becomes a confident intellectual at age five. She reads. Her power source is her brain. She uses her knowledge to take down the bad guys. Matilda is the perfect role model for kids AND adults.
Author Roald Dahl penned a dark magical tale of fortitude and resilience in a little girl. His beloved book became the 1996 movie starring Mara Wilson, Danny DeVito, and Rhea Perlman that I have seen at least a half-a-dozen times. Then, the creative team of Dennis Kelly (book) and Tim Minchin (music and lyrics) premiered MATILDA THE MUSICAL in London in 2011. I saw it in the West End in 2012. The same year, it won 5 Tony Awards, including the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.
The thing that fascinates me most about this musical is the heavy-lifting by the children. Although the back-up ensemble is adults playing kids, the primary group is kids… singing, dancing, acting, swinging, trampolining, revolutionizing kids. Led by Matilda (performed by Lily Brooks O’Briant*), these kids kick ass! A spunky Charlie Kersh (Lavender) hits the humor with her newt disclosure. An adorable Austyn Johnson (Amanda) gets spun by her braids. An impressive Ryan Christopher Dever (Bruce) belts out a soloist moment on a microphone. In my favorite musical number, they sing and swing to a wistful rendition of “When I grow up.” They pull me in and push me high in this enchanting choreographed number by Peter Darling. All the kids showcase adult-super-sized talent especially O’Briant.
Lily Brooks O’Briant is far right
Under the masterful direction of Matthew Warchus, O’Briant isn’t so-much precocious as matter-of-fact. She is like the famed bookish Hermione from “Harry Potter” fame. And she’s not a flashy brainiac. O’Briant regularly has her head in a book on the sideline. It’s endearing! In musical numbers, we lose sight of her in the terrific student chorus. She is a wallflower until brilliantly she’s not. The pint-size O’Briant regularly zings a joke with ‘I’m a girl.’ During madcap interactions, the voice of reason comes out of O’Briant. She calmly corrects the mistake or rights the injustice. Although she casually delivers regular nuggets of wisdom, her storytelling scenes showcase a playful and vulnerable side.
O’Briant entrances Ora Jones (Mrs. Phelps) in her imaginative tales. Throughout the show, O’Briant narrates a story about an escape artist, his bride and their daughter. Jones, a Chicago favorite, plays the attentive librarian. She is tethered to O’Briant’s chronicle of love and tragedy. Jones magnificently balances her comedy one liners with this gentle island persona. Jones and Jennifer Blood (Miss Honey) discover the gifted nature of this unassuming little girl. Their attention brings O’Briant to the forefront. Blood sings a heartfelt “This Little Girl.” The meek Blood finds her strength in O’Briant’s buoyancy.
There is so much to love about this show including it’s kid-hating head mistress Miss Trunchbull played by the wickedly hilarious David Abeles. The story by Dahl mixes dark reality with magical possibilities. Matilda is mentally abused and neglected by her dimwitted, opportunistic parents. She is a modern day Cinderella or Snow White. Her evil nemesis is the principal. Instead of waiting for a prince to rescue her, Matilda liberates herself. The depth and breadth of the story is a motivational anthem for the masses. Everyone could learn a life-altering thing or two from MATILDA. The girl and the musical are truly extraordinary!
Running Time: Two hours and forty minutes includes an intermission
Oriental Theatre, 24 W. Randolph
Written by Roald Dahl
Book by Dennis Kelly
Music and lyrics by Tim Minchin
Musical direction by Matthew Smedal
Choreography by Peter Darling
Directed by Matthew Warchus
Tuesdays, Wednesdays, Thursdays, Fridays, Sundays at 7:30pm
Saturdays at 8pm
Wednesdays, Saturdays, Sundays at 2pm
Thru April 10
Buy Tickets at www.broadwayinchicago.com
*Three actors are playing Matilda at different shows: O’Briant, Sarah McKinley Austin and Savannah Grace Elmer.
For more information and reviews on Chicago theatre, visit Theater in Chicago.