Summer is here and so is one of Vancouver’s summer staples – Theatre Under The Stars with a brand new season of awe-inspiring musical theater. The Vancouver Arts Review attended the opening night production of Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical and were blown away by the talent on display. Adapted from Roald Dahl’s 1988 children’s classic, playwright Dennis Kelly developed the musical with original music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. The current production in Stanley Park is directed by Stephanie Graham and presented through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) and features an array of delightful local talent, both young and old.
The show runs for approximately three hours which includes a 15 minute intermission.
Here’s a quick refresher of the classic plot: The production narrates the story of Matilda Wormwood (Siggi Kaldestad) – a precocious young girl who loves books and story-telling. Unfortunately for her, real life is not as comforting as her fancy imaginations. Her parents (Victor Hunter and Madeleine Suddaby) are stiff-necked bullies who do everything in their power to discourage Matilda’s passion for learning. Matilda does not relent. Instead, she responds to her father’s unkindness with some delightfully naughty shenanigans. Eventually, Matilda starts school where she finds a kind and loving mentor, Miss. Honey (Paula Higgins) and an utterly terrifying headmistress named Miss. Agatha Trunchbull (Jyla Robinson). Can Matilda stand up against her bullies and help her friends and Miss Honey? How does she discover her secret power and her true voice? The show takes the audience on an absurdly comical journey that explores the emotional contours of child abuse, institutional power games and a wee bit of naughtiness by young souls who are driven to revolt against evil forces. Due to the sensitive nature of some topics depicted in the production, the show is not recommended for children under the age of 6.
Matilda the Musical is a whimsical riot. Well-choreographed song and dance sequences help unfold the narrative in a gripping fashion. The youngsters in the main cast and youth ensemble wow the audience with their confident delivery of lyrics and impeccable comic timing – they are the soul of the production. Kaldestad delivers an impressive performance in the titular role. Depictions of Miss Trunchbull’s tantrums and Mr. Wormwood’s harebrained schemes are cleverly punctured with portrayals of Matilda and her friends as witty, naughty and charming. The script counterbalances the potentially triggering, antagonistic outbursts of bullies with good-humoured mischief stemming from a sense of moral clarity. By framing the children (especially Matilda) as empowered beings, the story strays away from conventional depictions of children as helpless and innocent victims. Though he appears in a small role, Jaren Guerreiro’s portrayal of Rudolpho is sure to leave a delightful mark in the audience’s memory. Choreographer Krystal Kiran deserves a special mention for the sassy moves in the penultimate song ‘Revolting Children’. Lia Wolfe’s music direction does justice to Tim Minchin’s original score.
Located in the serene landscape of Stanley Park, Malkin Bowl is a historic venue for open-air shows. Set designer Brian Ball artfully utilizes the scenic grandeur by peppering the stage with larger than life book covers. There are references to classic titles such as “Tess of the D’Urbervilles”, “Crime and Punishment,” and “Catcher in the Rye”, including a cheeky meta-reference to Roald Dahl’s “Fantastic Mr. Fox”. These props have a life of their own as they move around, transfiguring into beds, imaginative landscapes and even full-fledged living rooms. The lighting team led by Robert Sondergaard and Amy Currie deftly pull-off immersive lightscapes that complement the acts. The sound design could do with some tweaking – at times, the volume of the orchestra overpowered the delivery of lyrics by members of the cast.
This production has arrived in Vancouver at a suitably poignant time. Contrary to popular imagination, it is no longer prudent to raise children to be docile rule followers. A hint of rebelliousness and emotional presence are essential ingredients to navigate a world rife with authoritarian tendencies. Matilda The Musical successfully captures the euphoria of teenage revolt that can be channeled into overturning the status quo for the greater good.
Theatre Under The Stars is open for shows everyday from July 6 to Aug 26, with the production of Matilda The Musical running on alternate days. Cozy up in warm layers and head to Malkin Bowl to celebrate Vancouver’s summer under the stars! Book your tickets here.
– Annapoorna Shruthi