Matilda the Musical - Cambridge Theatre - Review

Reading the stories of Roald Dahl is a rite of passage in childhood, and for most, these clever, adventurous and, at times, naughty, stories have a way of staying with you. The Twits could be lurking in a dark corner of your memory, the chocolate factory could linker and worm its way in like the rhymes of the Oompa Loompa's, and Matilda could spring to mind whenever you wander around a book shop. These characters are iconic and their stories have stood the test of time, and it is perhaps Matilda that has had the biggest impact especially when it comes to her story still being told on stage.

Now celebrating its 15th year at the Cambridge Theatre, Matilda the Musical takes the story that we know and love and ventures deeper, taking us on an adventure of this incredible little girl, her love of stories and her determination to make things right, even when the vast majority of adults around her can only do wrong.

Matilda (played at this performance by Emilia Shefford) is incredibly intelligent, having taught herself to read from a very young age as a way of escaping her abusive family. Her dad (Neil McDermott) calls her a nasty little worm, constantly shouting at her, and her mum (Tiffany Graves) calls her disgusting for reading books, saying that books are more important, and her telly loving brother Michael (Nick Len) acts as if she doesn't exist. Only librarian Mrs Phelps (Tania Mathurin) listens to her stories. When Matilda is sent to school, she discovers that there are adults in the world even worse than her parents when she meets Miss Trunchball (Antony Lawrence), Olympic hammer thrower turned headmistress who throws children, put them in spiky cupboards and believes they are nothing more than maggots. But with kind hearted teacher Miss Honey (Eve Norris) by her side, Matilda sets out to put things right and to rewrite her own story.

With a stage covered in letter blocks, desks, whiteboards, libraries and bedrooms that seamlessly slide on and off the stage and the most childhood dream like use of swings that you will ever see, walking into the auditorium feels like walking into the technicolour world of Roald Dahl where you see everything though the eyes of a child, and your imagination is instantly both captured and captivated.

The entire show rests on the shoulders of its title star, at this performance Emilia Shefford in the role of Matilda. Taking centre stage for the vast majority of the show, this young lady is a star now and I only see that star rising as she gets older. Shefford is as adorable as she is talented, with powerful vocals and so much heart and passion. She conveys a perfect balance of that hurt and scared child and that powerful hero, determined to make things better for her class mates and Miss Honey. Albie Lambert as Bruce, Eira Kay as Lavender, Mason Mingle as Nigel, Kanaho Kurihara as Amanda, Nathan Cooper as Eric, Jessica Rihanna Mocanu as Alice, Zoe Akinyosade as Hortensia and Felix Anderson as Tommy make up Matilda's school class and these children make it look incredibly easy to perform some of the most intricate, clever and, at times, fast paced, dance routines you will currently see on the West End. Every time I see this production, I am simply blown away by the young talent on display and walk away rest assured that the future of musical theatre is in safe hands.

Antony Lawrence played the role of Miss Trunchball at this performance, every part the villain that everyone just loves to hate. Towering over the children and dominating the stage, the audience are invited to both laugh and gasp at her atrocious behaviour, with every step she takes forwards in torturing her pupils inciting 'did she really just say that' type reactions. Lawrence's bold, brash, bullying Trunchball is the polar opposite to Norris' meek and mild Miss Honey, pushed around and constantly told that she is pathetic. But there is the kindest of hearts in this Miss Honey, and a drive to do right by Matilda, and it is altogether lovable.

Some of the biggest laughs go to Neil McDermott as Mr Wormwood. From his over the top reactions, his insistence of Matilda being a boy and his end of interval number 'Telly', his performance is laugh out loud and his partnership with Tiffany Graves as Mrs Wormwood is delightfully entertaining. The adult ensemble play a multitude of different roles from older school pupils, dance competition competitors, and parents to great effect. I have to shout out Callum Train who played the role of the escapologist at this performance with some incredibly impressive vocals.

Matilda the musical takes the classic good vs evil story and turns into a David and Goliath tale, little Matilda vs Miss Trunchball, a tiny child against the adults that tell children that they are not worthy. It is a reminder that we are the writers of our own story, and that we have the power to change things if its not right. With catchy songs, amazing choreography and characters that everyone could love, it is really no surprise that Matilda the Musical continues to thrill and delight both young and old, and I firmly believe that it will continue to do so for many more years to come.