Roald Dahl is a very special author for me. My sister introduced me to “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” when I was young, and – though it was still a children’s book – it was the first book I’d ever read that I would truly consider to be a novel. I had liked reading up until then, and was a Scholastic Book Service devotee (for those of you not of advanced years, Scholastic issued small catalogues of books to buy to one’s grammar school class. You ordered books and brought a check from your mom to pay for them, and after what seemed eleventy-billion years your books arrived). Dahl’s characters and narrative quickly turned me into a lifelong lover of reading.
For their final show of their 2022 – 2023 season, South Valley Civic Theatre is presenting “Roald Dahl’s Matilda” The Musical.” I must admit I was unfamiliar with this particular book as well as this musical stage version, which was originally produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company in 2010.
Producing a musical with a cast of a majority of child actors can sometimes be problematic. This production, however, does not suffer one bit. In fact, the chorus of terrific kids in SVCT’s “Matilda” are the real strength of this production. From the very first number, the chorus of kids offer high energy, strong focus, and vocal power. They are just fantastic performers, and should be proud of their work!
Heading up the cast in the performance I saw is Izabel Stevens as Matilda (she alternates with Lucy Sky Levi-Longini). Ms. Stevens sings beautifully and is well suited for the role. Evandra Aurelia gives a strong performance as Miss Jennifer Honey, Matilda’s teacher. She has a great voice and offers some lovely moments. As Matilda’s mother Zinnia, Colleen Havey is hilarious. The best number in the show has to “When I Grow Up,” staged with the kids chorus and Ms. Aurelia taking turns on four swings on the bare stage. It was wonderfully effective.
This is not to say the show doesn’t have issues—it does. Director Geoffrey Ward needed to do a bit more to keep the pace from dragging, especially in the second act. Scenic design by Kate Longini Pratt was inconsistent, and mainly consisted of individual pieces of furniture being brought on and taken off with every scene. This contributed heavily to the pacing issues. A lot of the time, the chorus stood in lines, facing forward and singing directly to the audience rather than relating to each other. Costumes by Kimberly Lynch worked well.
So there’s a mix of things that work in SVCT’s “Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical,” and some things that are challenging. If the kids in the show are any indication of the future of South Valley Civic Theatre, it promises to be bright!
“Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical” continues through July 15th at the Morgan Hill Community Playhouse. For more information, click here.
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Rating: ** (For an explanation of Theatrestorm’s rating scale, click here.)
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“Roald Dahl’s Matilda: The Musical.” Book by Dennis Kelly. Music & Lyrics by Tim Minchin. Produced by South Valley Civic Theatre. Director: Geoffrey Ward. Vocal Director: Bobbie Hosfeldt-Ward. Choreographer: Christine Carrillo. Music Director: Ron Bowman. Costumer: Kimberly Lynch. Wig Design: Mark Shiplet & Stan Sotello. Set and Scenic Designer: Kate Longini Pratt. Lighting Designer: Bennett Harnet & Clara Shem-Tov. Sound Designer/Technician: Dave Raimen..
Cast: Matilda Wormwood: Izabel Steven, Lucy Sky Levi-Longini. Miss Agatha Trunchbull: Tressa Bender. Miss Jennifer Honey: Evandra Aurelia. Mr. Harry Wormwood: Jason Eves. Mrs. Zinnia Wormwood: Colleen Havey. Michael Wormwood: Miriam Shem-Tov. Mrs. Phelps: Reggie Reynolds. Bruce Bogtrotter: Jase Puente. Lavender Glottlestop: Kaileya de la Serna. Amanda Thripp: Ava Meeham. Nigel: Miriam Shem-Tov. Eric: Ethan Hecht. Alice: Kelly Kobata. Hortensia: Ashlen Hsu. Tommy: Dara Hargreaves. Big Kids: Anelise Chaves, Coraline Christian, Chloe Grotz. Scary Kid: Ava Rabkin. Little Kids: Danielle Bergot, Tristan Duarte, Lucy Levy-longini, Ezabel Stevens, Annabella Zambataro. Parents: Katherine Ares, Riley Alison Brown, Jaime Chaves, Sam Machado, Lexie Mallette, Reggie Reynolds, Stacia Stuart, Giacomo Vaccaro. The Escapologist: Sam Machado. The Acrobat: Riley Alison Brown. Rudolfo: Sam Machado. Sergei: Jaime Chavez. Cook: Lexie Mallette. Doctor: Katherine Ares. Children’s Entertainer: Sam Machado. Henchmen: Lexie Mallette, Stacia Stuart, Giacomo Vaccaro. Nurses: Lexie Mallette & Stacie Stuart. Dancers: Riley Alison Brown, Katherine Ares, Lexie Mallette, Reggie Reynolds, Stacia Stuart. Dance Judges: Jaime Chavez, Anelise Chaves, Giacomo Vaccaro. Mechanic: Jaime Chavez, Lexie Mallette, Giacomo Vaccaro.
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