Matilda the Musical

Matilda
The Musical
200px 2011 West End illustration
Music	Tim Minchin
Lyrics	Tim Minchin
Book	Dennis Kelly
Basis	Matilda by Roald Dahl
Productions	2010 Stratford-upon-Avon 2011 West End 2013 Broadway 2015 US National Tour 2015 Australia
Awards	Critics' Circle Theatre Award for Best Musical Theatre Awards UK Best Musical Production 2011 Laurence Olivier Award for Best New Musical New York Drama Critics' Circle Best Musical Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Musical Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical

Matilda the Musical is a stage musical based on the children's novel of the same name by Roald Dahl. It was written by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. The musical's narrative centres on Matilda, a precocious 5-year-old girl with the gift of telekinesis who loves reading, overcomes obstacles caused by her family and school, and helps her teacher to reclaim her life. After a twelve-week trial run staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company (RSC) at Stratford-upon-Avon from November 2010 to January 2011, it received its West End premiere on 24 November 2011 at the Cambridge Theatre and its Broadway premiere on 11 April 2013 at the Shubert Theatre.

Matilda has received widespread critical acclaim and box-office popularity, winning seven 2012 Olivier Awards, including Best New Musical—the most such awards ever won by a single show at the time. As of the 2013 Olivier Awards, the show now jointly holds the record with the play The Curious Incident of the Dog in the Night-Time, although it still holds the record for most Olivier awards won by a musical. At the 2013 Tony Awards, the show won five awards, including the Tony Award for Best Book of a Musical.

The show is currently running in London's West End, on Broadway in New York, in Sydney, Australia, and touring the United States.

Productions

Stratford and London

In 2009, the RSC announced its intention to stage a musical adaptation of Matilda, engaging Dennis Kelly as playwright, Tim Minchin as the composer and lyricist, Matthew Warchus as director, Chris Nightingale as orchestrator and music supervision, Rob Howell as set designer and Paul Kieve as illusionist and special effects creator. The musical opened at the Courtyard Theatre in Stratford-upon-Avon, England, on 9 December 2010 following previews from 9 November. The show is choreographed by Peter Darling. Bertie Carvel headlined as Miss Trunchbull, with Paul Kaye and Josie Walker as Matilda's parents Mr and Mrs Wormwood, and Lauren Ward as Miss Honey. Three young actresses, Adrianna Bertola, Josie Griffiths and Kerry Ingram, alternated in the title role. The show ended its premiere engagement on 30 January 2011.

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Since 2011, Matilda the Musical is playing in the Cambridge Theatre in West End, London

In 2011, the musical received its West End debut at London's Cambridge Theatre. The show was originally scheduled to begin previews on 18 October 2011, but because of structural and installation work at the theatre, the start of the performances was delayed until 25 October. The opening night was postponed from 22 November to 24 November. The musical opened in London to uniformly positive reviews; Kaye and Carvel received high praise for their performances. Many of the principal adult cast from the Stratford run reprised their roles in London. Eleanor Worthington Cox, Cleo Demetriou, Sophia Kiely and Kerry Ingram—the only one to reprise her role from Stratford—rotated in the title role.

In October 2011, Matilda won Best Musical and Best Actor (Bertie Carvel) in the Theatre Awards UK, and in November 2011 it won the Ned Sherrin Award for Best Musical as part of The Evening Standard Awards. The production was nominated in all 10 categories for which it was eligible at the 2012 Olivier Awards. The 'Four Matildas' performed "Naughty" at the awards show. Matilda won 7 Oliviers: Best New Musical, Best Director (Warchus), Best Actor in a Musical (Carvel), Best Actress in a Musical (all four Matildas), Best Theatre Choreographer (Darling), Best Set Design (Howell) and Best Sound Design (Baker). This was a record number for any show in the event's 36th year history.

In April 2012, Steve Furst and Haley Flaherty took over the roles of Mr. Wormwood and Miss Honey from Kaye and Ward. Two of the original London Matildas (Ingram and Kiely) were replaced by Jade Marner and Isobelle Molloy (Molloy originally played Amanda in the original London cast before being cast as Matilda). Bertie Carvel left in July 2012 and the role of Miss Trunchbull was filled by David Leonard, although he did not start until the main cast change in August because of injury. At this cast change four new girls took over as Matilda; Lucy-Mae Beacock, Hayley Canham, Chloe Hawthorn and Lara Wollington.

On 19 November 2012, the London cast were invited to perform at the 100th "Royal Variety Performance" for television station ITV which was broadcast live on 3 December. They performed "When I Grow Up" and "Naughty" with Chloe in the lead role, with the other 3 girls appearing in the announcement of the performance.

In March 2013, Hayley Canham left the show and was replaced as Matilda by Elise Blake and Cristina Fray. Lucy-Mae Beacock left in early May 2013. The next cast change occurred in September 2013. This time most of the adult cast changed, along with Chloe Hawthorn who left on 1 September. 2 new Matildas—Lollie McKenzie and Georgia Pemberton—started the following week. Lara Wollington stayed for another four weeks, finishing on 29 September—making her run the longest of any Matilda to date.

The cast opened the 2013 Children in Need appeal. They performed a medley, with Georgia as Matilda.

Of the Matildas only Lollie McKenzie stayed during the cast change in March 2014. This cast change started with the departure of Elise Blake on 9 March along with other child cast members. She was replaced by Tasha Chapple. Fray and Pemberton were replaced by two new Matildas, Cara Jenkins and Lottie Sicilia, who debuted in the role in the following weeks, on 18 March and 25 March respectively.

McKenzie and Jenkins departed the show in 7 September and 5 October. Two new Matildas—Matilda Shapland and Violet Tucker—debuted in the roles on 09 and 19 September. Shapland was previously in Les Misérables, while Tucker had her West End debut in the title role. Of the Matildas only Matilda Shapland and Violet Tucker both stayed during the cast change in March 2015. This cast change started with the departure of Tasha Chapple and Lottie Sicilia along with other child cast members. They have been replaced by Anna-Louise Knight and Lara McDonnell. Most recently, Matilda Shapland and Violet Tucker will leave, and will be replaced by Evie Hone and Lizzie Wells in the most recent cast change which will happen on September 15, 2015.

Broadway

On 29 February 2012, the RSC announced the show would transfer to Broadway in Spring 2013; it would still be set in England despite initial pressure for the show to be Americanised. On 19 July 2012, it was announced that the show would open on 11 April 2013 at the Shubert Theatre, with previews commencing on 4 March 2013. Bertie Carvel and Lauren Ward reprised their roles as Miss Trunchbull and Miss Honey. Ted Wilson also continued as Eric. On 15 November 2012, the Associated Press announced that 9-year-old Sophia Gennusa, and 10-year-olds Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon and Milly Shapiro—making their Broadway debuts—would alternately play Matilda.

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Matilda the Musical marquee at the Shubert Theatre

The transfer cost US$16 million to produce; it opened as planned on 11 April 2013, with Sophia Gennusa playing the leading role. Small changes were made from the London production; some lyrics were changed to suit American audiences and more scenes used the stalls/orchestra seating area of the theatre. The Broadway production also introduced an overture and pre-show curtain, as of June 2013, because of complaints that the show started late because of the pre show set up.

On 1 September 2013, Carvel and Ward played their final performances, Jill Paice joined the cast as Miss Honey and played her first performance on 3 September. Craig Bierko took over as Miss Trunchbull on 17 September, after recovering from an injury. In October 2013, Matilda broke the box office record for the Shubert Theatre. On 19 November, it was announced that Bierko will not return to the role of Miss Trunchbull due to "medical circumstances", following a shoulder injury sustained during rehearsals. Chris Hoch, understudy for Miss Trunchbull, has been given a contract to perform the role for the duration of Bierko's absence into January.

On 25 November, The Wall Street Journal reported that the original Matildas would be bowing out "in the next two months". On 11 December, it was announced that Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo and Ava Ulloa would take over the title role from exiting actresses Gennusa, Laurence, Ryon and Shapiro. Brady, Pizzolo and Ulloa will be making their Broadway debuts; Sobo previously appeared in Once. They would begin performances "over the course of the next few weeks". Laurence and Gennusa had their final performances on 14 and 21 December while Ryon and Shapiro had their final performances on 11 and 18 January. Brady and Pizzolo made their debut performances in the title role on 19 and 22 December while Sobo and Ulloa made their debut performances in the role on 12 and 18 January.

On 31 January, it was reported that Christopher Sieber and Matt Harrington would be joining the company as Miss Trunchbull and Mr Wormwood, respectively. Harrington made his debut on 4 March. Sieber would initially join the company on 18 March, but after sustaining a hand injury during rehearsals, would have his debut in the role sometime in April. While Sieber recovered from his injury, understudy Ben Thompson played the role for a limited engagement. Sieber finally stepped into the role on 18 April.

On 21 August, it was reported that Tori Feinstein, Eliza Holland Madore, Brooklyn Shuck and Fina Strazza will be take over the title role from Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo and Ava Ulloa. Feinstein and Strazza will be making their Broadway debuts; Madore and Shuck previously appeared in Once and Annie, respectively. Brady and Sobo had their final performances on 23 and 30 August while Ulloa and Pizzolo had their final performances on 06 and 13 September. Strazza and Shuck debuted in the role on 24 and 31 August while Madore and Feinstein had their debuts on 07 and 14 September. The Broadway production recouped its $16 million investment on December after more than a year and a half.

Between 07 and 21 July, the production welcomed four new girls: Mattea Conforti, Rileigh McDonald, Mimi Ryder, and Alexandra Vlachos, who replaced Feinstein, Madore, Shuck and Strazza in the title role. On 8 September, Allison Case, Amy Spanger, Rick Holmes, and Natalie Venetia Belcon joined the production as Miss Honey, Mrs. Wormwood, Mr. Wormwood, and Mrs. Phelps, taking over Alison Luff, Lesli Margherita, Matt Harrington, and Karen Aldridge.

US National Tour

On 1 June 2013, Tim Minchin announced during an interview that the show was preparing for a US national tour. Minchin said, "We just got it up in New York, there’s a touring version that is meant to be going on in America...". Once again produced by the Royal Shakespeare Company and The Dodgers, the tour will begin technical rehearsals and performances in May 2015 at the Shubert Theatre in New Haven, Connecticut, before its official launch on June 7 at the Ahmanson Theatre in Los Angeles, California. Announced stops include the SHN Orpheum Theare in San Francisco, California, the 5th Avenue Theatre in Seattle, Washington, the AT&T Performing Arts Center in Dallas, Texas, the Kennedy Center Opera House in Washington, DC, and the Straz Center for the Performing Arts in Tampa, Florida. On 21 April, the casting for the First National Tour was announced, with Gabby Gutierrez, Mia Sinclair Jenness, and Mabel Tyler in the title role. the principal adult cast includes Jennifer Blood as Miss Honey, Quinn Mattfield as Mr. Wormwood, Bryce Ryness as Miss Trunchbull, and Cassie Silva as Mrs. Wormwood.

Australia

In July 2013, Minchin said that an Australian production is planned for 2015. On 26 February 2014, it was announced that the show will open at the Sydney Lyric Theatre on July 28, 2015, with performances through 31 January Louise Withers is set to produce the show. Ticket selling began on October 2014, the announcement of which was held in Pier 2/3 in Walsh Bay, with Minchin, International Executive Producer André Ptaszynski and NSW Deputy Premier Andrew Stoner and Sydney press in attendance.

In March 2015, the principal adult cast was announced, with Marika Aubrey and Daniel Frederiksen as Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, Elise McCann as Miss Honey and James Millar as Miss Trunchbull. A month later, it was announced that nine-year-old Molly Barwick, eleven-year-old Sasha Rose, ten-year-old Georgia Taplin and eleven-year-old Bella Thomas–all making their professional debuts–will be playing the title role. A second announcement was made to present the remaining adult company and the children's company.

On 11 October, it was announced that the production will open at the Princess Theatre in Melbourne on 13 March 2016, six weeks after the end of the Sydney season.

Plot

Act I

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Bertie Carvel performing "The Hammer"

As a chorus of children boast about being their parents' "miracles", the ballroom dancing obsessed Mrs Wormwood visits the hospital, oblivious to the fact that she is nine months pregnant. She then gives birth to a baby girl named Matilda. The doctor thinks Matilda is the most beautiful child he has ever seen but Mrs Wormwood is only worried about a dancing contest she has missed; Mr Wormwood, a used-car salesman and television addict, hoping for a boy, dismisses the child as ugly and is unable and unwilling to accept her as a girl, ("Miracle").

Five years later, Matilda Wormwood, an avid reader, lives unhappily with her parents and her older brother, Michael. The Wormwoods are oblivious to her ability and frequently mock her and verbally abuse her. Mr Wormwood is attempting to sell 150 used cars to a Russian businessman, and when he boasts of how he is planning to lie to them in order to sell the dilapidated cars, Matilda complains that this is not right. Matilda goes to her room and begins to read a few of her many books. Inspired by the stories in her books she decides to get even by adding some of her mother's hydrogen peroxide to her father's hair oil, leaving Mr Wormwood with bright green hair ("Naughty").

At the local library Matilda catches a glimpse of Miss Honey; Matilda tells the librarian, Mrs Phelps, a story about a world-famous acrobat and escapologist couple who long to have a child but cannot. To distract themselves from their sadness, they announce to the world's press that they will perform an exciting and dangerous new act. When Mrs Phelps asks what happens, Matilda doesn't know, but says she will return to tell her more.

The next day is Matilda's first day at school. The older children tell the kids that school isn't fun and is more like a prison, ("School Song"). The kids meet their teacher, Miss Honey, and she soon becomes impressed by Matilda's precociousness and abilities. Miss Honey decides to recommend to the headmistress that Matilda be moved to the top class with the older children. Miss Honey becomes frightened as she stands outside the Principal's Office, ("Pathetic"). When she enters, Miss Trunchbull, a child-hating, disciplinarian headmistress and an Olympic hammer throwing champion, dismisses Miss Honey's suggestion and lectures her on the importance of following rules ("The Hammer").

At the Wormwood's house, Mr Wormwood is frustrated about losing a sale of worn-out cars to a group of rich Russians. He takes his frustration out on Matilda and destroys one of her library books ("Naughty (Reprise)"), prompting her to put superglue around the rim of his hat.

At school, Matilda befriends a fellow student named Lavender and later learns of Miss Trunchbull's cruel punishments, including the Chokey, a tiny cupboard lined with sharp objects in which she locks disobedient children for hours ("The Chokey Chant"). After being accused of pouring treacle on Miss Trunchbull's chair, Nigel warns the other kids that she is after him. Matilda, seeing that this is not fair, decides to help Nigel. When they hear Miss Trunchbull coming, Matilda tells the children to throw their blazers on Nigel. When Miss Trunchbull asks Matilda about Nigel's whereabouts. Matilda 'explains' that Nigel has Narcolepsy and has fallen asleep, which is why the children's coats are on him, and that he has been there for over an hour so he couldn't have put treacle on her chair. Believing the story, Miss Trunchbull takes her anger out on another student, Amanda, by spinning the small girl around by her pigtails and hammer throwing her across the playing field.

Meanwhile, Miss Honey decides to visit the Wormwoods family to express her recommendation that Matilda be put in an advanced class. She meets Mrs Wormwood and her dance partner Rudolpho. It soon becomes apparent that Mrs Wormwood does not care for her daughter's intelligence and she mocks Miss Honey's and Matilda's interest in books and intellect ("Loud"). Alone outside the Wormwood's house, Miss Honey is desperate to help Matilda but feels powerless to do so ("This Little Girl").

Matilda returns to the library and tells Mrs Phelps more about the acrobat and the escapologist. The acrobat's sister, a former world champion hammer-thrower who loved to scare small children, has arranged their performance. The escapologist announces that the performance has been cancelled because the acrobat is pregnant with a daughter. The crowd is thrilled but the acrobat's sister is furious at the prospect of refunding the crowd's money. She produces a contract binding them to perform the act or go to prison. Not knowing what happens next, Matilda tells Mrs Phelps that she will return later to tell her more of the story.

At school, Bruce Bogtrotter, a boy in Matilda's class, has stolen a slice of Miss Trunchbull's personal chocolate cake. Miss Trunchbull punishes Bruce by forcing him to eat the whole cake in front of the class. The entire class and Miss Honey bravely support him, ("Bruce"). After Bruce has finished the cake, the class celebrates his success but Miss Trunchbull drags Bruce away to the Chokey, ending Act 1 with Matilda stating "But that's not right!"

Act II

Act 2 begins with Mr. Wormwood advising the audience against reading in favour of watching television, ("Telly"). Afterwards, Lavender proceeds to tell the audience of her plan to put a newt in Miss Trunchbull's jug of water later in the show. At a playground, the children sing about what they hope life would be like when they grow up, ("When I Grow Up").

Matilda is back at the library and tells Mrs. Phelps more of the story of the acrobat and the escapologist. Bound by their contract, they perform their trick, which goes well until the acrobat is fatally injured, living just long enough to give birth to their child. The escapologist invites the acrobat's sister to move in with him to help look after his daughter. Unbeknown to the escapologist, the girl's aunt is secretly cruel to her, forcing her to perform menial tasks and abusing her verbally and physically. Matilda, still not knowing how it ends, promises to return and finish the story.

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London cast performing "When I Grow Up"

Mr. Wormwood returns home from work pleased with his success in selling his worn-out cars to the wealthy Russians, having used an automatic drill to wind back their speedometers (sic). Matilda is annoyed at her father's deceit and scolds him which angers and causes him to lock her in her bedroom. That night, Matilda continues the story of the acrobat and the escapologist. After years of cruelty, the aunt's rage has grown; one day, she beats the daughter, locks her in the cellar and leaves. That evening, the escapologist returned home early and discovers the extent of the aunt's abuse. As he comforts his daughter, he promises her that he will always be there for her, ("I'm Here"). When his daughter goes to sleep, the escapologist, filled with rage, runs out to find the aunt, but is never seen again.

The next day, Miss Trunchbull forces Miss Honey's class to undergo a gruelling physical education lesson in an attempt to find anyone planning on rebelling against her, ("The Smell of Rebellion"). Miss Trunchbull then discovers the newt Lavender put in her jug; she accuses one of the boys, Eric, who has already riled her during the lesson, and starts to punish him. Matilda, not standing for this, scolds Miss Trunchbull. Outraged, Miss Trunchbull begins to verbally abuse Matilda. As she does so, Matilda becomes very angry, explaining to the audience what she has been feeling the entire time, ("Quiet"). Matilda soon discovers she can move objects with her mind and successfully tips over the water jug causing the newt to land on Miss Trunchbull. Terrified by the newt, Miss Trunchbull leaves. Miss Honey advises the children that they go home before Miss Trunchbull returns. After they leave, Matilda demonstrates her powers to Miss Honey, who is surprised and invites Matilda to her house for tea.

At her house, Miss Honey tells Matilda of her childhood and the cruel and abusive aunt who had looked after her as a child after her parents had died. Desperate to escape, Miss Honey found refuge in an old farm shed which she moved into and lives in abject poverty. Despite this, Miss Honey finds beauty in her shabby living conditions, ("My House"). As Miss Honey tells her story, she produces a scarf which Matilda recognises from her story of the acrobat and the escapologist. She realises that the story she thought she had made up was actually the true story of Miss Honey's childhood. She realises that the escapologist was Miss Honey's father, Magnus, and that her wicked aunt was Miss Trunchbull. She deduces that when Magnus went after Trunchbull, she killed him, out of fear of what he would do to her.

Back at school, Miss Trunchbull forces the children to take a spelling test, threatening that anyone who misspells a word will be sent to The Chokey. The children begin to spell every word correct, so Miss Trunchbull invents a made up word in order to punish Lavender. When she gets the word wrong, and as Miss Trunchbull is taking Lavender to The Chokey, her classmates deliberately misspell simple words, telling Miss Trunchbull she cannot send them all to The Chokey. Unswayed, Miss Trunchbull reveals that she had built many more Chokeys. As she scolds the children, Matilda uses her powers to write on the blackboard and convinces Miss Trunchbull that it is the ghost of Magnus, demanding that she give his daughter back her house or that he will get her like she got him. Miss Trunchbull, being very superstitious, runs from the school, never to return or be heard from again, as the children celebrate their freedom, ("Revolting Children").

At the library, Miss Honey and Mrs. Phelps relay the aftermath of the events. A few days after Miss Trunchbull ran away, the will of Miss Honey's parents had been found; they left all their money and their house to her. In addition to her teaching duties, Miss Honey becomes the new headmistress of the school, making it a better place for the children to learn. We also learn that Matilda is unable to use her powers again because she has no reason to. Yet, Miss Honey is sad that a child who has helped others is still stuck in an unloving home.

The Wormwoods arrive at the library in a panic, telling Matilda that she must leave with them because they are fleeing to Spain after the Russians had discovered that they had been sold broken cars and are after her father. Matilda does not want to leave and Miss Honey offers her father that Matilda stay with her, but the Mafia arrive before a decision can be made. Sergei, the head of the Mafia, is impressed and moved by Matilda's intellect and respect when she speaks to him in Russian, ("This Little Girl (Reprise)"), and at the request of Matilda, he agrees not to harm the Wormwoods providing he never has to deal with her father again. Mr. Wormwood agrees to let Matilda live with Miss Honey, Matilda thanks him and they shake hands. The Wormwoods leave, along with Rudolpho.

Matilda and Miss Honey hug and take no notice of the Wormwoods leaving, "because they had found each other", and cartwheel off to the silhouette of Miss Honey's new house. The musical ends with the cast on scooters, as they continue to imagine what it will be like when they grow up ("When I Grow Up (Reprise)").

Musical numbers

Act I

• "Overture" – Orchestra
• "Miracle" – Children, Entertainer, Doctor, Mrs. Wormwood, Mr. Wormwood, Matilda, Company
• "Naughty" – Matilda
• "Story 1: Once Upon A Time" – Matilda, Mrs. Phelps, Acrobat, Escapologist
• "School Song" – Children, Older Children
• "Pathetic" – Miss Honey
• "The Hammer" – Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey, Children
• "Naughty" (reprise) – Matilda
• "The Chokey Chant" – Older Children
• "Loud" – Mrs. Wormwood, Rudolpho, Company
• "This Little Girl" – Miss Honey
• "Story 2: The Great Day Arrived..." – Matilda, Mrs. Phelps, Escapologist, Acrobat's Sister
• "Bruce" – Children

Act II

• "Telly" – Mr. Wormwood, Michael
• "Entr'acte" – Orchestra
• "When I Grow Up" – Children, Miss Honey, Matilda, Company
• "Story 3: The Trick Started Well..." – Matilda, Mrs. Phelps, Acrobat, Escapologist
• "Story 4: I'm Here" – Matilda, Escapologist
• "The Smell of Rebellion" – Miss Trunchbull, Children
• "Quiet" – Matilda
• "My House" – Miss Honey, Escapologist
• "Revolting Children" – Children, Older Children
• "This Little Girl" (reprise)# – Sergei
• "When I Grow Up" (reprise) – All

#Not present on any of the cast recordings

The instrumentation uses a ten-to-thirteen-piece orchestra, including keyboards, reeds, brass, strings and percussion. The performances run 2 hours and 40 minutes, including one interval. The "Overture" is included in the Broadway production only while the "Entr'acte" was only used in the London production where it has now been cut apart from the final bars which lead into "When I Grow Up".

Orchestration

A comparison between the Stratford, West End and Broadway orchestrations

Stratford	West End	Broadway
Reed 1 : Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Reed 2 : Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet	Reed 1 : Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Reed 2 : Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet	Reed 1 : Flute, Alto Saxophone, Clarinet Reed 2 : Tenor Saxophone, Clarinet, Bass Clarinet
Trumpet 1 (doubling Flugelhorn) Trumpet 2 (doubling Cornet, Flugelhorn) Trombone (doubling Bass Trombone)	Trumpet 1 (doubling Flugelhorn, Piccolo Trumpet) Trumpet 2 (doubling Cornet, Piccolo Trumpet) Trombone (doubling Bass Trombone)	Trumpet 1 Trumpet 2 Trombone (doubling Bass Trombone)
Percussion	Drum Kit/Percussion	Drum Kit/Percussion
Guitars Cello Bass Guitar/Double Bass	Guitars Cello Upright Bass/Electric Bass	Guitars Violin I Violin II Viola (doubling Violin III) Cello Bass
2 Keyboards	2 Keyboards	2 Keyboards

Recordings

The cast album recorded by the original Stratford company was released on CD in September 2011 and a month later as a Digital Download. It features a hidden spoken track which follows "When I Grow Up" (Reprise). This is the full version speech that is heard in part, before, during and after Quiet in the show A new Original Broadway cast album was released on 22 September 2013 as a CD. This contains more tracks than the UK recording and includes "The Chokey Chant". The deluxe version features Matilda's stories of the Acrobat and the Escapologist, the song "Perhaps a Child" sung by Sergei, which was cut from the show early on in the Stratford previews due to time constraints, and "Naughty" with all four Broadway Matildas singing.

Principal roles and original cast members

Character	Original Stratford Cast	Original West End Cast	Original Broadway Cast	Original Australian Cast	US National Tour Cast
Matilda Wormwood	Adrianna Bertola Josie Griffiths Kerry Ingram	Cleo Demetriou Eleanor Worthington Cox Sophia Kiely Kerry Ingram	Sophia Gennusa Oona Laurence Bailey Ryon Milly Shapiro	Molly Barwick Sasha Rose Georgia Taplin Bella Thomas	Gabby Gutierrez Mia Sinclair Jenness Mabel Tyler
Miss Agatha Trunchbull	Bertie Carvel			James Millar	Bryce Ryness
Miss Jennifer Honey	Lauren Ward			Elise McCann	Jennifer Blood
Mr. Wormwood	Paul Kaye		Gabriel Ebert	Daniel Frederiksen	Quinn Mattfeld
Mrs. Wormwood	Josie Walker		Lesli Margherita	Marika Aubrey	Cassie Silva
Michael Wormwood	Peter Howe		Taylor Trensch	Daniel Raso	Danny Tieger
Mrs. Phelps	Melanie La Barrie		Karen Aldridge	Cle Morgan	Ora Jones
Cook	Verity Bentham		Betsy Struxness	Rachel Cole	Stephanie Martignetti
The Escapologist	Matthew Malthouse		Ben Thompson	Glenn Hill	Justin Packard
Sergei	Alistair Parker		John Sanders	Stephen Anderson	Ian Michael Stuart
Henchmen	Marc Antolin Nick Searle		Thayne Jasperson Ryan Steele	Andrew Cook Eli Cooper	John Michael Fiumara Darius Wright
Henchwoman	did not appear	Lucy Thatcher	Tamika Sonja Lawrence	Nadia Komazec	Shonica Gooden
The Acrobat	Emily Shaw		Samantha Sturm	Cristina D'Agostino	Wesley Fauncher
Teacher	Michael Rouse	Tim Walton	does not appear
Doctor	Michael Rouse	Tim Walton	John Arthur Greene	Reece Budin	Ian Michael Stuart
Party Entertainer	does not appear		John Sanders	Stephen Anderson	Jaquez André Sims
Rudolpho	Michael Rouse	Gary Watson	Phillip Spaeth	Travis Khan	Jaquez André Sims
Bruce Bogtrotter	Kuan Frye Jake Bailey James Beesley	Jake Bailey James Beesley Zachary Harris	Jack Broderick	Anthony Abrakmanov Joshua Park Ethan Puse Jack Reason	Evan Gray Luke Kolbe Mannikus Meliki Hurd
Lavender	Ruby Bridle Rebecca Stoll Misty May Tindall	Ruby Bridle Jemima Eaton Ellie Simons	Frenie Acoba	Zoe Ingram Ruby Lahoud Shanice Lim	Kaci Walfall Cassidy Hagel Serena Quadrato
Amanda Thripp	Katie Lee Jadie-Rose Hobson Lara Weaver	Lily Laight Isobelle Molloy Lucy May Pollard	Beatrice Tulchin	Amber May Paris Naumovski Mei Yamada	Kayla Amistad Cassidy Hagel Serena Quadrato
Nigel	Arthur Byrne Adam Scotland Jake Pratt	William Keeler Alfie Manser Jaydon Vijn	Jared Parker	Ewan Herdman Jacob Licastro Regan Walker	Cal Alexander Meliki Hurd Luke Kolbe Mannikus
Eric	Shivum Gupta Jack Christou Toby Murray	Toby Murray Louis Suc Ted Wilson	Ted Wilson	Kyle Banfield Joey Gadin Callum Rogers	Aristotle Rock Luke Kolbe Mannikus Serena Quadrato
Alice	Jessica Daugirda Ellie Simons Annabel Parsons	Alicia Gould Jemima Morgan Annabel Parsons	Ava DeMary	Abigail Adriano Ayanda Dladla Erika Palma	Cassidy Hagel Brittany Conigatti Camden Gonzales Serena Quadrato
Hortensia	Jessica Adair Daisy Brophy Shyanne Sanders	Oonagh Cox Fleur Houdijk Katie Lee	Emma Howard	Maya Arya Eliza Carolan Alyssa Goodall	Megan McGuff Camden Gonzales Brittany Conigatti
Tommy	Charlie Callaghan Callum Henderson Denzil Sampson	Thomas Atkinson Jamie Kaye Callum Henderson	Judah Bellamy	Cody Ettingshausen Leyton Holmes Zyon Rangi	Meliki Hurd Brittany Conigatti Luke Kolbe Mannikus Camden Gonzales
Reginald	Elliot Allinson Thomas McGarrity Robert Madge	does not appear

1. ^ Role originally 'The Escapologist' in Broadway run but was later changed to 'The Escape Artist'.

Notable West End replacements

• Matilda – Isobelle Molloy, Jade Marner, Hayley Canham, Lucy-Mae Beacock, Chloe Hawthorn, Lara Wollington Elise Blake, Cristina Fray, Georgia Pemberton, Lollie McKenzie Lottie Sicilia, Cara Jenkins, Tasha Chapple, Matilda Shapland, Violet Tucker, Anna-Louise Knight, Lara McDonnell, Evie Hone, Lizzie Wells
• Miss Trunchbull – David Leonard, Alex Gaumond, Craige Els
• Miss Honey – Haley Flaherty, Lara Denning (temporary), Miria Parvin
• Mrs Phelps – Lisa Davina Phillip, Sharlene Whyte
• Mr Wormwood – Steve Furst, James Clyde, Michael Begley
• Mrs Wormwood – Annette McLaughlin, Kay Murphy, Rebecca Thornhill
• Michael Wormwood – Nick Searle, Joshua Wyatt, Olly Dobson
• Hortensia –Ella Wortley
• Children's Entertainer/Sergei – Charles Brunton, Antonio Magro, Will Kenning, Oliver Brooks
• Rudolpho – Marc Antolin, Joshua Lay, Jason Winter, John Brannoch
• Escapologist – Mark Goldthorp, Antony Lawrence, Elliot Harper
• Acrobat – Maria Lawson, Lara Denning, Charlotte Scott
• Doctor – Mark Goldthorp, Tommy Sherlock, Will Hawksworth

Notable Broadway replacements

• Matilda - Paige Brady, Gabriella Pizzolo, Ripley Sobo, Ava Ulloa, Tori Feinstein, Eliza Holland Madore, Brooklyn Shuck, Fina Strazza Mattea Conforti, Mimi Ryder, Rileigh McDonald, Alexandra Vlachos
• Miss Trunchbull – Craig Bierko, Chris Hoch, Ben Thompson, Christopher Sieber
• Miss Honey – Jill Paice, Alison Luff, Allison Case
• Mrs Phelps – Natalie Venetia Belcon
• Mr Wormwood – Matt Harrington, Rick Holmes
• Mrs Wormwood – Amy Spanger
• Michael Wormwood – Alex Brightman, Clay Thomson
• Rudolpho – Ryan Steele (temporary)
• Escape Artist – Geoff Packard, Michael Minarik
• Acrobat – Jennifer Bowles

Original Broadway Swings

Yurel Echezarreta, Nadine Isenegger, Colin Israel, Celia Mei Rubin, Heather Tepe, Clay Thomson

Original Australian Swings

Danielle Cook (Dance Captain), Leah Lim, Zoë Komazec (Assistant Dance Captain), Mitchell Mahony, Clay Roberts

Film adaptation

In June 2013, Tim Minchin said a future film adaption was being planned. Minchin said during an interview, "We just got [the show] up in New York, there's a touring version that is meant to be going on in America, concurrently the English version is up, there's a film that will probably be made in the next 4 or 5 years and all this sort of stuff." Mara Wilson, who played Matilda in the original 1996 film adaptation of Dahl's novel, has expressed an interest in having a cameo in a film version if asked. On 15 November 2013, in an article in the Daily Mail it was revealed that Dennis Kelly, who won the Tony for Best Book for Matilda, will write the movie's script, with Minchin penning any additional music required and Warchus, returning to direct. The movie will be released in 2019 at the earliest, due to a Broadway contract stipulating that any film version cannot be released before six years have expired following the show's opening there. Despite this, the filming might begin in late 2016, prompting a much earlier release date than originally planned.

Critical reception

2010 RSC Stratford production

Michael Billington, writing for The Guardian, gave the musical four stars out of five. He praised the adaptation of the book, the "ebullient music and lyrics", the direction, the stage design and the performances—especially Bertie Carvel as Miss Trunchbull. The Independent also gave the show four out of five stars and said, "The Royal Shakespeare Company has struck gold with this wildly entertaining musical … Kelly's clever adaptation and the witty, intricate songs by ... Minchin create a new, improved version of Dahl's story ... Warchus's wondrously well-drilled production finds just the right balance between gleeful grotesque humour and heart-warming poignancy."

Charles Spencer, writing for The Daily Telegraph awarded the show all five stars and praised the "splendidly witty, instantly hummable songs, dazzling choreography, a cast of impossibly cute and delightful children and a fantastic star turn from Bertie Carvel ... [Kelly's] script has both deepened the emotion of Dahl's story while adding loads of splendid jokes of his own", and concluded, "It is funny, heart-warming, and bang-on target". Matt Wolf of The Arts Desk said: "I was struck by the sight of many a child grinning as openly as their adult companions were wiping away tears". Henry Hitchings of the London Evening Standard also praised the performances, direction and design and commented on Minchin's "witty songs [in which] he switches between styles with remarkable dexterity". He continued, "There's a playfulness throughout [the book] that proves intoxicating ... In this lovingly created show, Matilda's magic positively sparkles. There's a cleverness in the writing which ensures that, while it appeals to children, there is plenty for adults to savour ... it's blissfully funny."

London

The reviews of the London performances were also very positive. Julie Carpenter of the Daily Express awarded the show all five stars and called the musical "[g]loriously over the top", and said, "it's an irresistible and ingenious mix of fun, fizz, cruelty, incredible choreography and above all warmth which means we root for the kids from the start. Fantastic." Henry Hitchings' review in the Evening Standard ranked the piece five stars, praising the music and lyrics, book, set design, choreography, direction and performances. The review in The Guardian said, "You'd be a nitwit to miss this hit show." The only complaint in Quentin Letts' five-star review in the Daily Mail was about "overdone amplification". The Stage also gave Matilda five stars, as did Spencer, writing again for The Telegraph. Confirming his impression of the 2010 production, he wrote about the West End transfer:

I suspect it will delight audiences for years to come ... [Kelly's] script actually improves and deepens Dahl's original ... [Minchin's] smashing score ... combines take-home melodies with delicious lyrical wit in songs that consistently develop both the plot and our understanding of the characters. There is an exuberant sense here of two writers who have clicked together ... [Matilda] so wittily excoriates the cruelty and crassness of our age ... Warchus’s thrilling, warm-hearted production, exuberantly designed by Rob Howell and with pin-sharp choreography by Peter Darling, constantly combines comedy with a sense of wonder. The children [and the adult performances are 'hilarious' (Bailey), 'memorable' (Walker and Kaye) and 'touchingly sweet' (Ward)] ... But the star turn is Bertie Carvel".

The Financial Times, The Times and The Sunday Times each awarded the show four stars out of five, but found little to criticise. Ben Brantley, writing for The New York Times, called the adaptation "a sweet and sharp-witted work of translation, which ... turns dark and sodden anxieties into bright and buoyant fantasies [that address] a raging thirst these days for [such] tonics". A year after the show opened, Time Out gave the production four stars out of five, noting the departure of Carvel and calling the show "a little too long and, dramatically, a tad wayward", but nevertheless "wise, wicked, glorious fun."

New York

Most of the New York critics gave the Broadway transfer their highest marks. Brantley wrote: "Matilda works with astonishing slyness and grace to inculcate us with its radical point of view. [It] is about words and language, books and stories, and their incalculable worth as weapons of defense, attack and survival ... Above all it’s an exhilarating tale of empowerment". He also said the child actors "strengthen their diction" so that the "tasty lyrics" could be clearly heard. Richard Zoglin, in Time magazine said that the show is "a fresh start for the Broadway musical" with "a score that seems all but woven into the scenery—simple but distinctive tunes ... intricate lyrics ... Every element of the show seems hand-crafted and right". He said that director Warchus "lets the characters go gloriously over the top (the way children see them), but also brings a hushed intensity". He also said that the second act "runs a bit too long" and that "the combination of shrill child voices, British accents and heavy miking causes many of the lyrics to get muddled". Elisabeth Vincentelli's review in the New York Post said, "Once in a blue moon, a show comes out blazing and restores your faith in Broadway. Matilda The Musical is that show." David Rooney of the Hollywood Reporter said the stage show captured "the unique flavor of Roald Dahl’s classic 1988 children’s novel", and added,"this funhouse fairy tale is by turns riotous and poignant, grotesque and menacing, its campy comic exaggeration equaled only by its transporting emotional power".

David Cote, in Time Out New York wondered whether the show was too English for Broadway tastes; he wrote, "Matilda is a kids' musical, not a musical that happens to be about a kid. As such, its attractions may be limited to younger spectators and die-hard Dahl fans. That would be a pity, since Matilda is wickedly smart and wildly fun". A review in USA Today said the show tries too hard to be clever, but it is affecting and enchanting. Of the British papers reviewing the transfer, The Telegraph gave the show four stars out of five, and said, "There's a harder-edged quality to the New York staging: the general tenor is louder and more exaggerated, and the Gilbertian finesse of [the] astonishing lyrics didn't translate for my companion ... But the tremendous heart and intelligence of the piece remains undimmed." A review by Brendan Lemon in the Financial Times also gave the piece four stars out of five.

Awards and nominations

London production

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref
2011	Critics' Circle Theatre Awards	Best Musical		Won
	Theatre Awards UK	Best Musical		Won
		Best Performance	Bertie Carvel	Won
	Evening Standard Awards	Best Musical		Won
		Best Actor	Bertie Carvel	Nominated
		Best Director	Matthew Warchus	Nominated
	British Composer Awards	Best Stage Work	Tim Minchin	Nominated
2012	Whatsonstage.com Awards	Best New Musical		Won
		Best Actor in a Musical	Bertie Carvel	Nominated
		Best Actress in a Musical	Cleo Demetriou Kerry Ingram Eleanor Worthington Cox Sophia Kiely	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actor in a Musical	Paul Kaye	Nominated
		Best Supporting Actress in a Musical	Lauren Ward	Nominated
		London Newcomer of the Year	Tim Minchin	Won
		Best Choreographer	Peter Darling	Won
		Best Director	Matthew Warchus	Nominated
		Best Set Designer	Rob Howell	Won
	Laurence Olivier Awards	Best New Musical		Won
		Best Actor in a Musical	Bertie Carvel	Won
		Best Actress in a Musical	Cleo Demetriou Kerry Ingram Eleanor Worthington Cox Sophia Kiely	Won
		Best Performance in a Supporting Role in a Musical	Paul Kaye	Nominated
		Best Director	Matthew Warchus	Won
		Best Theatre Choreographer	Peter Darling	Won
		Best Set Design	Rob Howell	Won
		Best Costume Design		Nominated
		Best Lighting Design	Hugh Vanstone	Nominated
		Best Sound Design	Simon Baker	Won
2013	Whatsonstage.com Awards	Best West End Show		Nominated
	Laurence Olivier Awards	Audience Award for Most Popular Show		Nominated
2014	Whatsonstage.com Awards	Best West End Show		Won

Broadway production

Year	Award Ceremony	Category	Nominee	Result	Ref
2013	Tony Award	Best Musical		Nominated
		Best Book of a Musical	Dennis Kelly	Won
		Best Original Score	Tim Minchin	Nominated
		Best Actor in a Musical	Bertie Carvel	Nominated
		Best Featured Actor in a Musical	Gabriel Ebert	Won
		Best Featured Actress in a Musical	Lauren Ward	Nominated
		Best Direction of a Musical	Matthew Warchus	Nominated
		Best Choreography	Peter Darling	Nominated
		Best Orchestrations	Christopher Nightingale	Nominated
		Best Scenic Design of a Musical	Rob Howell	Won
		Best Costume Design of a Musical		Nominated
		Best Lighting Design of a Musical	Hugh Vanstone	Won
		Tony Honors for Excellence in Theatre	Sophia Gennusa Oona Laurence Bailey Ryon Milly Shapiro	Won
	Drama League Awards	Outstanding Production of a Broadway or off-Broadway Musical		Nominated
		Distinguished Performance Award	Bertie Carvel	Nominated
	Outer Critics Circle Awards	Outstanding New Broadway Musical		Nominated
		Outstanding Book of a Musical (Broadway or Off-Broadway)		Won
		Outstanding Choreographer	Peter Darling	Nominated
		Outstanding Set Design (Play or Musical)	Rob Howell	Won
		Outstanding Actor in a Musical	Bertie Carvel	Nominated
	Drama Desk Award	Outstanding Musical		Won
		Outstanding Book of a Musical	Dennis Kelly	Won
		Outstanding Featured Actor in a Musical	Bertie Carvel	Won
		Outstanding Director of a Musical	Matthew Warchus	Nominated
		Outstanding Choreography	Peter Darling	Nominated
		Outstanding Lyrics	Tim Minchin	Won
		Outstanding Set Design	Rob Howell	Won
	New York Drama Critics' Circle	Best Musical		Won
	Theatre World Award		Bertie Carvel	Won
2014	Grammy Award	Best Musical Theater Album	Bertie Carvel, Sophia Gennusa, Oona Laurence, Bailey Ryon, Milly Shapiro & Lauren Ward (principal soloists); Michael Croiter, Van Dean & Chris Nightingale (producers); Tim Minchin (composer and lyricist)	Nominated

Further reading

• "A Novel Approach," by Keith Loria, "Backstage" column, Make-Up Artist magazine, Number 102, June/July 2013, pp 74–75, Key Publishing Group, Vancouver, Washington USA. A two-page article with three color photos discussing the musical's make-up and hair/wig requirements for the New York and London productions, with quotes by key personnel.

External links

• Official website
• Matilda The Musical at the Internet Broadway Database