Matilda

Remember when you took your kids to see all the latest family films at the cinema and enjoyed them as much as your kids.   Matilda was one of those films and I think I really did enjoy it, more than my girls did 🌝

Matilda was funny, it had catchy songs, great characters, magic and was based on the book by Roald Dahl.

The film told the story of a gifted little girl, who lived with her uncaring, distant parents. She was sent to school where a terrifying bully was in charge.  Matilda used her special powers to defend her friends from the bully and fight back against her awful mum and dad.   Yes, it was over the top but utterly fantastic.

Danny Devito, Rhea Perlman, Pam Ferris and Embeth Davidtz were all wonderful in their roles as Matilda's parents, Headteacher and teacher.   Mara Wilson, such a talent, I think she was about nine years old when the film was made.

Pam Ferris as the hilariously scary Miss Trunchbull

As a family we watched Matilda on VHS over and over again, read the book and Soli’s mummy went to school dressed as Miss Trunchbull for World Book Day.  I was super proud of my very own Trunchbull ⭐

Fast forward twenty years or so and Matilda has been turned into an award winning musical, with rave reviews.  I've wanted to see it for ages, so as a treat for me and my baby girl, (Livvy, now 23) I got  tickets and off we went for a day in London.

We were really excited, as we queued at the side door for the upper circle.  Once in and seated, the stage looked amazing and we had a good view from our £65 each seats!

I sat next to a little girl whose mum said she had seen the film and would be singing along to the songs!  Oh dear! she must have been so disappointed as the songs from the film are not in the musical.


Okay!  So it’s a musical with its own catchy songs, right?  Err, no!   There really was only one song that stood out.

It was a full house as the children came onto the stage for their first song.  Throughout the performance the sound was awful and sometimes it was difficult to understand what they were singing about!   The dancing however was good, fun and energetic.  Some of the adult’s diction was bad and at times they shouted their lines.   As for Miss Trunchbull…a man in drag!   For me that was a big mistake and he/she was no Pam Ferris.  It just didn’t work and it felt like we were at a pantomime.

Matilda was okay I suppose, maybe she was having an off day!  It’s hard to criticise a child who has performed on a live stage for two hours, but then again this is London and London prices!  Matilda, dare I say it, was a bit wooden and didn’t even have a ribbon in her hair!   Matilda always wore ribbons in her hair, and one of her ribbons had a big part to play in the film.

This  Matilda was obsessed with telling the librarian a story… boring!  We couldn’t make out what she was saying half the time!  This was a shame because Matilda’s story was linked to Miss Honey and her dad and a big part of the production.  (Not in the film)

The magic in this production was really thin on the ground and didn’t get a mention until near the end of the show, with Matilda moving a cup and saying to miss Honey  “Do you think I’m weird”  When chalk moved by itself to write a message on a board, no reference was made to Matilda!    It just did it!!  and the children were quite unaware of Matilda's powers.   At the end of the show when the narrator said that Matilda didn’t have to use her magic ever again, it was like WTF!  What magic!

Some parts of the show were brilliant though.  The whole audience were in hysterics watching Miss Trunchbull swing Amanda Thripp around by her pigtails, how on earth did they do that?

Bruce Bogtrotter, the fat, chocolate eating kid was really good too.

For me, the song and dance routine ‘When I grow Up’ was the best bit of the show and the only really memorable song.   It was beautifully performed and very poignant.

On leaving the theatre I didn't feel it, you know that wow feeling!... It just wasn't there!  In fact I was a tad disappointed 😞   So, 7/10 and must try harder Matilda.  (Sat, 31st March, 2:30 PM performance)

Matilda will be coming to a theatre near you soon.  Tickets are still pricey which makes it an expensive family treat.   So if you're tempted, think before you go, especially  if you want a magical
story closer to the original. book.  Think of the money you'll save as well, and you could put your savings towards the local Xmas Panto!

Buying the DVD, a bag of popcorn and settling down together to watch a great family film from 1996  might actually be a better option 💙🌝