By LeAnna Hamblin
Ziegfeld Theater in Ogden, Utah gathers a Broadway-caliber cast to present the Roald Dahl classic, Matilda, adapted by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin. Audiences have been enjoying this musical adaptation of the story about a precocious and specially gifted little girl since its West End premiere in 2011. Matilda is treated horribly by her parents and finds her only solace in Miss Honey, her timid teacher. After overcoming many obstacles, Miss Honey and Matilda find happiness and love in caring for each other.
From the opening musical number, “Miracle,” the audience is captivated by the extremely talented children’s ensemble. Their confident performance sets the dynamic for the remainder of the show, and the entire cast rises to the bar that has been set. Matilda (Victoria Bingham/Pippa Parry) is set up for a life full of struggles as she enters the world unwanted by her family. Parry does an incredible job playing the strong, young girl with a perfect balance of sweetness and spunk, who refuses to let others squash her ambition. Parry has a strong connection onstage with Natalie Peterson, who plays Miss Honey. Peterson’s demure appearance and shy demeanor makes her well suited for this role. Her clear and effortless vocals are featured in the number “My House,” where she recounts Miss Honey’s life story to Matilda.
Mr. Wormwood (Eb Madson) and Mrs. Wormwood (Becky Knowles) are Matilda’s egotistical and self-absorbed parents, who refuse to accept Matilda for who she is. Madson and Knowles are perfectly paired and take their acting to the next level as they incorporate physical comedy and antics into their roles. Madson’s comedic timing is precise and enhances his performance. Knowles is confident in her ability to play the boisterous wife and mother. Michael (Isaac Allred) rounds out this quirky family as the older and clueless brother. Allred takes this role very seriously and convinces the audience that his entire life’s purpose is to watch television and eat chips. His facial expressions are entertaining, and his embodiment of the lazy teen is convincing. Allred is also a member of the teen ensemble where he and the other teen ensemble members showcase their impeccable dancing and singing talent.
Choreographer Kacee Neff works this cast extremely hard, requiring them to use their full energy throughout the show. “Bruce” is an unexpected delight from the ensemble, both vocally and choreographically. As Bruce Bogtrotter (Henry Bell) is forced to consume an entire cake, the ensemble tells the story through movement and interprets the feelings of Bruce depicted in the song. They also showcase their abilities and create special effects in the number “Amanda Thripp/Pigtails” as they fly Amanda (Kaelia Wootton) through the air after being tossed.
Another standout performance in this cast is that of Tyson Allred, the Escapologist, and his partner, Kate Potter, as the Acrobat. As Matilda tells a story to Mrs. Phelps (SueAnn Phillips), Allred and Potter add live illustration through expression and movement. Potter uses silks to portray her role as the acrobat in the story, and Allred is there supporting her and telling his side of this beautiful love story through his movement.
As the stories in this production interweave, they all end up being centered around the headmistress, Miss Trunchbull (Quinn Kapetanov). We first meet Kapetanov as the doctor who pronounces Mrs. Wormwood pregnant. The audience gets to see a more tender side of Kapetanov’s acting skills during the softer section of “Miracle.” His vocals are impressive and leave the audience aching for more. When Kapetanov returns as Miss Trunchbull, he captivates the audience with his physical humor, dedicated expressions, and strong character voice. Although the role of protagonist is usually not the favorite, for me, Kapetanov drove the show from great to spectacular. I found myself enthralled by his performance.
Director Morgan Parry should be thrilled with the success of this production. Her cast is phenomenal, and her creative team has gone above and beyond what one might expect from a community show. Set designer Caleb Parry and set artist Anna Lensch have created set pieces that are interesting, colorful, and multifunctional. Thanks to lighting designer Quinn Koons, the stage comes to life with simple and effective use of lights and set. Musical director Kelli Morris uses the talents of every cast member. The power and precision during the number “Loud” is a perfect example of the range required for this show. Costume and hair designer Alicia Kondrick captures the essence of each character, especially the Wormwood family. Her attention to detail is noted, and each costume piece tells its own story.
Ziegfeld’s production of Matilda in Ogden, Utah made me laugh and cry and think and sit in awe of the talent before me. As we know, not all stories have happy endings. And, as we learn from Matilda, if you don’t like the ending, change it. The power to do so lies within each of us. This story is one everyone can relate to in some way. So come see what Matilda can teach you before the opportunity passes you by.
Ziegfeld Theater Presents Matilda, based on the book by Roald Dahl, Book by Dennis Kelly, Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Ziegfeld Theater, 3934 Washington Blvd, Ogden, Utah 84403
August 9-31, 2019, 7:30 PM, Monday, Friday-Saturday; Matinee, 2:00 PM, Saturday, August 17, 24, 2019
Tickets: $17-$19
Contact: 855-944-2787, Ziegfield Theatre Website
Ziegfeld Theater Facebook Page
Matilda Facebook Event
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