By Alayna and Eliza Een
The spunky Matilda the Musical, now playing at the CenterPoint Theatre in Centerville, Utah, is a Front Row Reviewers favorite. Based on Roald Dahl’s beloved children’s story, Matilda the Musical features a remarkably clever young girl from a loveless home who develops a talent for reading and storytelling, a passion for righting wrongs, and an unexpected power. When she starts attending a new school, she meets the sweet schoolteacher, Miss Honey, and a host of downtrodden children who live in fear of the horrible headmistress, Miss Trunchbull. But when Miss Trunchbull’s sadistic punishments get out of hand, Matilda rallies her newfound friends and uses her growing power to start a grade-school revolution and fight for happy endings to the stories she both lives and tells.
The CenterPoint theatre has a rotating cast, meaning that on opening night, Front Row Reviewers had the pleasure of seeing the Monday, Wednesday, Friday cast and Charlotte Witt as Matilda; cast names will appear with MWF cast first and then TThS cast second.
Matilda (Charlotte Witt/Sarah Monson/Penny Hodson) is cheeky and mischievous, but she also brings emotion in the quiet moments. Witt has a clear voice that carries her lines and melodies above concurrent background vocals. Miss Honey is played by Amanda Frisby/Emma Roberts, who has a contagious energy with the children onstage, and her talent shines through her musical numbers, especially in “My House,” which leaves the audience in chills.
J.R. Moore/Britton M. Wilkins brings the right amount of menace to the role of Agatha Trunchbull, with the help of Moore’s phenomenally expressive face as well as the incredible—and, in one case, high-flying—use of props (Sharla Jordan). Moore steals the stage in every number he’s in. Caydin Bell/Peter Johns as Mr. Wormwood is every bit the greasy car salesman, and he has the audience in fits of laughter with his telly-loving tirade at the end of intermission. Bell and Mrs. Wormwood (Jaycee Harris/Valerie Packer) do a great job of highlighting the unwelcoming and insipid environment at home, which makes the audience rejoice when Matilda finds a way out. Harris certainly is entertaining and “Loud” as Matilda’s shallow and self-centered mother.
But Matilda isn’t the only talented kid in the cast. Matilda the Musical demands a near-professional level of talent from even—and especially—its youngest cast members. The spitfire lyrics, crisp choreography (Liz Christensen), and the dreaded “Phys Ed” are a challenge the Centerpoint Theatre children’s ensemble rises to. Lavender (Addi Davis/Sophie Yates), Matilda’s friend, convincingly brims with barely contained excitement, evident in her body language, as she tells the audience of her newt plot. And Nixon Keddington/Soren Ray’s performance of Bruce really takes the cake! He’s hilarious as the unabashed sweet-swiper in “Bruce” and moving in his opening riff to “Revolting Children.”
Mrs. Phelps (Riley Plott/Brooklynn Alapa) is the audience we all want to listen to our stories. She is supportive and hopeful while enraptured by Matilda’s imagination, and she plays an important part in helping Matilda and the audience find the right ending to the story. The Escapologist (James Duncan/Micah Young) and the Acrobat (Keely Parry/Brianna Lyman) add depth to Matilda’s storytelling and are a great example of the high-quality talent of the entire cast. Their predominantly silent and shadowed movements make the contrast of when Duncan sings his duet with Matilda especially poignant. He may tell Matilda not to cry, but his “I’m Here” got us all a bit teary.
Because the focus of the play is on the children and the school, I almost forgot that there was an adult ensemble. That is, until they performed—unforgettably. While holding background roles and not distracting from the main action, they made delightfully committed character choices as a janitor shredding on a mop guitar, a sniveling cook, or a particularly focused library patron. All of these excellent choices are supported by the Director Emily Wadley and her the crew (Music Director Tara Wardle) to put on an incredible performance. And Truxton Moulton’s set design provides the perfect backdrop to every song, from cleverly dappled leaves in “When I Grow Up” to the dark abyss before “I’m Here.”
This story includes instances of child maltreatment, which may disturb some viewers. However, it is handled well by the cast. So bring your children, miracles, or maggots to see Matilda the Musical at the CenterPoint Theatre in Centerville, Utah, now through April 15th for a revolting good time!
CenterPoint Legacy Theatre Presents Matilda the Musical. Reviewed by Front Row Reviewers 525 North 400 West, Centerville, Utah 84014
March 17 – April 15, 2023. Monday through Saturday 7:30 PM, Saturday Matinees 2:30 PM
Tickets: $19.00-$37.00
ASL performance Saturday, March 25th, Matinee 2:30 PM, Certified Interpreter
Ticket requests need to be made 48 hours in advance to ensure interpreters and seating.
Contact: 801-298-1302
CenterPoint Theatre Website
CenterPoint Theatre Facebook Page
Photography by Kirsten Smith and Micah Young
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