By Jennifer Mustoe
I love the Tuacahn for their family-friendly choices, their use of their gorgeous outdoor theater and stage, and their complete spectacle, and as one of the three musicals offered for summer 2018, Matilda doesn’t disappoint. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, Matilda as a musical is filled with Dahl’s special brand of weird with his crazy characters, offbeat (and often dark) story lines and themes, plus amazing music, incredible dance numbers, and a plethora of scary and sometimes gross deliciousness. Matilda is highly popular family fare, winner of several Tony Awards, is playing all over the world, and is right here in Utah at the Tuacahn.
As a quick summary, Matilda Wormwood (Lydia Ricks), an incredibly bright young girl, has been able to rise above her horrible parents’ lousy DNA pool, but ends up in the worst school ever. I mean EVER. This kid cannot get a break. Ricks as Matilda is very likable, has a lovely singing voice, and leads her band of friends from the school with a matter-of-fact, friendly grace. She handles her awful parents, Mrs. Wormwood (Sara Gallo*) and Mr. Wormwood (Brad Bradley*) with almost unbelievable patience and little shame, though they are abusive and her father continues to call her boy. “I’m a girl,” she repeatedly pipes. Though she does hide out in the library regularly, befriended by the cutest, funnest librarian, Mrs. Phelps (Nicole Powell*) I’ve ever seen to get the books to read that clearly are one of the key ways she stays sane, though her parents mock her for her braininess, Matilda takes it all in stride. During her time at the library, she tells Mrs. Phelps an on-going story, a la Scheherazade, about a couple in the circus–the woman an acrobat, the man an escapologist (I didn’t know that was a thing) who yearn for a child. She ends each chapter of the story with a little bit of hope and a little bit of sadness.
As if things couldn’t get any worse, Matilda goes to the worst school on the planet and meets her teacher Miss Honey (Mindy Smoot Robbins*) and sees in her all that is lacking at home. However, the foil for Miss Honey is the evil, treacherous headmistress Miss Trunchbull, played with great hilarity, amazing characterization, and a huge delight to the audience by (Matt Bank*).
Two plots emerge–Matilda and her horrible family: her mother, who lives to ballroom dance with Rudolpho, (whose number “Loud” had the man behind me wheezing and laughing so hard and for so long, like three minutes, after the hilarious dance ends I thought he was having a heart attack); her used-car salesman father who is a cheater and a liar, and her dopey older brother, who watches TV all the time. Then we have the school, where Miss Trunchbull actually has methods of torture to keep the “maggots” in line, which she supplements with agonizing physical education (phys ed) activity. There are numerous dance numbers that take place at the school with two sets of dancers–the fine group of adults-as-children, who do a fabulous job as the upper class men, and the fine group of youngsters, who rock the dances and songs like the pros they clearly are. Choreographer Mara Newbery Greer has this group rockin’ like nobody’s business–all the numbers are tight, fast-moving, very fun to watch. Even the adults look like kids. Awesome, really.
Costumer Maria Lenn must have had fun creating the excellent costumes—garish, brightly-colored, tacky outfits for Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood, the magical circus-themed costumes for the acrobat and the escapologist, and the school uniforms, though ‘regulation’, still look cool and current. But my favorite costume design is Miss Honey’s, with her bobby socks and perky flats, tailored sweaters, and perky but understated dresses. I was happy she was onstage for a variety of reasons (hey–she’s actually POSITIVE in this dark comedy) but I really loved her costuming. Perfect.
Scenic Design by Brad Shelton is awesome. The backdrop at the Tuacahn is red rock. However, Shelton has built levels for the Wormwood’s house, Matilda’s bedroom way up high (higher than this actress would ever want to perform from–just sayin’–kudos to Ricks), and the school on stage left. It is fantastic. Lighting Design by Brad Shelton not only lights up the stage (obviously) but there is a gigantic lighted board that spells out plot points in moving letters. It adds to the chaotic colors and stories going on all the time onstage. I am partial to a live orchestra and the Tuacahn’s is very good, directed by Christopher Babbage. When I see productions that are accompanied by a live orchestra, to me, this is first-class all the way.
And they can easily relieve the symptoms giving irritation but has nothing is related with medical issues, such as ache free levitra about generic levitra erections that is often evidence during the night. However, 50mg viagra sale this is not at all true in the first place. Most of the times they are not viagra free order able to experience one. Inability to achieve full satisfaction during intercourse can be one of the reasons which can lead to erectile dysfunction. online pharmacy viagra
Directors Igor Goldin and Greer have harnessed this large cast, made up of many children, and present a tight, enjoyable, wickedly funny show. I have worked in musicals that have a lot of kids and I can tell you, this group has been well-schooled (see what I did there?) and have listened to their directors. Having never seen Matilda performed before, nor read the book or watched the movie, I’m not sure what directorial choices these two directors made that are particular to the Tuacahn’s production. I can only report that what they have done is top notch and highly entertaining.
Matilda finds a way to overcome ALL of her difficult struggles, though I will not tell you how. Matilda is a long-ish show, but the kids in the audience, besides laughing their guts out, stayed awake and engaged. However, it doesn’t even start until 8:45 PM, so you won’t get out of the very crowded parking lot until at least 11:00 PM, later if you wait in line to take photos with the stars who are waiting to say hello after the show. Also, I wouldn’t bring little littles if they scare easily. There are some fantastical effects and plot lines that may frighten sensitive kiddos. However, for spectacle, fun, and lots of heart, the Tuacahn’s Matilda is a must see.
*Actor’s Equity Players
Tuacahn Center for the Arts presents Matilda, based on the novel by Roald Dahl, adapted by Dennis Kelly, with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.
Tuacahn Center for the Arts, 1100 Tuacahn Drive, Ivins, Utah 84738
June 8 – Oct 19, 2018 Select dates, Times vary by date 7:30 – 8:45 PM
Tickets: $29-91
Contact: (800) 746-9882 or (435) 652-3300
Tuacahn Center for the Arts Facebook Page
0 Comments