MATILDA – Music and Lyrics written by Tim Minchin; Book by Dennis Kelly; Directed by Steve Wilson; Musical direction by Zerek Dodson; Choreography by Carrie Colton. Produced by Candlelight Dinner Playhouse (presented at 4747 Marketplace Drive, Johnstown) through August 30. Tickets available at 970-744-3747 or ColoradoCandlelight.com.
It’s no wonder Candlelight folk are not saying “We’re doing a play.” Instead, they proudly invite you to “Come play with us.” MATILDA invites audience participation, being shouted at by cast members, and being revolting. What a fun time we all had. And what a talented group of young singer/dancer/actors the theatre recruited to perform those rowdy kids. A double cast of nine actors per night who dance their boots off, sing their hearts out, and, in general, have as much fun on stage as is possible. What a treat to watch so many talented kids at once. Read their resumes in the program if you get a chance. Most of them have credits all over the Front Range in area theatres and promise to be the stars of tomorrow.
Of course, special congratulations have to go to Khloe Trainor and Morrow Pavlik who share the role of the dynamic and thoroughly underappreciated Matilda. She’s a girl. A girl who knows what it’s like to experience sorrow and isolation. A girl who finds ultimate happiness in the best possible way. A girl whose intelligence and heart are ridiculed by her stupid petty parents. A problem solver; a book reader; a storyteller per excellence. I don’t know which actress performed Matilda on opening night, but she was magnificent and heartbreaking all at the same time.
One other of the semi-child actors – Grant Kinzie – deserves a pat on the back for taking a generally throw-away role of Matilda’s big brother and making it his own. His reactions to his ridiculous parents and his (to him) pathetic little sister – often without words – added to the fun and Matilda’s sorrowful home situation. Another minor but crazily enjoyable turn was taken by Brandon Sutorius as Rudolpho, Mrs. Wormwood’s dance partner. In just a few scenes, he displays his incredibly limber dance moves and totally arrogant attitude toward . . . well, everything.
Speaking of Matilda’s ridiculous parents, Nikki Salinas, as the vain and thoughtless Mrs. Wormwood didn’t get an ounce of sympathy from the audience. Her dance gyrations, her acceptance of her cruel husband, her unreasonable point of view about everything added to the fun the audience was having and to her own superficial character. The other bad guy in this scenario is Mr. Wormwood as played by long-time Candlelight favorite, Stephen Charles Turner, nearly unrecognizable with his green hair, verbally abusive treatment of his unwanted daughter, and ham-handed petty larceny. Is there a worst father in the world? I don’t think so. Did he have any saving graces? No – unless you count showing Matilda the door as he runs from the police. Great job, Stephen.
The good guys in this tale of woe are Megan Schraeder as Miss Honey, Matilda’s teacher, and India Thompson as the friendly librarian. Between them, they show Matilda the love and attention she deserves that softens the whole tone of the play. Megan has an amazingly expressive voice, as exhibited in her songs of “My House” and “The Little Girl.” India is an instantly likable plus in Matilda’s life and an audience for her creative storytelling. The two women in her young life make it tolerable.
BUT BUT . . . wait for it!! The show is written to display the total cruelty and intolerable pettiness of the headmistress of Matilda’s school, Miss Agatha Trunchbull. The always brilliant Patric Case returns to Candlelight just in time to give this role the ugly, mean, no-good treatment Miss Trunchbull deserves. He is unrecognizable with his zoftig bosom, his unibrow, his gnarly teeth, and his attitude from hell. Normally, Patric plays the good guys, the sweethearts, but what fun to see him take on this totally out-of-character character. OMG! You guys! You’ve got to see this turnaround. The interaction between him/her and the kids is fantastically fun to watch. I don’t know how they keep a straight face on stage. Trunchbull rules the roost!! Until the end . . . .
A deceptively simple set designed by Ranae Selmeyer and built by Josiah Buhre’s team of carpenters and painters allows for the smooth transition between scenes, even when pieces are being handled on stage by kids. The school uniforms and boho costumes of the good guys were designed by Charlotte Campbell. But costuming also included fantastical dance costumes for Rudolpho and Mrs. Wormwood which made them look even more ridiculous. To say nothing of the costuming and makeup dynamics that turned a handsome man into an ugly headmistress. The lights designed by Vance McKenzie were sweet and soft when it was just Matilda on stage, but flared up loud when the Wormwoods arrived.
Steve Wilson’s sure-handed direction allowed no drop in pace, no overlooked laugh in word or deed, and, in spite of the chaos required on stage, told a straight-forward story of compassion. The children in the troupe have been well-trained in the music by Zerek Dodson and in the clever dance routines by Carrie Colton. The winning team at Candlelight comes through again.
A WOW factor of 9!!