Coronado Playhouse is currently mounting the Broadway musical
“Matilda The Musical” with book by Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim
Minchin through Feb. 23rd.
It is certain to be one of the all time family entertainment productions
here as it hits all the high notes while pointing out that wisdom is not
necessarily reserved for ‘adults only’.
Reese McCulloch and Jacob Sampson |
In 2012 it won seven Oliver Awards and made its official stop
at the Ahmanson in 2015. It was part of Moonlight’s summer season last year to
the delight of parents and patrons. It was the same at feeling at the Coronado Playhouse
on the afternoon I attended.
And why not? There were more beautiful, enthusiastic and
motivated and committed youngsters on stage than the eye could count. In The
Playbill it mentions fifteen new faces added to those who performed there in other productions.
Anthony Zelig (Center) |
Matilda is a ten -year old bookworm who enlightens her
teachers and those around her that reading is an admirable act even in the
confines of her house where her parents think books are disgusting. Matilda is
on a mission, like it not, to follow her best instincts or otherworldly
insights not to fall into the dregs of her family’s misdeeds; and they are
many.
Matilda (Reese McCulloch at my performance, alternates with Luna Olivieri)
has been fighting for her place in the world since she was born. At home her serial
scam artist of a dad (Justin Allen Slagle’s Mr. Wormwood is a kick and a half) is
the dumb and dumber father who wanted a boy to follow in his -one step ahead of
getting knocked by the angry Russians he cheated. What he got was a
young lady with powers he could not fathom.
Reese McCulloch, Anthony Zelig and Aislinn Lowenberg |
As soon as he saw Matilda was a girl (where’s her thingy?) he
went bonkers so continued calling her ‘Boy’. “You’re a Wormwood, start acting
like one!”
Her dingbat mom (an effective Kaitlin Sten) dismisses her as
reading too many books (“Loud”) and not concentrating on her looks. She calls
her a little ‘twit’ and a ‘scab’.
At school the headmistress, the grotesque Miss Turnchbull
(Anthony Zelig fits the part to the nine’s) blames Matilda when another of her
classmates at Crunchem Hall pulls a stunt on her. Later on in the show Matilda
gets her comeuppance.
The even headed and starry eyed girl with her telekinetic
powers manages to keep her cool with her books, her looks (as in her eyes) and
the comfort of her loving teacher Miss Honey (Aslinn Lowenberg with a beautiful
voice- “This Little Girl”, “My House”) and the friendship of the concerned
librarian Miss Phelps (Elise Feyedelem).
With Miss Phelps she shares a long and involved story about
an acrobat (Grace Rice) and an escapologist (Jacob Sampson last seen in “The
Old Man and The Old Moon”) who wanted to have a baby and the tragedy that
followed.
Reese McCulloch and Justin Allen Slagle |
Her stories to the librarian are almost a take off of “The
Tale Of The Thousand and One Nights”. These meetings in the library keep
Matilda and Ms. Phelps connected.
“A blessing on your head” to director Rayme Sciaroni (such
stories ‘inspire my life with humor, laughter and a lot of love’) as
it takes a miracle and whole lot of patience to direct a bevvy of youth, who are as well rehearsed as this ensemble of youngsters, and in addition, make it look easy.
Alyssa Anne Slagle is credited with choreography. There was a
minimum of dancing but there is lots of movement with the enthusiastic youth
and adult ensemble all pitching in and having fun.
The Matilda Band and conductor Nina Gilbert on Keyboards
along with five musicians added subtle background support.
Aislinn Lowenberg and Kaitlin Sten |
Set designer Tony Cucuzzella features stacks of wooden alphabet
blocks that are moved around, simple boxes are used for furniture and in the
background projections (no credit) of the escape artist, as is the writing on
the chalkboard; all effective tools.
Lisa Samson designed
the school dress outfits and casual PE outfits. Chloe Oliana M Clark designed
the effective lighting and Michael Cook the sound (that had a few glitches and could have been louder)
Rachael VanWormer acted as dialect coach, no small fete this,
as all of the actors remained in character with some form of English accent throughout, even the tiniest of them.
I indeed got a kick watching the expressions on their little faces; so serious.
If you recall in “Les Miserables” Gavriche sings of “What little
people can do”. And so in “Matilda”, she is quoted as saying, “Even if you’re
little you can do a lot.”
From the mouths of babes.
See you at the theatre.
Dates: Through Feb 23rd
Organization: Coronado Playhouse
Phone: 619-435-4856
Production Type: Musical
Where: 1835 Strand Way, Coronado, CA 92118
Ticket Prices: Thursday $22, Friday $27, Saturday $28,
Sunday $25.
Active
Military, Student & Senior Discounts.
Web: coronadoplayhouse.com
Photo Credit: Ken Jacques
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