The Limited Times

Now you can see non-English news...

We saw and flew: the musical "Matilda" is coming from London to Israel for the first time - voila! culture

2023-02-05T10:19:29.432Z


The ultra-successful musical will soon come from the West End in London to the Mishkan for the performing arts in Tel Aviv, and there are good reasons to be excited. It is a wonderful fusion of ingredients, chief among them the music


Promo for the stage musical "Matilda" (Official London Theatre)

The acclaimed and award-winning musical "Matilda", based on Roald Dahl's book, is making its way to Israel.

The play, which became a huge hit in London's West End and was also adapted on Broadway, will have only ten performances this August, produced by Moshe Yosef.

As someone who has already seen it in its stage version, we can assure you that there is reason to be excited.



The musical follows an unusual little girl.

At home she has to suffer the insults of her mother who never wanted her and of her father who desires a son and treats her like one.

At school she faces Miss Trunchbull, a monstrous headmistress who hates children and aims to make her life miserable.

But Matilda does not let the dislike of the factors that are supposed to nurture her prevent her from being a positive factor towards her friends and acquaintances.

Armed with a love of books, a vivid imagination and a special mind, as well as the nurturing of her librarian and teacher, Matilda dares to take an independent position and change the fate of her life.

The show premiered in London in November 2011 and became a huge success.

The following year garnered a then-record number of Olivia Award wins - seven in total, including Best Musical.

In 2013, she crossed the Channel and came to Broadway, and then also picked up five Tony Awards.

As requested, it also received a film adaptation that just recently appeared on Netflix.

genius

"Matilda" (Photo: GWB Entertainment)

Watching the musical in London's West End makes clear the reasons for the huge success.

A fusion between Dahl's intense and dark story and the jagged humor of Dennis Kelly, who adapted the book for the stage, and of Tim Minchin, who is responsible for the music.

There is a rest of spirit in the songs of "Matilda".

A combination of the quality of choruses, many of which you'll find yourself humming as you leave the theater after just one listen, and a sense of uplifting genius.



This is perhaps most evident in "The School Song", Matilda's first introduction to the students of the new place she arrived to study.

Only when the children sing the words for the second time does it suddenly become clear that the lyrics have an astonishing alphabetic legality.

The whirlwind of hits has only been increasing ever since.

"Bruce", the children's song of encouragement towards the unhappy boy whom the principal forces him to eat a whole cake.

"When I Grow Up", during which the children float on swings above those sitting in the first seats.

"Revolting Children", the climactic uprising anthem in which the children take the derogatory nickname of Trenchbull and claim possession of it.

All of them are sweeping and engraved in the memory and heart from the first moment.



The cast of children in the show changes regularly, naturally.

At any given moment there are several children playing each of the roles, including that of Matilda.

Judging by the show we saw - a delegation of journalists from Israel - recently in London on a cold January evening, it is impossible to resist them.

The young cast is so captivating and talented, and the adults alongside them are excellent and sometimes even steal the show.

In particular, the man who plays Miss Trenchbull stands out, and turns her into a funny caricature that removes the great evilness from her, or at least helps to balance it.



Everyone breathes life into the story on the stage, and sometimes also descends into the seats of the audience.

Such a key moment is the one when the principal throws one of the girls from her plaits into the horizon, and the children manage to catch her from the ceiling of the hall (don't worry, it's just a doll in her likeness).

In general, "Matilda" does a convincing and original job with the special effects required for the story.

More in Walla!

Netflix's "Matilda" reminds us that sometimes monsters can be the most human

To the full article

Swinging over the crowd.

"Matilda" (Photo: GWB Entertainment)

It should be noted that the full production from London's West End is expected to come to Israel, and not the separate cast that is touring the world.

Of course, the production also includes sets and costumes designed by Rob Howell, choreography by Peter Darling, lighting by Hugh Vanston (all three won Tony Awards for their work), and an orchestral accompaniment conducted by Christopher Nightingale.

The musical will be performed in English with Hebrew subtitles, and this will happen starting August 7, 2023 at the Performing Arts Center in Tel Aviv.



Ticket sales begin today (Sunday) with prices ranging from 199 to 499 shekels with discounts for credit cards and various clubs.

Can be purchased here.

The writer was a guest of the production in London.

  • culture

  • in what

  • theater

Tags

  • Matilda - a musical

Source: walla

All tech articles on 2023-02-05

You may like

Trends 24h

Latest

© Communities 2019 - Privacy

The information on this site is from external sources that are not under our control.
The inclusion of any links does not necessarily imply a recommendation or endorse the views expressed within them.