Matilda cast members, center, Emmy Smith as Matilda Wormwood; clockwise from top left, Suzy Kroesche as Agatha Trunchbull; Monica Poston as Miss Honey; Holly Robinson as Mrs. Wormwood and Scot Johnson as Mr. Wormwood. Photos by Zachary K. Baker
By BONNIE J. GORDON
Los Alamos Daily Post
bjgordon@ladailypost.com
Los Alamos Light Opera’s productions of “Matilda The Musical” opened last weekend at the Duane Smith Auditorium. Based on the book by Roald Dahl, the musical premiered in November 2010 in England and had its Broadway debut in March 2013.
Matilda (Emmy Smith) is the story of a child genius of 5, who is entirely unappreciated by her self -absorbed, unethical and rather stupid parents. They want her to get her nose out of Dostoevsky and start watching TV like a normal person.
Smith is terrific as Matilda Wormwood, who is determined to fight back against her parents, who ridicule her and any other bullies she encounters. Smith plays the plucky Matilda with some of the wistful sadness of the unloved child. Her voice is strong and she handles both lines and songs with aplomb.
Holly Robinson and Scot Johnson are standouts as the Wormwood parents. Johnson captures the self-important Mr. Wormwood, who wants to be a schemer but doesn’t have the brains. Robinson is hilarious as the vain Mrs. Wormwood, who is obsessed with ballroom dancing. Robinson pulls off belting out her number, “Loud” while doing feats of ballroom dance with her over-the-top partner, Rodolpho (Jonathan Guise). It’s kind of amazing.
Director and Choreographer Wendy Caldwell Lanchier makes all the musical numbers shine. Her enormous cast of children and adults are always right where they should be. The big musical numbers are a joy to watch and listen to.
Like many a child before her, Matilda finds sanctuary at the public library, where the librarian, Mrs. Phelps (Mitzi Pair Willard) always has time to listen to her stories. It is here that Matilda meets her future teacher and soulmate, Miss Honey (Monica Poston). The two will depend on each other to defeat the show’s major villain, Headmistress Agatha Truchbull (Suzy Kroesche).
Poston has a wonderful voice and great stage presence. She brings the timid Miss Honey out of the shadows.
Kroesche is a force of nature as the truly scary Miss Truchbull. A champion hammer thrower for the British national team, Miss Truchbull is tough, strong and a complete sadist. She admits to hating children. Kroesche makes the character funny AND very scary.
The rest of the adult cast pulls off their parts well. I especially enjoyed Patrick Web as Sergei, the Russian mobster.
Playing the children, Keira Fichtl is wonderful as wheelchair bound Bruce. Brent Benkoski plays Nigel as the kid who can’t sit still (there’s one in every class). He does a fine job. All the children’s cast put on a good show.
“Matilda” is a subversive story. It’s not for nothing that the children’s cast’s big musical number is “Revolting Children”. Matilda has the chutzpah to stand up to the daunting Miss Truchbull and she brings the whole class with her as well as Miss Honey. It’s a story about courage, but it’s also a story about revenge. Matilda is determined to stand up for herself, even if it means being “naughty”. If her class has learned a lesson in courage, they’ve also learned that sometimes you have to be sneaky.
The orchestra under the baton of Gretchen Amstutz brings the musical numbers to life and is a joy to listen to. The cast and crew have brought off an outstanding production. I almost can’t imagine how they did it. Be sure to support this talented group by attending a performance. You won’t be disappointed.
“Matilda: The Musical” will be performed two more times at 7:30 p.m. Friday, Feb 10 and Saturday, Feb. 11 at Duane Smith Auditorium. Tickets are available at the door or visit https:////losalamoslightopera.org/.
