Matilda, The Musical

First, it was a book by the legendary Mr Roald Dahl. Then they made it into a film featuring Hollywood superstars such as Danny DeVito (who also directed). Now ‘Matilda’ is a musical appearing at the Cambridge Theatre in Central London, and is being extraordinarily well received. Luckily it’s showing until February 2012, so there won’t be any mad scrambles to get a Covent Garden minicab there this week. There is a mixture of matinee performances for the little ones (it’s suitable for ages 6 and above) and evening showings for the grown ups.

The thing that really caught my attention about this musical is that the music is written by my favourite comedian/songwriter, Tim Minchin. The Australian funny-man has gone from strength to strength over the last few years, rounding up a loyal fan base with his witty lyrics and catchy melodies. With such memorable characters in the book as Miss Trunchbull (the abominable headmistress) and Matilda Wormwood herself (a headstrong child prodigy), the songs in the musical are bound to raise a chortle or two!

The musical was commissioned by the Royal Shakespeare Company and was adapted by Dennis Kelly; since its limited run at the Courtyard Theatre sold out last year, there has been great demand to see ‘Matilda’. It has been hailed as “the best British musical since Billy Elliot”, and is leaving smiles on the faces of the young and old. If you’ve never read the book or seen the film, you’ll be able to follow the story easily, but I’d recommend doing all three. You’ll be guaranteed some laughs, some gasps, and some moments that make you go “ahhhhhh”.

Make sure you book your ticket in advance because the shows are continuing to sell out; if the continuous sales are anything to go by, you’re in for a great night at the theatre.