Matilda the Musical
at Patapsco

Reviewed on March 6, 2020

Justine Krizan
Indian Creek
Submitted for publication to Maryland Theatre Guide

Everyone's saying it was quite the little miracle;
They lit the night up in Dundalk, MD.
The greatness of Patapsco – almost seems like a miracle,
But nay, they've got talent and it's plain to see!

Roald Dahl's "Matilda the Musical" is a piece of explosive excitement and powerful intrigue. Matilda Wormwood – enigmatically smart, creative, and talented – hails from a family who refuses to understand her. On her first day of school, she discovers her otherness per the relentless cruelty of strict authoritarian, Principle Agatha Trunchbull. Matilda absolutely will not stand for it; with a little help from her homeroom teacher Miss Honey, her classmates, and some of her own devious little tricks, Matilda will get just a little revenge, and a bully will get a lot of comeuppances.

Patapsco High School's approach to "Matilda" was just as expected: exciting, powerful, and intriguing. The leads, overflowing with energy and passion, guided the plot along, and sang and danced beautifully, but not without the immense contribution of PHS's fantastic ensemble talents. Every group number amounted to chills down the spine, thunderous applause, and insatiable eagerness for more from the amazing, Revolting children.

The leading cast of this tense yet hilarious show was tasked with filling the stage with personality and gut-busting slapstick routines. Madison Wise, Matilda herself, had the hardest job: embodying a five-year-old girl. Graced with petite height and stellar soprano range, Wise pulled off the mature immaturity of Matilda with poise and an indescribable factor of adorability. The Wormwoods (Ethan Kehring, Wyn Wyatt, Greg Areford) were insanely in-sync about their physicality, vulgar jokes, and astounding musical excesses. Finally, the almost-avian mannerisms of Rebecca Halcott ("Miss Trunchbull") truly made her character otherworldly and fearsome, in conjunction with her squawky screams of indignance.

The aforementioned ensemble was truly a sight to behold, and consistently so. Every single group song – "School Song," "Bruce," and "Revolting Children," to name a few – was sensationally cohesive, high-energy, and catchy. Harmonies, crisp choreography, and rebellious spunk abound, the PHS players outdid the expectations of thespians even older than themselves. The group's cooperation and evident love for the theatrical process are things to be proud of and marveled at, truly.

What happens behind the scenes is equally important as what happens on stage. PHS's most impressive tech operations overlapped between the wings and the spotlight, and they did so fluidly. A very fast-paced show such as "Matilda" requires that the stage crew be very quick and diligent. Set transitions often happened during scenes, making for smart use of the large stage while keeping the plot progression seamless. This, complemented by the provision of creative and hilarious props, accounted for an extremely visually interesting and smooth production, thanks to Mackenzie Walker et. al. – crew – and Asia Jones et. al. – props.

The action-packed, knee-slapping, fantastical grandeur of a legendary story is done great justice by Patapsco High School's spunky, beautiful, knee-slapping production of "Matilda."

Emily Allgair
Severna Park
Submitted for publication to The Gateway

What do you get when you cross bright smiles, a completely inhumane torture device, and a heartwarming tale of a little girl who loves to learn? "Matilda the Musical" at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts, of course!

Based on the book by Roald Dahl, "Matilda the Musical '' tells the story of Matilda Wormwood, her telekinetic powers, and her ability to work her way to a better life. With quirky characters, catchy songs, and a beautiful message, it is no doubt that the stage adaptation of this story has won five Tony Awards and seven Olivier Awards, including one for Best New Musical.

Although most of the humor of this show lies in its script, the actors of this production went a step further. Rebecca Halcott (Miss Trunchbull) and her extremely animated facial expressions created situation comedy that complimented the simplicity of the school kids' humor. Halcott truly committed to the absurd aspect of this show, especially in the iconic scene with the pigtails, Halcott fully embodied the essence of Miss Trunchbull. Another crowd-favorite was Wyn Wyatt (Mrs. Wormwood). She portrayed the sassy, bold, and, of course, loud dancer with just the spunk the character was written to have. The undeniable chemistry between Wyatt and Mason Pilon (Rodolpho) left audiences in hysterics, to the point that even Pilon's scene changing was easily deemed one of the funniest.

As "Matilda the Musical" was initially written for The Courtyard Theatre and London's West End, this show calls for the use of British accents. This request, especially for high schoolers, is a difficult task to fulfill, but the actors in Patapsco's production did so beautifully. Not only did Madison Wise (Matilda) and Ethan Kehring (Mr. Wormwood) maintain consistent British accents throughout their dialogues, Wise and Kehring continued to do so while singing, making "Telly" and "Quiet" two of the most riveting songs of this show.

The technical aspects of this production, including scene projections, animated visuals coinciding with stories, and outstanding lighting, helped move the story along in a timely, visually appealing manner. Some of these aspects were utilized with the intention of accentuating the absurdity of the plot. From handmade prosthetics by Delaney Crawford, Vanessa Hernandez, Bradley Henson, and Jackie Ruiz that truly brought out the ugliness within Miss Trunchbull, to the lighting designed by Cory Faison, Mackenzie Walker, Caroline Hiles, and Alyssa Bobek that allowed audiences to visually follow a school kid's fart as it traveled towards Miss Trunchbull, the technical aspects went hand in hand with the comedic effects of the talent on stage. The contrasting colors and lighting of the opening birthday party/hospital scene and the first time the audience sees Matilda helps establish her dreary upbringing, especially in comparison to what comes to mind when one thinks of childhood.

The hilarious and adorable production of "Matilda the Musical" at Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts reminded audiences that "sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty" to get to your happy ending.

Leslie Robinson
Severna Park
Submitted for publication to The Tribruin

Tired of terribly tragic or sappy romances? Jam-packed with thrilling escapades, rebellious pranks, and even magic, this show is one for the books. So, turn the delightful pages of "Matilda the Musical" with Patapsco High School and Center for the Arts!

Based on the Roald Dahl novel about a young girl genius, "Matilda the Musical" by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin was a smash hit, winning four Tony awards and countless other accreditations. Trapped in a family that doesn't value or even wants her, Matilda finds companionship in books until she finally starts school. She quickly finds friends in her classmates Lavender and Nigel, but her favorite person is her kind teacher, Miss Honey. She endures the evil actions of the bully Headmistress Trunchbull and her cruel parents until she discovers her own magical powers. Weaved throughout with a thrilling story of Matilda's about an Acrobat and Escapologist and thoroughly spirited songs, this show is a must-see!

"Matilda" demands constant energy and enthusiasm and the cast delivered. Songs like "Revolting Children" and "School Song" were lively and powerful, pulling the audience in from the very beginning. Although there were times when it was hard to hear lyrics, the cast's stage presence and emotions kept all engaged. Their clear enjoyment and unique characters made every full ensemble number interesting and something to look forward to.

Madison Wise as Matilda perfectly blended strength of will, feistiness, and vulnerability to bring the title character to life. Her performance in songs like "Quiet" and "Naughty" showcased superb vocals and wonderfully empathetic acting. Lavender, Matilda's self-proclaimed best friend, was played endearingly by Candace Cosentino bringing a new dynamic and characterization to the stage. With daring physicality and impressive vocal range, Rebecca Halcott perfectly embodied the larger than life antagonist, Miss Trunchbull. The duo of Wyn Wyatt and Mason Pilon as Mrs. Wormwood and Rudolpho simply delighted in songs like "Loud," hilariously playing the extravagant dance partners.

Ethan Kehring playing Mr. Wormwood was impressive, demonstrating true acting and vocal talent, bringing out the comic aspects of his character. As the Acrobat and Escapologist, Trinity Joseph and Paul Steinert perfectly captured the essence of Matilda's tale, with genuine heartfelt emotions and smooth melodies. Delaney Crawford's talented portrayal of the sweet Miss Honey stole the hearts of everyone, the audience rooting for her well-deserved happy ending.

Madison Chester and her team's costumes were coordinated and personalized to each character, giving insight into individual characters' personalities before they even spoke. The Patapsco Music Magnet orchestra brought a lively whimsicality to the score, even making transitions enjoyable to all! Similarly, lighting by Cory Faison and team was fun, using red and green for tense moments and a chaotic light flashing that was perfectly fitting for "Revolting Children."

Patapsco marvelously took on such a charming yet cheeky show and turned it into their stellar production of "Matilda the Musical." Perfectly, it delivered the message that if you want to change your story, you might have to be "a little bit naughty."