Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical
at Woodrow Wilson High School

Reviewed on November 15, 2019

Rebecca Connor
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News

What happens when you mix ungrateful parents, a cruel headmistress, and a terrifying school? Why, a sweet and clever little girl, of course! Woodrow Wilson High School had it all and created a show of triumph and revenge that you won't want to miss.

As generational conflicts emerge in our world, Matilda's story about a young girl overcoming obstinate adults and her obstacles, with the help of a little bit of magic, becomes especially relevant. Based on Roald Dahl's book by the same name, Matilda the Musical was adapted for the stage by book writer Dennis Kelly and lyricist Tim Minchin and premiered in the West End on November 24, 2011. The story follows the title character as her hope for education clashes with her parents and her school's principal, Miss Trunchbull. Still, Matilda manages to find the best in her situation with the help of the endearing Miss Honey, who aides Matilda in her effort to save the school and herself.

Matilda (Maya Eng Garcia) showed beautiful sincerity throughout the production, making every facial expression both powerful and subtle at the same time. Her childlike innocence in the beginning was well-performed, and she displayed her strong range of vocals in numbers such as "Quiet", transitioning smoothly from belting to soft vocals. In stark contrast with Matilda was Miss Agatha Trunchbull (James Steinman), who consistently displayed disdain for the children throughout the show with his vocals matching the strength of his character, particularly in "The Smell of Rebellion".

Miss Honey (Izzy Weimer) brought a unique depth to her character, portraying her role with equal parts sweetness and self-pity, making her struggle to find her strength crystal clear. Her voice stood out every time she sang, hitting high notes and soft sounds in a way that perfectly encapsulated her character. Not to be forgotten were Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Woodfen McLean and Lily Perez), whose brashness was perfectly displayed in sassy intonations and bold movements. Their chemistry was hilarious, even when they didn't get along on stage.

The student ensemble was incredibly well coordinated for such a large group, their movements crisp and clean throughout the show, and every member was consistently doing something in the background to keep the show looking natural. Rudolpho (Hiram Valladares) stood out, his sassy and bold movements making the audience laugh without him even saying a word. The Acrobat (Sophia Kennedy) and The Escapologist (John Joire) had remarkable chemistry, telling a beautiful subplot with hardly a word, illustrating the story with complex movements in "Acrobat Story 3".

The tech elements of Matilda were truly astounding, with an incredible amount of moving set pieces, each that perfectly captured the scene it was meant to represent, along with phenomenal designs by the set team (Clea Tang, Miranda Rothberg, Sam Van Order, and Ruby Mason), often transitioning quickly between fun, colorful sets to the dark halls of Matilda's school. The lighting (Sam Marks, Annette Leber, and the Wilson Lighting Team) was consistently symbolic, and every time the stage lit up green, Miss Trunchbull's influence was purposefully felt, as well as a fun, multicolored setting for the number "Loud". Each character has a costume (London Gracey, Koli Bennett-Bose, Izzy Rosenberg, and Sophie Bruch) that complimented every personality, with Miss Honey in a light pink dress and the Wormwood family colored garish green and purple from head to toe. These elements brought together a fantastic show by Woodrow Wilson High School, one that was a surefire success.

Shaylen Estrella
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Cappies News 2

"The Smell of Rebellion" filled the auditorium of Woodrow Wilson High School as the cast of Matilda heartily told the mighty story of the "Revolting Children."

Matilda, based upon the book of the same title by Roald Dahl, won several Tony Awards, including one for Best Book of a Musical in 2013. The plot follows Matilda Wormwood, an imaginative and phenomenal young girl whose passion for reading is suppressed by her thick-witted family and the spine-chilling Miss Trunchbull, the headmistress of Matilda's school. The stage musical features all of the same characters from the book we've come to learn and love: Matilda, Miss Honey, and of course, Agatha Trunchbull.

Woodrow Wilson High School's production of Matilda was nothing short of exceptional. The student ensemble commanded the stage, illustrating the same youthful spirit the students of Roald Dahl's original story possessed. Their high energy performance, combined with the talent of Maya Eng Garcia (Matilda), captivated the audience and brought them into the world of the "Revolting Children."

Maya Eng Garcia brought the small, but mighty Matilda to life, especially in the song "Quiet," as she showcased her wide vocal range and strong control. Garcia's performance was jaw-dropping as she took on an incredibly believable child-like wonder with the role. As for the antagonist, Miss Trunchbull, James Steinman successfully filled the shoes of the evil, child-hating headmistress. Steinman established his artistry the moment he came into view, as he commanded and demanded the attention of the audience. Steinman's chilling acting skills combined with his powerful vocals made for a perfect representation of Trunchbull's character.

Caught in the middle of the strife between Matilda and Trunchbull were Miss Honey and the students; Izzy Weimer and the student ensemble. Weimer's ethereal vocals and soothing portrayal of Honey worked beautifully in opposition with Steinman's portrayal of the tyrannical Trunchbull. The student ensemble, with sharp movements, high energy, and remarkable dedication to their roles, told the story of Matilda strikingly. The mood of the show was especially heightened by the dancers, including the incredible Emma Younger and Sophia Kennedy. Their technique seemed effortless as they danced across the stage in numbers like "Loud."

The set, comprised of many moving pieces, embodied the numerous settings in an aesthetically pleasing way. Giant ABC blocks and children's books artistically captured Roald Dahl's writing of the studious Matilda. However, the other side of the seemingly innocent set depicted the intimidating features of Trunchbull, especially with the impressive "chokeys," equipped with giant spikes and nails. Another notable technical element of Matilda was the sound. Although there were microphone problems, the energy remained high, with creative sound cues such as echoes and burps. The story was told excellently, and through these elements, Woodrow Wilson High School successfully portrayed a colorful, youthful frame of mind.

Woodrow Wilson High School's production of Matilda depicted a truly colorful extravaganza of the "Revolting Children" of Roald Dahl's original story. The cast, performing beautifully as "Revolting Children" or spine-chilling headmistresses, made Matilda a musical to remember.

Gus Cobba
South County High School
Submitted for publication to Patch.com

The children are running amok and basking in their youth. BUMP! BUMP! BUMP! The school children tremble and shake with fear! The terrible Miss Agatha Trunchbull is calling orders, and wants you to join the line! This is Woodrow Wilson High School's magical production of Matilda the Musical!

Matilda the Musical is based on a book by Roald Dahl and a widely popular film adaptation of the same name. Dennis Kelly adapted the musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin in 2010. Matilda is the story of a young girl who is highly intelligent in comparison to her incompetent family. She goes through mistreatment by their hands and deals with an even bigger threat by the name of Trunchbull, Agatha Trunchbull. Throughout the story, Matilda tries to overcome adversity at home and school with the help of other school children, and her teacher Miss Honey.

The cast displayed an exciting and consistent amount of energy for the duration of the show which enamored the audience. The dance numbers including the school children highlighted the amount of coordination put on stage and into choreography.

Matilda (Maya Eng GarciaA) truly embodied the spirit of a child and handled the mixture of the serious and comedic scenes throughout the show. Garcia managed her British accent consistently going hand in hand with the show. She also had very big character choices as she told the story of the Escapologist and the Acrobat. Her hands changed levels as she displayed an exciting parallel between storytelling and execution. The terrible Miss Agatha Trunchbull (James Steinman) struck fear into the eyes of the school children every time he stepped onto the stage. Trunchbull is a female role and male actors have to change their vocals and mannerisms. Steinman did just that and even made the audience tremble in their seats.

Mr. Wormwood (Woodfen McLean) pulled the audience back into the show by kicking off act two with great comedic timing and connection with the audience. McLean's portrayal of Wormwood showed maturity and helped differentiate the adults from the children. Rudolpho (Hiram Valladares) displayed a great amount of stage presence for the duration of the show. Valladares made bold choices with his dancing by taking every step with purpose. Valladares used his stage time wisely and made Rudolpho his own. Mics at times faded in, out, or actors projected into the mics too much which caused sporadic noise. This only showed in the first act, although actors became clearer through mics in the second act.

The lighting cues were thoroughly thought out. The lighting scheme of the show was instrumental to the different moods of the show. The set construction was well thought out as it showed versatility and could be used for other things. The set painting used bright colors for the library environment. In contrast, it was also utilized for the dark, dreary colors of the gates to the school. The costumes in the show helped distinguish the adults from the children as well.

Presenting childlike spirit through their hard work, Woodrow Wilson High School put on a performance worthy of two skips and a hop on the playground.

Jack Dalrymple
Annandale High School
Submitted for publication to Georgetowner

Green hair, massive burps, girls being spun by their pigtails, selfish parents, a ruthless principal, and lots of chocolate cake, only scratches the surface of some of the wild antics that entailed Woodrow Wilson's production of Matilda the Musical. With large in sync group numbers, commitment, and all around fun, Woodrow Wilson taught the audience how to be "loud" with their rendition of the childhood classic.

Based on the 1988 children's novel by Roald Dahl, the musical adaptation of Matilda focuses on Matilda, a young girl with the special gift of telekinesis. She loves to read, but is constantly reprimanded by her family for wanting to educate herself. On her first day of school, she meets Miss Honey, who helps her conquer her obstacles, while Matilda helps her regain her life as well. The musical originally started in London on the West End at the Cambridge Theatre and had its Broadway premiere in 2013 at the Shubert Theatre where it was nominated for 13 Tony Awards.

Leading the cast as the precocious young girl with supernatural powers was Maya Eng Garcia as Matilda. Garcia immersed herself into the role with childlike physicality and a sense of childhood wonder. She impressed the audience with well controlled vocals, most specifically in the song "Quiet". Garcia had endearing chemistry with her new teacher Miss Honey played by Izzy Weimer. Weimer captured the essence of Miss Honey beautifully with her subtle nature and nervous tendencies. She showcased her gentle, but beautiful vocals, which highlighted the meekness of the character.

As Matilda's overly self centered, evil parents, Lily Perez and Woodfen McLean raised many well deserved laughs as Mrs. and Mr. Wormwood, respectively. As the overbearing ruthless dictator, James Steinman as Agatha Trunchbull, proved his vocal and acting prowess in the songs "Hammer" and "The Smell of Rebellion".

One major standout of the night was Hiram Valladares as the salsa dancing, scene stealing, Rudolph. Valladares quite literally stole the scene every time he stepped on stage. His constant commitment and hilarious dance moves, had every audience member watching him as he strutted across the stage in numbers like "Loud".

Further capturing the childlike atmosphere of the show, the set designed by Clea Tang, Miranda Rothberg, Sam Van Order, and Ruby Mason was filled with massive towers of books with childhood favorites and letter blocks galore. The lights designed by Sam Marks, Annette Leber, and the Wilson Lighting Team amazingly captured the mood of each scene. Specifically whenever evil was taking control, the specials would turn green, or when it Miss Honey was by herself, the lights shifted to a softer pinker tone. The Costumes by London Gracey, Koli Bennett-Bose, Izzy Rosenberg, and Sophie Bruch were well executed especially for the many child school costumes.

Despite some mic issues, the cast never faltered in their ability to get the story across. With beautiful lighting, great storytelling, and all around whimsical, Woodrow Wilson showed everyone that sometimes "you have to a little bit naughty" to make a change.

Grace Hodges
Teen Theatre Company
Submitted for publication to

Do you smell that? Why, is that… the smell of rebellion? Watch out for the revolting children of Woodrow Wilson High School as they attempt to combat the terrors of Mrs. Trunchbull in their sensational and delightful performance of Matilda the Musical!

Based upon the beloved children's novel by widely adored author Roald Dahl, Matilda the Musical was penned by lyricist Tim Minchin and adapted by writer Dennis Kelly. The charming story centers on a gifted 5-year-old-girl named Matilda Wormwood, who is armed with telekinesis, a knack for books, and a drive to set things right in her verbally abusive family and militaristic-like school. With a large range of ages amongst the characters, one may wonder how a high school is able to differentiate the ages to the audience. Wilson High School harnessed this seemingly disadvantage to their favor, showcasing their talent through skirt lengths, child-like physicality, and voice changes to mimic the ages they were attempting to portray.

With a somber entrance that captured the audience's hearts the moment she stepped onto stage, Maya Eng Garcia's performance as Matilda Wormwood caused the audience to question how they were dealing with the difficult problems in their life. Garcia cleverly used her slouching shoulders and looks of determination in her fiery eyes to showcase Matilda's mental strength in her inspirational solo "Naughty."

With hair as high and mighty as his ego, Mr. Wormwood, played by Woodfen McLean, hysterically brought back the audience's attention to the musical with his self-centered and prideful line delivery in his performance of "Telly." Stealing the spot-light with his fabulous hair flips, sharp sashays, and shimmying shoulders, Hiram Valladares's keen performance of the ballroom-dancing-obsessed Rudolpho had the audience's sides splitting with every appearance.

With her calm, loving facial expressions and whispering voice, Izzy Weimer's performance of Miss Honey embodied the pleasant, warmhearted, and soft leader one may think of when imagining their favorite teacher. Using trembling hands and covering her ears, Weimer cleverly hinted at the abuse that her character had painfully endured in her past. As the pain behind Miss Honey's past and the fuel to the fear inside the school children's minds, James Steinman's superb portrayal of Agatha Trunchbull had the audience grinning ear to ear with his high pitched shrills and blazing looks of (wrongful) purpose.

Viewers could never forget the outstanding performance of the student ensemble, who brought Miss Honey's room and Trunchbull's school to life on stage. With synchronized stomps, shoulder shrugs, and rapid crunches, the student ensemble committed themselves to filling up the entire stage with both child-like fright in "School Song" and ingenuity in "Revolting Children."

Behind the visionary story of the revolting children stands the innovative production crew, connecting their individual talents to produce tangible objects to convey the imagination of children. Prop Crew (Colyar Trimble and Wilson Prop Team) ingeniously designed the infamous chocolate cake by mixing polyol and diisocyanate, as well as creating it out of foam, allowing Bruce to "eat it" on stage. Lighting crew (Sam Marks, Annette Leber, and Wilson Lighting Team) brilliantly used colorized lighting to utilize the feelings of each character. Lime green light was used to employ the feeling of Trunchbull's power, where as peach orange was engaged during the Wormwood's shenanigans.

Though Matilda's life situations were nothing short of easy, Woodrow Wilson High School's performance of Matilda the Musical proved that no matter how small you may seem, "you mustn't let a little thing like, ‘little' stop you!"