By: David Simmons

There is a refreshing satisfaction when one leaves a theatre after a musical with children at its core. Think back to the timeless musicals you have seen not only as a child, but also more recently on our South African stages. The Sound Of Music comes to mind with unique and loveable child performances. Then we have Annie, a powerful leading role by one knockout leading lady who is all action, drive and perseverance. And now, with our newest theatre recruits, all your favourite childhood characters have come to life. Matilda the Musical has gloriously taken ownership in a true Kaleidoscope of colour and show-stopping girl power!

You may have noticed the trend of strong and powerful female leads who withstand their own storms and invariably come out stronger at the end of their journey. Whether these leads are adults or young children, the message of empowerment is particularly clear and unstoppable. Matilda The Musical has a very strong message of acceptance and courage and delivers with showstopping vitality.

It’s always interesting to witness a story that most have come to love from the pages of a book that has been communicated through song, dance and visual characterisation. The effectiveness can be far more appealing and the message more powerful when altered for a live production. In Matilda The Musical’s case, this enchanting story ignites with a huge voice and the right amount of energy for a large-scale, truly unmissable theatrical offering.

Based on the 1988 children’s book by Roald Dahl, this hugely polished and fast paced musical is suitable for a new generation of impressionable young children. With some of the most wonderful and touching music you will hear on a stage, the cast, most of which are talented youngsters, enjoy scene after scene with maturity and ease. Tim Minchin’s music and lyrics are memorable and many of the showstopping numbers have become the anthem for the powerful childhood themes of the show. This coming of age story delivers a masterful and thoughtful script and with its strong message throughout, the appeal is extremely pleasing

The plot is simple and in fact rather sad, but as we know in stories like these, it’s not all downhill and mayhem for the leading lady in question. Matilda Wormwood is a lonely child who reads books to escape her awful upbringing. She is talented beyond her age and is far wiser than her dim-witted parents believe her to be. She immerses herself in the pages of her books and creates magical tales that take her to worlds of make-believe.

There are 3 Matilda’s playing the lead in the run of this musical feat, however opening night saw the wonderfully talented Morgan Santo playing the title role. One can describe her performance as a winning combination of sensitivity and resilience. She is a tiny package of energy and sheer likability and is a huge force on stage. The same can be said about Kitty Harris, who we saw in our second visit to this production. In her professional debut performance, this young talent revealed her true gift for the stage and is certainly a bright young theatre star to look out for.

Huge admiration needs to go to the LAMTA academy, for the magic and professional training they impart onto these impressive youngsters. Their directors, Anton Luitingh and Duane Alexander, also resident Director and Associate choreographer of this tour have moulded these incredible actors into shining examples of the wonderful young talent we have in this country.

Mr and Mrs Wormwood are played by Stephen Jubber and Claire Taylor respectively. Jubber, who will be remembered for a somewhat similar role in Annie, is effortlessly wakey and gives a brilliant portrayal of Matilda’s slimy, small town crook father. Taylor, recently seen in Rock of Ages, is a marvel as always to watch. Her stage presence is truly magnetic and her loud, boisterous and ditzy Mrs Wormwood needs huge recognition.

When Matilda starts at her new school, she meets the wonderfully and sweet voiced Miss Honey played by Bethany Dickson who’s grace and demeanour on stage is remarkable. Both Miss Honey and Matilda have to deal with their demons and tackle whatever insecurities they have head-on, and the sincerity of their relationship on stage, was hugely visible through their professional approach to their characters.

Children’s stories are never complete without a villain and there probably has never been a more shining character driven role than the one given by Ryan De Villiers who plays Miss Trunchbull. De Villiers gave an unforgettable performance on both nights we saw the production and whoever he was channelling came through in bucketloads! His performance is an admirable highlight of the show and if there were any doubts to see Matilda, let Ryan’s performance be your driving force. Miss Trunchbulls flamboyant character in true panto style humour and devilish charm, is so outrageous it’s hard to keep a straight face during her scenes.

The set design is glorious and filled with huge amounts of detail and charm. You will feel as if you are floating on the pages of a book with letters and words that make up the entire expanse of the stage. Set- and costume designer Rob Howell adds sparkle and magical touches. There are fast set changes, slick choreography and how can one forget Bruce Bogtrotter and his famous cake eating scene? With a live 8-piece band led by the brilliant Louis Zurnamer, Matilda is one Musical that should not be missed!

Matilda The Musical will be running at The Teatro at Montecasino until Sunday the 2^nd of December where it moves to the Artscape Theatre from the 11^th of December.

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Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical will begin its run from 17 October 2018 at the TEATRO at Montecasino before moving to Cape Town. This Royal Shakespeare Company production a proud collaboration between Pieter Toerien’s Production, and GWB Entertainment.

Pieter Toerien and GWB Entertainment are delighted to announce the casting of the eagerly anticipated Matilda, The Musical. The multi award-winning stage adaptation of the much loved Roald Dahl classic was originally produced for the stage by the Royal Shakespeare Company. The first International Tour will commence in South Africa in October 2018.

The coveted title role of Matilda will be shared by three uniquely talented young girls: Lilla Fleischmann, Kitty Harris and Morgan Santo.

They are accompanied by Ryan de Villers as the gigantic holy terror, Miss Trunchbull and Bethany Dickson as Matilda’s devoted teacher Miss Honey. Stephen Jubber and Claire Taylor play Mr and Mrs Wormwood, Matilda’s awful parents and the loveable librarian, Mrs Phelps will be played by Nompumelelo Mayiyane.

Matilda is joined by the other pupils at Crunchem Hall Primary School who will be played by Jack Fokkens, Keeran Isaacs, Robyn Ivey, Joshua LeClair, Levi Maron, Ipeleng Merafe, Megan Saayman, Taylor Salgado, Cameron Seear and Zac Gabriel Werb.

We are delighted to announce the remaining adult company: Jasmin Colangelo, Katrina Dix, Sinead Donnelly, Michael Gardiner, Kent Jeycocke, Weslee Lauder, Carlo McFarlane, Kenneth Meyer, Daniel Parrott, Adrianna Patlaszynska, Jonathan Raath and Logan Timbre

The New York production of Matilda The Musical opened on 11 April 2013 at Broadway’s Shubert Theatre to rapturous reviews and has been celebrated on 10 “Top Ten” lists for 2013, including TIME Magazine’s #1 Show of the Year.

Sweeping the board at the 2012 Laurence Olivier Awards, winning a record-breaking seven awards, Matilda The Musical has gone on to take Broadway by storm winning four Tony Awards® and a Tony Honor for Excellence in the Theater for each of the four girls sharing the title role.

Matilda The Musical is directed by Tony Award® winner Matthew Warchus (God of Carnage), who helms this production with a book by Tony Award®-winning playwright Dennis Kelly and music and lyrics by Tim Minchin.

The production has sets and costumes by Tony Award® winner Rob Howell, with choreography by Tony Award® winner Peter Darling, orchestrations, additional music and musical supervision by Christopher Nightingale, lighting by Tony Award® winner Hugh Vanstone, and sound by Simon Baker.

Casting is expected to to be announced at a later date.

Matilda, The Musical

Johannesburg

The Teatro

17 October – 2 December

Tuesdays to Fridays at 20:00

Saturdays at 15:00 and 20:00

Sundays at 13:30 and 18:00

Cape Town

Artscape Opera House

9 December – 13 January

Tuesdays to Fridays at 20:00

Saturdays at 15:00 and 20:00

Sundays at 13:30 and 18:00

Bookings now open at Computicket

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After receiving rave reviews across the board from critics and audiences alike, Eric Abraham and the Fugard Theatre’s grand-scale, smash hit, all South African production of West Side Story will be presented at the Mandela Theatre at the Joburg Theatre by popular demand from 24 January 2017.

West Side Story ended a staggeringly successful, sold-out run at the Artscape Opera House in Cape Town last year, and was the Fugard Theatre’s first out-of-house production, five years on from the theatre’s official launch in 2010.

West Side Story, Leonard Bernstein, Arthur Laurents and Stephen Sondheim’s musical theatre masterpiece, is based on an original conception of Jerome Robbins and is arguably one of the world’s greatest musicals. The stellar creative team is headed by Matthew Wild (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl) as director, Charl-Johan Lingjnfelder (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl) as musical director and conductor, and choreographer Louisa Talbot (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret, Funny Girl). The Fugard Theatre team has selected the finest South African talent for this production that first premiered on Broadway in New York in 1957. The superb cast of 40 is backed by a full Philharmonic Orchestra playing Bernstein’s magnificent score that includes iconic songs such as “Something’s Coming”, “Maria“, “I Feel Pretty” and “Tonight“.

Reprising their roles as Tony, Maria and Bernardo respectively, will be Fleur du Cap Theatre Award winners Jonathan Roxmouth (Topsy Turvy, A Handful of Keys, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat, The Phantom of the Opera) as Tony and Lynelle Kenned (Orpheus in Africa, Showboat, The Sound of Music) as Maria and Christopher Jaftha (The Sleeping Beauty, High School Musical) as Bernardo. Sharing the title role once more with Ms. Kenned will be the London-based actress and opera singer Filipa van Eck (Carmen, L’Aggripina) who will perform the role of Maria once a week. Bianca le Grange (Blood Brothers, District Six Kanala, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolour Dreamcoat) returns to reprise her role of Anita.

The Jets gang is led once again by Fleur du Cap nominee Stephen Jubber (Annie, Showboat) as Riff, backed by a superb cast that includes Daniel Buys (Cabaret, Saturday Night Fever) and Grant Almirall (Singin’ in the Rain, Jersey Boys) as Action. Mr. Buys will perform the role of Action from 24 January to 18 February 2017 and Mr. Almirall will perform the role from 19 February to 5 March 2017. Sven–Eric Müller (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret) as Diesel, Cameron Botha (Singin’ in the Rain, Sweeney Todd) as Snowboy, Clive Gilson (Sister Act, High School Musical) as Big Deal, LJ Neilson (Sound of Music, Dirty Dancing) as Anybody’s, Elzanne Crause (A Thousand Shepherds, Queen at the Ballet, The Phantom of the Opera) as Velma, Kristin Wilson (So You Think You Can Dance, Private Presley) as Graziella, Tamryn van Houten (Private Presley) as Minnie and Caitlin Clerk (Sister Act, Showboat) as Pauline. Adrian Galley (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret), returns as Doc. Brendan Murray (Amadeus, Romeo and Juliet) will perform the role of Krupke alternating with Richard Lothian (An Absolute Turkey, Taming of the Shrew) who will once again be the fight choreographer.

Christopher Jaftha, now a well-known Top Billing presenter, leads the Sharks as Bernardo, with Zolani Shangase (The Lion King, Orpheus in Africa) as Chino, Carlo McFarlane (Footloose- The Musical, A Cinderella Story: If the Shoe Fits) as Pepe, Duane Williams (Honey 3, Cinderella: If the Shoe Fits) as Indio, Thami Njoko (Swan Lake) as Luis, Tevin Wiener (Honey 3) as Toro, Sabelo Radebe (Peter Pan) as Nibbles, Kirsten Rossiter (Grease, Jersey Boys) as Rosalia, Chloe Perling (The Rocky Horror Show, Cabaret) as Consuela, Sarah-Ann van der Merwe (Reik Na Die Sterre) as Francisca, Natasha Hess (District Six Kanala, Orpheus in Africa) as Estella and Ipeleng Merafe (Swan Lake, A Thousand Shepherds) as Teresita. Tamryn van Houten (Private Presley, Spartacus of Africa),  Sibusiso Mxosana (Spartacus of Africa, Spring and Fall), Gemma Trehearn (Iris Warriors, A Thousand Shepherds) and Nurit Graff (Dirty Dancing, Showboat) complete the talented line up of remarkable performers.

Inspired by Shakespeare’s Romeo & Juliet, the tale is set in the Upper West Side neighbourhood in New York City in the mid-1950s. The musical explores the rivalry between the Jets and the Sharks, two street gangs of different backgrounds. The members of the Sharks are taunted by the Jets. The young protagonist, Tony, a former member of the Jets and best friend of the gang leader, Riff, falls in love with Maria, the sister of Bernardo, the leader of the Sharks. The sophisticated music, extended dance scenes, and the focus on social conflict marked a turning point in American musical theatre.

West Side Story is a must-see that is guaranteed to be a highlight on Johannesburg’s 2017 theatre calendar.

The season will run from 24 January to 5 March 2017 and tickets are now on sale through 021 461 4554, Computicket, 08619158000 or from the Joburg Theatre directly. Given the anticipation about this stellar musical and how the Cape Town season sold out, advance booking is highly recommended. The producers recommend an age restriction of 12 years with parental guidance. ADVANCE BOOKING IS RECOMMENDED. 

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