I love Roald Dahl. I may have mentioned it once or twice in passing.
I also love Tim Minchin. He shares a similar world view to me, is an amazing musician and makes me chuckle. Sometimes I think he is far too intelligent. For example, I saw him once do a philosophical joke. I studied philosophy at uni for three years (admittedly I’ve forgotten most of it now) and the joke went over my head.
When I heard that he’d written a musical based on Matilda I got excited. It was a bit like that time when Ben Folds and Nick Hornby collaborated. A mixture of a musician I like and an author I like gets me excited. These two art forms don’t generally cross over much.
I suggested to my girlfriend Jo that instead of getting each other a physical present, we arrange a day out for each other. Shortly after I suggested that, I started hoping that she remembered watching Matilda was on my bucket list. When we told each other what we had planned, and she revealed she’d got us tickets, I had a big grin on my face!
In fact, last week, I actually watched two musicals based on Dahl’s work. Our staff conference at work involved us going to see Charlie and the Chocolate Factory at Drury Lane which was extremely enjoyable.
Whilst the Hornby/Folds album is good, and Charlie is great, the mixture of Minchin and Dahl blows both of them out of the water.
I’d heard lots of good things about Matilda from people who had been but I was still not prepared for how great it was and how the songs would be stuck in my head for the next few days.
The characters – especially the grown ups – are brilliant characatures that match the Quintin Blake illustrations from the book. I hadn’t seen the posters outside the Cambridge Theatre so I didn’t realise that Miss Trunchbull was played by a man and definitely let out a giggle when the reveal happened. Although to be honest, I was giggling throughout.
It was also very faithful to the source material and the parts where it diverged fitted in so well that you almost forget that they’ve been added.
I’m struggling to go on without adding any more spoilers. However, I urge you to go see it if you have any interest in Dahl, Minchin, musicals, theatre or laughing as it is quite simply the best show I’ve seen.