How is the Matilda Tour doing?

My family and I will be in Chicago in March and we were hoping to see Matilda. We will only be in Chicago for 2 days, the 22nd and the 23rd. We would only be able to make the performance on the 22nd, and I'm very uncomfortable with attending opening night performances. So, here's my question: is the tour in good shape? I read a while back that it wasn't doing so well. Would it be a good idea to attend opening night? Thanks for any help.

Thanks! I think we'll go!

?Macavity? said: "My family and I will be in Chicago in March and we were hoping to see Matilda. We will only be in Chicago for 2 days, the 22nd and the 23rd. We would only be able to make the performance on the 22nd, and I'm very uncomfortable with attending opening night performances. So, here's my question: is the tour in good shape? I read a while back that it wasn't doing so well. Would it be a good idea to attend opening night? Thanks for any help.

"

I adored the show on Broadway with the original cast but was very disappointed in the tour, which I saw a couple months ago. The humor didn't land, the performances were inconsistent, and there were sound issues. Hopefully some of that has gotten better or maybe it was an off night.

I am so glad to hear that the tour is in better shape. I know that it had a rough start. I absolutely LOVE this show. I have seen it six times on Broadway and would gladly go six more times!

Are there any references at all in the show which implies they are in Britain? if not just axe the accents altogether. I was extremely disappointed when I saw the tour here in LA, I could barely understand a word out of Matilda's mouth!

The accents for the Matilda tour, at least for all the kids, were axed sometime ago, I believe either just before or after the stop in Seattle. So if people have had a problem with the hearing the kids, it isn't an accent issue. The adults (for the most part) still have British accents including Matilda's parents. Logical, that.

I saw the show in Los Angeles with the accents still in place and had no problems understanding the kids, apart from the first number which, if this board is to be believed, has been an issue since London. However, friends who sat elsewhere in the Ahmanson had major problems understanding. Make of that what you will...

Updated On: 2/18/16 at 10:00 PM

I saw it for the first and only time on Broadway last month and I wish they'd drop the accents. I don't think it's important to the story that they pretend to be Irish, and our Matilda sounded downright Irish at times...a bit odd and distracting.

And then I saw A View from the Bridge with a cast of Brits playing Italian-Americans and there were no accent issues whatsoever. :)

Fosse. The Matildas on Broadway are now doing an accent that can sound Irish. I asked a friend on the show about this back in the day and they said the producers decided to change the accent for the Matildas only from the original British to something else. It was meant to go all the way to American but was then pulled back to a British accent with some American sounds (like having R consonants) - which can sound Irish. The original four used full British accents and I thought they did a pretty good job with it. Better than many adult actors I've seen both in and out of NYC. But that's my opinion...

jen_in_toronto said: "I saw it for the first and only time on Broadway last month and I wish they'd drop the accents. I don't think it's important to the story that they pretend to be Irish, and our Matilda sounded downright Irish at times...a bit odd and distracting.

Ooops, meant to say "I don't think it's important to the story that they pretend to be British/English." Only the lead girl sounded Irish.

Updated On: 2/20/16 at 01:19 AM

Saw it last month in Durham. My whole party, composed of theatre addicts, loved it.

KJisgroovy said: "A lot of the major reviews here in Chicago point out the horrible sound. What's the deal? How can they still be struggling with sound issues? Do you think it just takes them a little bit of time to figure out the sound mix and it will improve over the course of the run?

What gives?

"

Well, first off I want to say that when I saw it last Tuesday in Chicago, that was my first time seeing it. Though I did have the OBC album. I thought it was near perfect for an opening night. No big sound problems, although heard some people in the lobby complain about how loud it was during intermission. I thought the sound was just fine, but again, I gave it slack considering it was opening night. Also, I LOVED the show, it was incredible! I'm surprised it didn't win the Tony for Best Musical. Sorry, that's not fair, I haven't seen Kinky Boots. KB must be one heck of a musical to beat Matilda to the Tony. Anyway, only thing that bugged me was how the kids said "He Can't" during "Bruce". I know they dropped the accents for the tour (which I didn't mind except for that part) but it just sounded odd after listening to the album.

Call_me_jorge said: "I read a Facebook post from someone saying how horrible the show was and I almost wanted to cry. I'm seeing it on Sunday in Chicago and I love the movie and the cast recording and I just don't want this tour to ruin my love of the Matilda story. I really hope my Matilda doesn't have any accent or diction issues. Here's a link https://m.facebook.com/groups/336966823148489?view=permalink&id=584449921733510&ref=m_notif¬if_t=group_comment_mention

Its from a closed group so it might not work, also in the comments so many people were being negative about it. I'm scared. I'd rather just wait to see the London production...



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Don't listen to them. I saw the show back in Feburary (so with the cast you'll be seeing) and they were all great. The three girls who rotate Matilda are all very strong actresses and singers. I've seen each of them perform and they delivered the role extremely well (I saw them all at the very very beginning of their runs) and they've only gotten better as time has gone by. David who plays Miss Trunchbull is fabulously insane in the part, one of my top three miss Trunchbulls. Quinn who plays Mr Wormwood makes the role more comedic than others with his hilarious body movement and gestures. Cassie as Mes Wormwood gives an extremely energetic performance every time I've seen her. The show is in great shape the only issues they ever have is sound and they usually get it figured out after a day or so. I can only identify one weak link in the show which is the Miss Honey who I'm not overly fond of. But she still does quite well. I just don't like how she plays the role as really cold I prefer Jill Paice and Allison Case's much warmer interpretion of Miss Honey.

Not everyone likes all shows but if you've liked the music and story for a while now I'm sure you'll have an amazing time Sunday.