MATILDA Previews- Page 8

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 3/6/13 at 11:17pm

I haven't read the book in a while but tonally it's much closer to Dahl's style than the film was, and it seems closer to what I remember the book being. I also love the whole look of the production; one of my favorite things about Dahl's stories is that they are very dark but there's also a sense of whimsy and childlike joy and mischievousness to them amidst the darkness, and I think the production really captures that with the visuals. It seems very Dahl-esque as far as what you see and hear, which is very cool.

Last night the sound was in pretty good shape for a second preview. It was a little hard to understand some words at the very beginning but it got cleaned up very quickly and I stopped having any trouble understanding what was being said by probably the third song.

[Belle9]

Posted: 3/6/13 at 11:43pm

I wonder why Oona went on again. Maybe the other girls aren't ready yet?

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:08am

Maybe they're just pulling names out of a hat each night.

[Belle9]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:09am

You'd think they would at least let each girl have her opening preview before they started randomizing things.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:13am

They have 5 weeks of previews, maybe they're letting each girl go on a couple of times before they give them 3 days/performances off in a row to help solidify everything.

[dramamama611]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:14am

They can't be the fairness police in all thing.

The scheduled girl might be sick (lots of illness going around), or not ready or a hundred other things.

[Skip2]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:15am

As for seating at the Shubert, I'd not want to sit in mid to rear mezzanine. I was in 2nd row of balcony and it was great.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:17am

Someone mentioned that in London, two girls would share the first half of the week and the other two would perform the second half. I suspect that tomorrow night, Sophia will be performing.

[Belle9]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:48am

I'm upset that I spent more money for a worse seat, but oh well. You live and learn. And hopefully I'll get the chance to see it again in the balcony. :)

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:55am

This is the greatest show - I had such a wonderful time and will definitely be back. It is an exciting, energetic and totally fun show for the whole family. Oona was amazing as was the rest of the company - those kids do more work onstage than the Annie orphans.

Student rush was available today - the person next to me in second row orchestra right got their ticket for $27. The first three rows are extremely close to the stage, and on the extreme sides there were entrances and exits by the actors. I was right in front of the steps on stage right and I was afraid that if an actor lost their footing they would have ended up in my lap. The props were another highlight of the evening - the balloons during the opening scene and Matilda's ruler ended up in the front row. And the confetti cannons - THANK YOU to whoever thought of that. It was like New Year's with Matilda.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:47pm

I found a recording of Miracle on the first day of previews on YouTube. It also has footage of the number from London. It sounds incredible!

But, I have a question: Do they still have the MATILDA curtain at the beginning of Miracle or not?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:54pm

There is no curtain at the top of the show. The stage is open and "Matilda" is spelled out on lit blocks/tiles that are placed on swings hanging at various heights, as well as being repeated in the floor tiles.

I loved the use of all the tiles. I spent most of the time leading up to the start of the show figuring out all the words in the false proscenium.

[perfectlymarvelous]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 12:55pm

There is no curtain, but they do have little swings with block letters spelling out "matilda" at the beginning of each act.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 1:03pm

For those going tonight (and in the future) let us know which Matilda is on and/if there's any understudies/swings on in the show.

And, I love what the set designer did for both the set. It's great to see set designers who experiment more with the proscenium/set.

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 1:35pm

Does anyone know who plays the Doctor in the opening number?

[Starship]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 1:42pm

@kyl3fong2 - The opening night cast consisted of:

Doctor - John Arthur Greene
Mrs. Wormwood - Lesli Margherita
Matilda - Oona Laurence
Mr. Wormwood - Gabriel Ebert
Michael Wormwood - Taylor Trensch
Mrs. Phelps - Karen Aldridge
Miss Honey - Lauren Ward
The Escapoloogist - Ben Thompson
The Acrobat - Samantha Sturm
Miss Trunchbull - Bertie Carvel
Rudolpho - Ryan Steele
Cook - Betsy Struxness
Sergei - John Sanders
Henchman - Thayne Jasperson
Henchman - Colin Israel
Henchwoman - Tamika Sonja Lawrence
Bruce - Jack Broderick
Lavender - Frenie Acoba
Nigel - Jared Parker
Amanda - Beatrice Tulchin
Eric - Ted Wilson
Alice - Ava DeMary
Hortensia - Emma Howard
Tommy - Judah Bellamy

Updated On: 3/7/13 at 01:42 PM

[Skip2]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 2:06pm

Yeah...the Doctor made an impression...

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 2:21pm

@Starship -- Thanks!! Does the person who plays the Doctor switch every night or is John Arthur Greene playing it every performance?

[Starship]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 2:29pm

@kyle3fong2 - I'm pretty sure that John Arthur Greene has the Doctor track.

The only change in casting on opening night was Ryan Steele (Henchman/Ensemble) on for Phillip Spaeth's usual track (Rudolpho) and Colin Israel swung in for Ryan Steele's Henchman/Ensemble tracks.


Updated On: 3/7/13 at 02:29 PM

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 2:44pm

Why isn't Ryan Steele playing Rudolpho regularly? Who the hell cast this show?

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 2:56pm

Ryan Steele was Rudolpho last night; the dancing was insane.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 3:06pm

Last night again, too? Wonder what's up with Phillip Spaeth...

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 3:33pm

Isn't he on SMASH?

[kyl3fong2]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 3:37pm

^He was in the first season but not this year.

[Starship]

Posted: 3/7/13 at 3:37pm

Yes, he is. But, I believe Smash concluded filming on Monday.