That's how I felt about Kinky Boots. It just seemed so generic.
Matilda at least seemed creatively different from the usual "acceptance" and "we're all the same people" type of message that's so popular now. Harvey Fierstein had been writing that message since the dawn of time.
Matilda isn't perfect and I do wish they worked with the kids more on their diction, but it was a million times more interesting. Plus, at least the story was going for different layers (education, escaping into literature, not taking crap, finding little ways to fight back, revolting against the status quo, being part of a politically-powerless class, etc.). Yes, those are themes we've dealt with before, but at least it's something substantive and more than a superficial tolerance lesson one would get from Glee.
Thinking about it now, it was obvious that Kinky Boots was going to win. Even though it's adapted from a British film, the production was all-American. It had a uplifting message, drag performances, a big lesson learned, Cyndi Lauper, a production team of Broadway insiders, and a cast of all-adults (Broadway people as opposed to imports) which makes it more relatable. Matilda had a lot of strikes against it in terms of being relatable, and for some reason, people assume shows involving children are somehow not as deep or "mature" or "adult" as shows that don't have children front and center.
Anyway, I find it funny how personal things get here and how people respond to others with "you mean in your opinion!" I mean...yeah, everyone is basically just shilling their own opinion on this message board.
"I've got to get me out of here
This place is full of dirty old men
And the navigators and their mappy maps
And moldy heads and pissing on sugar cubes
While you stare at your books."
Updated On: 6/10/13 at 02:06 AM