Matilda is OBVIOUSLY winning best musical.... — Page 3

You'll see from my posts that I'm not a huge Matilda fan, but I still found its script, score and production considerably more sophisticated, challenging and worthy as theater art than Kinky Boots. I do expect the Matilda reviews next week to best the KB reviews by a wide margin.

I can't believe Douglas Hodge won for that awful La Cage Revival. I cannot believe Contact, Once and Titanic won best musicals.And Titanic won over the Life and the Life was far superior!

For probably this reason Matilda will win. They just do this to piss me off. I know.... totally egocentric right? But I'm telling you they just sit in a room and figure hot how to piss Goldenboy off. Douglas Hodge.. Indeed!

I found Matilda annoying, overated with a horrible cloying score.

And its not that I'm anti British as someone pointed out. I am a huge fan of Oliver, Billy Elliot, the scores to Stop the World I want to get off and the Roar of the Greasepaint.. and even Blood Brothers. Lettice and Lovage makes me happy. Don't get me started on the Killing of Sister George which I love.
I just think Matilda is over hyped and over rated.

Well, everyone remember: Matilda is opening next week, so it'll have reviews. And I'm guessing that it will be mostly positive.

>> It is a MORONICALLY STUPID show wrapped up in a very pretty, professional package.

I agree with you that Matilda is "wrapped up in a very pretty, professional package", but I don't find it moronic or stupid. IMO, everything about Matilda is overly exaggerated, just as it might be from the perspective of a girl Matilda's age and character. IMO, that's why the books have been so popular.

The spoiled children in "Miracle" are exceptionally spoiled and self-centered. Likewise, Matilda's parents aren't just stupid - they're stoopid (with TWO 'o's...) and SOOOO dumb that they can't distinguish between male/female genitalia, or even have the ability to recognize being pregnant.

Personal taste (I know), but I found the humor in those representations.

The characterizations of Miss Honey and Miss Trunchbull, and even the set pieces are also overly exaggerated. But I can relate to all the hyper extensions of reality when I put it in the perspective and imagination of a girl Matilda's age.

Personally, I LOVE it! I'm also a fan of how dark the humor is. (I like Tim Burton movies, too.)

All of the "life lessons" and points of view expressed in Matilda's score also reflect that over-exaggerated perspective of a child. The "goodiess" are really good and the "badiess" are really bad. Regarding the score, I think those expressions and perspectives are elements that Minchin has really been spot on in capturing and characterizing.

You can probably tell that I REALLY love the score. I have so many favorite numbers, I wouldn't know how to pick just one, but songs like "Telly", "A Little Bit Naughty" and "Revolting Children" are so catchy and cleverly written (for my tastes!). I also happen to "get" and appreciate their dark humor and childish perspectives.

Another number I really like is "When I Grow Up". Besides the clever lyrics, I am tickled by the over-extended musical phrases that go on just a shade longer than they should - very similar to child speak. I also love how the adult (Miss Honey) admits that even she is still not "grown up" yet.

"I'm Here" is a very sweet and touching number. "Quiet" is (IMO) a perfect capsule of Matilda's feelings and (at least on the OC CD) is sung to perfection. I hope the American Matildas can sing it with as much emotion.

I could go on and on (but probably shouldn't)... My point is "chacun a son gout". I can see how you might find the show "moronic" or "stupid", but in its defense, I appreciate the childish perspective and even (in fact) think it's one of the show's many strengths and why it deserves to be considered for "Best Musical".

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EDIT:
I'm listening to the Matilda CD again, this afternoon and finding even more stuff I like in the score - in particular, the song, "Loud".

How can anyone NOT like that number? Musically, it's so much FUN! In terms of how it moves the story along: I think it shows exactly where Matilda gets her best attributes from (genetically).

Even though Mrs. Wormwood is stoopid (...two 'o's), this is the number where she actually gives her daughter some good advice as a mother (in her own stoopid and self-centered fashion). And it's advice that Matilda actually follows (in her more mature, even-as-a-child fashion).

...And how could anyone miss the sarcasm/social criticism in the writing of "Telly"?

Holy cow, I LOVE this show! :^D

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 10:42 AM

Re - what John says...LOUD is sung to Miss Honey, not Matilda. I know some creatives think it's the weakest song of the lot and it has been tinkered with so much.

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Why exactly will anyone be stunned if Matilda gets raves here? Look, it's fine if you didn't like it, but the show got raves at Stratford and in London, and won a great deal of critical awards. I'm not saying the reaction her will be identical, mind you, but it's not like it's a universally reviled show. I will be much more surprised if it gets poor reviews. Personally, I'd also be pretty disappointed, since I think it's a really terrific and touching show.

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Let's not forget that thy evil lord Ben Brantley has already given it a rave review: http://theater.nytimes.com/2012/02/01/theater/reviews/matilda-by-the-royal-shakespeare-company-in-london.html?_r=0

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American audiences love the works of Roald Dahl, hence why a number of them have been adapted into movies with Americanised settings.

'Matilda' succeeds not because of a British mentality, but because it captures the essence of Dahl's characters and themes so perfectly.

His imagination existed through a child's eyes, hence why you are seeing this world through Matilda's perspective. That's why you need a strong enough actress to carry the show, as it is her story that is being told. Not seen any of the Broadway girls, but each London one I saw did a fantastic job on what what is a very taxing and wordy role.

I don't think NYC critics will slate this show just because of cultural differences or whatever. They will praise it as it is a funny, touching and clever new adaptation of a well-loved story.

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I found it to be torture...I was bored and completely underwhelmed throughout. Perhaps I'm getting tired of the scene, but paying 150 I want more than a great seat...I'd really like to be entertained. So disappointed, but I really hated it and found it to be bereft of laughs.

Wonderful show for all the mommies and their little girls. Made me wish I was sitting through The Prime of Miss Jane Brody, or even The Utter Glory of Morrisey Hall.

Updated On: 4/6/13 at 08:16 PM

Thinking that the show was impossibly mediocre, I still think it'll get raves and it'll run. It's just yet another example of hype gone wild. It was a nice show, I enjoyed it, but it's in no way anything beyond a fun, nicely written kids show. But because of the hype and the ticket price, people need to justify paying what they pay by exaggerating the merits of everything they say. Matilda's hardly the only show this happens with.

Not saying it isn't possible to love this show on its merits, but every couple seasons there's a show that rides on a wave of hype that's impossible to live up to. Spring Awakening and Book of Mormon come to mind.

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>>Re - what John says...LOUD is sung to Miss Honey, not Matilda.
DOH!! My bad! Yes, you're correct. ;^)

>>I thinks it's absurd to compare it to Light in the Piazza. Why is that relevant at all?
It's not. My original comment was in agreement with broadway guy that there isn't much competition this year. I expressed my opinion that I like Matilda a lot and continued, "But if, say, The Light in the Piazza were brand new on Broadway this year, Matilda would be my runner up for Best Musical."

"I will always cast my ballot for the ambition and originality over exuberant but well-tread fun."

I'd like to live in a world where it's not one or the other.

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