Matilda on Letterman- Page 2

[beagle]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:59am

I also think it's the best TV performance the Broadway cast has done so far. There was a lot of energy, the sound was good and the diction was very clear. I just wish they'd do another song on TV sometime, like "When I Grow Up" or "Quiet".

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:02am

Spring Awakenings on Letterman, I rest my case.


Spring Wakening on Letterman

[labwyfan]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:21am

Spring Awakening is not the gem most people here seem to think it is. It ran for two years and is only well-known by a certain group that was young enough to enjoy it's two year run. Perhaps it will forever be known only as the show that gave Lea Michelle her start, but to even think the creative team of Matilda made a choice to pay homage to it is like saying they paid homage to Oliver by using British accents.

[GilmoreGirlO2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:22am

best12bars, I think it’s more the style of songs in “Matilda” that make it difficult to pick one for a short TV spot. Musicals usually showcase an upbeat song (or, if not, then an all-out ballad) and not many of the songs in “Matilda” fall directly into either of these categories. Their “ballads” are more reserved. “Loud” might be an option for an up-beat, funny number, but my guess is that they want to showcase the children for television appearances. From what I hear, “School Song” is tied in so much with the set pieces that it might be difficult to re-block the song for the shows (I haven’t seen it yet, so I don’t know if there would be a way to scale it down or not).

I think “When I Grow Up” might be the next best option – I know they have the swings, but, perhaps as they did on the Tony’s, they could use the scooters.

It seems like they know that “Revolting Children” is one of the biggest crowd pleasers and it transfers well on television, out of context, so they are sticking with it.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:30am

Lab, I was in my late-mid-40s when I saw Spring Awakening twice. Whether or not it's a gem, or whether or not people are aware Matilda is aping the Bill T Jones moves is secondary to the point that that's what Matilda is doing. I'm sure their imitation is sincerely flattering and all that, the way the Memphis finale tweaked "You Can't Stop the Beat."

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:43am

^^^^ TOTALY AGREE!!!!

[Patash]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:54am

I honestly wasn't aware this Spring Awakening thing was so commonplace. I thought it was just something I immediately thought when I saw the first musical number. I have no idea if it was a purposeful "homage", and I certainly don't think anyone is talking about the plot itself being similar.

But what I saw was a bunch of kids in school uniforms jumping all over furniture and screaming totally incoherent lyrics at the top of the voices. That's the similarity I couldn't help notice.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:02pm

I'm in the same camp feeling there was LOTS of Spring Awakening in what I saw in the staging of Matilda.

I also feel Matilda's score and SA's have a lot in common. For me they both set some gorgeous music to lyrics that are abstract, untraditionally rhymed, and speak in a youth-saturated, rock/punk voice which is a very different thing than conventional broadway musical lyric-writing.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:04pm

Never really looked at it like that, but it would explain why I didn't find SA particularly appealing either.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:05pm

To me the clincher is the kid who takes a hand mic out of his jacket (in the uniform, in the classroom full of kids). That was the "unique" concept in Spring Awakening.

I can justify the scene in the schoolroom and the uniforms and even (to some degree) the staging.

But when the kid pulls the mic out, it's a direct imitation. Then you get the choreography that is clearly more than just reminiscent.

There have been other musicals where I felt there was a number that was a "borderline ripoff" of a past success. Even the trio of girls in Sweet Charity dancing on the rooftop during There's Gotta Be Something Better Than This is clearly "too close" to West Side Story's "America." The latin-flavored musical vamp, the brightly colored costumes, and even some of Fosse's choreography seem to be lifted directly from WSS.

It happens. I guess imitation is the highest form of flattery. But it's still imitation.

[gchris11]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 12:11pm

Also, when I go to theater I want to be entertained and relax, maybe work a little if I am in the mood. But if I want to see a bunch of hyper active kids run around regurgitating hard to understand lyrics, and Jumping on furniture. I can go visit my nieces sing along with a Disney flick. My nieces are far cuter than anything I saw in Matilda.

[Wilmingtom]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 3:27pm

"Perhaps it will forever be known only as the show that gave Lea Michelle her start."

It was her 4th Broadway show, not her "start."

[NotTheComfyChair]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 6:17pm

When I saw Matilda, the choreography, especially the first move done by Bruce and also (Ryan Steele?) when the 'big' kinds enter, reminded me most of a Maori Haka - which is a war dance/challenge. I saw Spring Awakening and yet no choreographic bells rang when I saw Matilda. Some see imitation, I see innovation. Just my 5 cents worth....

Updated On: 6/12/13 at 06:17 PM

[pinoyidol2006]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 9:36pm

The riffing always gets me. I realize it may not be so extraordinary, but I love it. Love it.

[jackieoh]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 10:06pm

It was a good performance but my favorite was their stint on THE VIEW. Oona Laurence's Naughty is just wonderful. Revolting Children is what sparked my interest in this show (the kids have incredible energy) and I can see why they would continue to perform the biggest crowd pleaser to bring in audiences.

I am glad they showcased Bertie here. He is brilliant in this role.

[mormontorentandback]

Posted: 6/12/13 at 11:08pm

I wasn't a huge fan of this performance on Letterman. It may have been my phone's speakers acting weird but the sound of it felt off. The performance felt very cramped and a bit sad compared to others. The ones before felt much more fun and energetic, which I think I'm alone on that opinion.The stint on GMA was my favorite, but I won't say any of them were terrible, this one was just the worst.

The only thing I would say is they really need to start highlighting the singing in Naughty not the choreography because every time these girls start dancing they are borderline speaksing. It happens with all of them. I've only seen them on two occasions actually sing it full-on and that was at the Tonys with Oona and then the original West End four at the Oliviers. The Olivier Performance was pretty much perfect. Oona's voice cracked during hers, but besides that, it was good. I'm sure these girls can sing, but I really want to hear it live for once. They also need to put Milly or Sophia up front to sing Naughty because I've heard neither, that would make hearing the number again live in the same context worth it.

[broadwaymarty]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 3:25pm

Look at a video of THE BITCH OF LIVING from SPRING AWAKENING does not resemble MATILDA in the least, except for the fact that they are school kids.....no argument here....

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:01pm

I actually prefer Revolting Children to anything in Spring Awakening. Looks like a bit of a cute spoof in the beginning that transforms into its own number.

I guess Revolting Children is Matilda's Seasons of Love. It was rare we ever heard any other song performed from Rent on television in 1996. But I always assumed sticking with one song to promote a musical on various TV appearances was pretty much the norm.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:09pm

I was under the impression that Revolting Children was a *deliberate* nod to Spring Awakening. Could've sworn I read that somewhere. From Bruce taking the mic out to the "Totally F'ed" jumping to the whole theme of the song, it immediately struck me as a conscious, obvious love letter rather than a theft. But who knows.

As far as performing more varied stuff on TV, I think a lot of it has to do with the set pieces (as was pointed out for "School Song.") Though I'm pretty surprised they haven't pulled out "Bruce" for one of these as it shows off the kids, the quirky choreo, and Tim Minchin's wordplay. And easily features Bertie Carvel.

Updated On: 6/13/13 at 04:09 PM

[labwyfan]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:29pm

Wilmington, I stand corrected.

But no one knows that outside of a fan! I'm a fan and I didn't know that. SA put her on the map.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:50pm

Gee, no, I don't see any similarities. Oh, wait, there's amber lighting and there's blue.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:54pm

I would have to disagree with the person who says the one doesn't resemble the other in the least.

[JudyDenmark]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 4:57pm

Seriously, though... it's not supposed to be a deliberate homage? It's like saying that Joseph Smith American Moses "ripped off" The Small House of Uncle Thomas.

[best12bars]

Posted: 6/13/13 at 10:53pm

Book of Mormon is satirical all the way through. It pays tribute to musicals and musical theatre in general all the way through.

Revolting Children isn't a parody or satirical (at least not in the 400 times I've seen this one number on every daytime and late-night TV show). It's a rebellious number where Matilda declares her independence from her own story. She's going to change it and do what she wants.

I like the number, but if their intent at the beginning of it was to "spoof" or pay a winking tribute to Spring Awakening, it's an ill-timed idea. This song isn't a joke. And the humor of it was lost on me. So yes, it comes across as a ripoff rather than a satirical tribute.