New Matildas

[ElderGreen]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 8:05pm

Has anyone seen the new Matildas, Rileigh Mcdonald, Mattea Conforti, Alexandra Vlachos, and Mimi Ryder? How are they?

Updated On: 8/18/15 at 08:05 PM

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 8:08pm

https://forum.broadwayworld.com/readmessage.php?thread=1086023&dt=20

[ElderGreen]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 8:15pm

Okay, I changed it to a thread just asking how the new Matildas are!

 

 

Updated On: 8/18/15 at 08:15 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 8:56pm

I saw Mimi's first show. She was fine - I am sure she will be better with time, but for a first show, she was really confident and secure in the role. I hope to see the others at some point.

I agree about Christopher- I love his Trunchbull and I will miss Alison and Karen A LOT.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 9:15pm

I saw Rileigh(her second show I believe) and Alexandra. I enjoyed Rileigh more. 

[toofunktastic2]

Posted: 8/18/15 at 11:05pm

I've seen Mattea, and she was good.  Very fierce.  She stumbled on her words quite a bit though. 

[ampi2]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 11:33am

I saw Rileigh in her second show and she was amazing, went to congratulate her and her mom afterwards because I honestly thought she was incredible! I've heard great things about Mattea too. 

[mmFan]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 11:34am

We'll be seeing Matilda labor day weekend and look forward to seeing one of the four Matildas.  Would be neat to see all 4 at different times as I'm sure they all bring their own thing to the role.

It looks like they all started mid July of this year?

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/19/15 at 11:42am

Yes they all started in July. There were 12 girls that had done the part already since Matilda opened on Broadway in April 2013. It IS interesting to see different girls play Matilda. I have seen many....

Some of the chorus kids are leaving on August 30 so you will see some new kids there as well.

A bunch of the adults leads are leaving after September 6th - so you should see many of the current adult cast right before they leave.

Updated On: 8/20/15 at 11:42 AM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 3:25pm

Also it's not new Matilda news, but I saw that former Matilda Brooklyn Shuck just booked a role for the new TV Land pIlot, I Shudder, that also stars Megan Hilty. I read they are shooting the pilot in October on the east coast.

[cglaid]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 5:06pm

The girl they used for Bryant Park, Mattea, had the most horrific cringe-worthy accent.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 5:19pm

^It's the accent they are taught..a very Americanized version of a British accent. It's supposed to help the audiences understand the words better..

It must be hard to learn an accent that does not actually exist.

[cglaid]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 6:51pm

Yes, Kathy. I'm well aware. I've seen three Matilda's live at this point. But Mattea's is easily the most grating of any performers yet.

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 9:01pm

double post

Updated On: 8/21/15 at 09:01 PM

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 8/20/15 at 9:01pm

I have not Mattea yet but I have seen most of Matildas and the accents bother me a lot of the time - for some more than others and on certain days more than others.

I have read a lot of positive reviews for Mattea so I guess I will have to wait and see how her accent strikes me when I see her. I did see her live at Bryant Park and I noticed the accent but I can't say it truly bothered me, especially because she sang half her song in the pouring rain.

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 8/21/15 at 1:05am

ampi2 said: "I saw Rileigh in her second show and she was amazing, went to congratulate her and her mom afterwards because I honestly thought she was incredible! I've heard great things about Mattea too."

When did you see the show?

 

 

[ampi2]

Posted: 8/21/15 at 9:35am

mailhandler777 said: "When did you see the show?"

July 15th, 8PM show.

 

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 8/21/15 at 1:57pm

"ampi2 said: July 15th, 8PM show."

 

If you saw her 2nd show guess I saw her debut. I was there July 12th. 

[ampi2]

Posted: 8/22/15 at 12:43pm

Yes, she debuted that sunday!

[mmFan]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 8:14pm

We saw Matilda this past Saturday and saw Rileigh.  She was excellent.  Very impressed that an 11 year old can perform like that (as the rest of the cast too)

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/7/15 at 9:21pm

^^Did your children enjoy the show as a whole? I remember you were wondering if it was a good show for them.

 

I actually went again and saw Rileigh on Sunday. I thought she did a perfectly respectable job (and she cried at the end because it was the last show for four of the lead adult actors).

 

She is quite tall and if you compare all 16 of the Matlldas, she is the oldest. Rileigh is the only one that was 11 when she started - though original Matilda Bailey turned 11 soon thereafter. The previous group has two 8 year olds - the youngest of the bunch. This is not a comment about Rileigh's performance at all - just that sometimes it is more effective when Matilda is super tiny and super young.

Updated On: 9/7/15 at 09:21 PM

[mailhandler777]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 8:39am

^All the kids got attached to Alison Luff in her time there. They were coming out at the stage door to say goodbye to her(since they don't come out of the actual door themselves they were coming around the side).

 

As for Rileigh being older I think it's better. I saw her debut and was blown away by her talent. Mimi Ryders older sister is also there and was on as Hortensia.

Updated On: 9/8/15 at 08:39 AM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 8:42am

I'm seeing the show for the third time this Saturday night to see Amy Spanger and Allion Case. I am quite excited!

[KathyNYC2]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 10:59am

mailhandler777 said:

As for Rileigh being older I think it's better. I saw her debut and was blown away by her talent. Mimi Ryders older sister is also there and was on as Hortensia.

I don't think age makes it better. Fina and Eliza have been the youngest and they were totally amazing. Again, not to be neg about Rileigh, who I thought was fabulous...but I am not sure her age had anything to do with it.

Regardless of her age, I do think that Rileigh is one of the girls that has great clarity of speech and she is easily up there with some of the easiest Matildas to understand.

 

Updated On: 9/8/15 at 10:59 AM

[mmFan]

Posted: 9/8/15 at 12:33pm

KathyNYC2 said: "^^Did your children enjoy the show as a whole? I remember you were wondering if it was a good show for them.

I actually went again and saw Rileigh on Sunday. I thought she did a perfectly respectable job (and she cried at the end because it was the last show for four of the lead adult actors)."

 

Both my kids and myself absolutely loved it!  (And my husband liked it).  Thank you for asking, and thank you for all who suggested Matilda. It certainly was a great choice,  It's coming to Toronto (where we live) next summer and we'll be seeing it again...but I know nothing beats Broadway.

 

I was worried about not understanding the accents, but had no issue at all.

 

Which 4 actors left?  I know it was Lesli and Miss Honey's last day (I forget the actress real name)...so which other two?

 

 

Updated On: 9/8/15 at 12:33 PM