Newtildas

That does seem rather soon for them to let the current Matildas go. How often do they change the London Matildas?

^ You are correct. For some reason, I thought the OBC had had a longer run. It seems like an expensive endeavor, having to coach a new set of kids every eight months, but kids do have unexpected growth spurts and could age out of the role in less than a year.

Newtilda's rehearse the role for 3 months. There was a post on Playbill.com back in April/May about seeking girls to be the new Matilda's. I agree it does seem the OBC were in it longer, however it does equal out.

Having seen all 8, I agree with Kathy that Ripley is extraordinary. Her and Bailey really packed the full punch! However, all 8 were/are successful in the part, and I was never once disappointed!

By coincidence, I asked a friend in the show about this a few weeks ago and, apparently, it was a decision by the producers to change the Matildas' accent but not to change anyone else in the cast. I think the original decision was to Americanize them to a Mid-Atlantic accent! The reason given for the change was that the audience couldn't understand them. Halfway through the NewTilda rehearsals, the producers decided they sounded too American (!) and the coach shifted the accent to being pretty much British with R's which would indeed make them sound Irish at times.
I thought the original girls accents were excellent, considering their age, and many reviews, including the British newspaper The Guardian, commented on how good the kids accents were.
My friend said the coach remains the same one from the beginning of first rehearsal - and why did they not get a bio in the PlayBill? They deserved it and how! My friend also said the cast and many connected with the show were VERY unhappy with the decision to change the accents!
As it has panned out, the producers are now happy and it appears most of the audience don't notice. I haven't seen it recently. I think British with R's would sound weird but if that's what they wanted... The cast were ultimately relieved and thought the coach had done "an amazing job" to create a dialect that fulfilled the request and still kept the girls sounding as if they belonged within the world of the play.

I think, from the conversation I mentioned, that they still are using the same British with R's and will remain so. I asked my friend about the upcoming tour and they hadn't heard whether it will be the same dialect concept as NY or fully American. I hope not. I agree that Tim Minchin's lyrics and Dennis Kelly's book are so British that it could be a train-wreck just making it American.

I think with these new girls it comes and goes...and you notice it more at certain times than at other times. Having seen all of them...it was interesting that you noticed it with Gabby because I think that she does a good job of not making much of the new choices..it doesn't sound all that awkward. I think the new accent is stronger and more jarring with some of the others (not a criticism of the girls - I know this is what they are asked to do)

But I do think it's difficult for all the Matildas because they have learned an accent that doesn't really exist...so it's hard to keep it up. One usually is able to learn an accent by hearing and mimicking it..but there is nothing to copy as it's made up.

That said, I saw Ripley most recently and I noticed the new accent much less than when I first heard her months ago. I think an actual British accent crops up more often....but because she is so sure of herself by now, it doesn't matter any more and people get what she is saying regardless.

But of course these girls have done this for 6+ months...so they are pretty comfortable with it. I assume with the new Newtildas it will be more jarring again in the beginning until they get comfortable with it too.

I personally don't like the new accent(duh) but I can't objectively say if it helps or hurts the general public from understanding the words. When I first saw Matilda last summer, I had no idea what my first Matilda was saying for much of the time but I blamed the sound system more than the accents. By now I know the dialogue/lyrics, so I obviously know what's being said...so I can't judge.

Updated On: 7/20/14 at 06:48 PM

Having seen every new Matilda multiple times, I felt I should comment. I don't mind the new accent. Ava hardly even used it on Saturday night. And, it DOES help with understanding their lines. They say so much, so quickly, that it is super important they are understood. People who aren't common theater-goers can't pick up on what they're saying as much as we can. Ava and Gabby do the accent the best - 90% british with a touch of american, while Paige and Ripley do it more 50/50.

However, their performances grow and evolve SO MUCH over the course of their run, that it's hard to tell. A few months ago, Ava was lifeless on stage, and last night she was beaming, reacting, and fully immersed, giving one hell of a performance. It all varies.

But, no. I do not mind the altered accents, I do not think they deter from the show (as I think they help it), and I would believe they are training the New Newtilda's to do it as well.