What are your long-term ambitions? Matilda just takes the big one and Mrs. Phelps then meekly sits on the small one; the little girl stands on the big block and literally talks down to her. And so she tries to escape at school where she meets the lovely and caring Miss Honey (Lauren Ward – looking very much like J.K. Rowling) and a kind librarian Mrs. Phelps (Karen Aldridge – looking very Jamaican bringing to mind Harry Belafonte’s huge hit). When Matilda is sent to her room as punishment (the awful child keeps reading), she rather plaintively and sweetly climbs up to the bookshelf above her bed and perches there while singing her song. (Actually, she's been stymied by Matilda from punishing a boy and looks for some other outlet for her anger.) My Africa! Everyone in the audience gets the gist of it (Trunchbull is bad!) The crowd held their breath as she hurled crowd held their breath as she hurled Do you know, I had not thought about it until now? The Mnemonist Of Dutchess County * 1/2 But Matilda saves her outrage for real injustice, like her father's habit of cheating clients at his car dealership. They should see it because everyone deserves to remember what it was like to fly on a swing. It was my very first form of public expression, even though I was not the author of what I was expressing. Once On This Island *** I wish I could play Shylock or Mercutio, they would be tremendous fun. Flambe Dreams (NYMF) ** Kelly makes a string of smart choices, both large and small. Rock Of Ages * 1/2 It's a wonderful bit of stagecraft made even more charming by the low-tech finale in which a dummy is dropped from the rafters and the real little girl pops up in the center aisle of the theater after being "caught" by some students. Acting is a fickle master; who knows how long he will love me for. I was so disappointed. Matilda's big number "Quiet" didn't register with me at all though I loved the touch of having her literally raised up on a pillar of books. If you could go and see any West End musical or play tonight, which one would it be and why? Who's Afraid Of Virginia Woolf? At the Shubert Theatre. Scandalous * 1/2 The Jammer *** In the musical, this much more elaborate backstory involving the circus proves to be true, putting Matilda into Carrie territory. An Enemy Of The People ** 1/2 Knowing this was a new addition to the story not found in the book, I admired it immensely. Magdalen (FringeNYC) *** I haven't mentioned Matilda's psychic powers. Harrison, TX *** But let's be clear: just as it is, Matilda is one of the brightest shows on Broadway and will be for years to come. The set design by Rob Howell is quite attractive and suitable, not so his costumes. It is about understanding that our children are far more interesting than just having pretty eyes or a good strong smile. But when he delivers an earth-shaking burp, a purplish cloud of burpy, chocolatey goodness floats around the stage until it hits Trunchbull and she realizes who the real culprit is. Working with the director, Mariano Dietry, we went straight back to the source material, and sat for many hours scouring Victor Hugo’s tome for clues on what she was like. But in the musical, Kelly lets Matilda lie and say oh yes, they're very proud of her. Matilda is one of those exceptional shows where every element feels inspired. Kelly initially seemed to have made his smartest addition by turning Matilda into a storyteller. My Children! (FringeNYC) * Other wonderful touches abound. Give Mrs. Phelps back her dignity. Tim Minchin: Miss Honey is not the sort of person to get up on stage and start singing about “I’m so sad because my aunt was mean to me”.You know she wouldn’t say that because she’s a very quiet and gentle person. "Telly" is the Act Two opener celebrating television; it's an easy target to mock so doing it in a way that isn't obvious and tiresome is actually quite a challenge. Lawrence was terrific in the acting scenes and solid in the singing; she holds the stage delightfully from beginning to end. I drop things, break things, lose things, send them flying out into the audience. It’s anonymous in London. As a young girl, you would sing calypso music on stage. City Of Shadows (FringeNYC) *** Dark Hollow: An Appalachian "Woyzeck" (FringeNYC) * 1/2 Blanche: The Bittersweet Life Of A Prairie Dame, Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale Of Musical Mystery. Every opportunity that I get to do what I do is a career highlight. So it is true that you are not too fond of props! The modest backstory for the parents that gives at least a modicum of understanding as to why they're so dismissive of Matilda? So why have them sing and speak in a British accent? The Mystery Of Edwin Drood ** 1/2 And I wanted to tell the stories. when it's time to go to bed. What have been your career highlights to date? Oh no, you will not get me to pick just the one, or even a few out of all of them. The audience knows exactly how it was done but applauds with delight because imagination trumps special effects every time. But as I’ve said, I have always worked with brave directors so who knows what I will get a chance to play in my lifetime. They should see it for the magic and wonder of children. (Did I mention Matilda is probably not for the very young? Foreverman (NYMF) * 1/2 She is played by a he. Most little children would yell out "That's not fair!" Despite her very busy schedule, Melanie has very kindly answered the following questions about herself, her career and Matilda the Musical. The Madrid * 1/2 She regales the local librarian with a made-up story about an Escapologist and his wife the Acrobat. in a moment of danger, incapable of telling the difference between reality and story time. Heartless at Signature ** Hit The Wall * Her mother (the wonderfully named Lesli Margherita) resents Matilda because the child's birth prevented her from attending a ballroom competition with her dance instructor Rudolpho (Phillip Spaeth). Much Ado About Nothing *** One of the iconic scenes from Matilda is the young Bruce Bogtrotter eating Miss Trunchbull’s chocolate cake. Matilda The Musical *** 1/2. Rio (NYMF) ** Plus, the revelation that the story Matilda was telling is actually the true story of Miss Honey and that the villain in both is Miss Trunchbull is jumbled up with the song "My House" and was very, very confusing. Ann ** 1/2 It was a joyous experience. Nothing really changes as far as what happens, but it allows real emotion to infuse the story, rather than the bleak lack of nuance found in the original book. Forbidden Broadway: Alive & Kicking *** It's available for free on iTunes. Pink Milk (FringeNYC)* 1/2 You can entertain over a thousand people nightly, get cheered mightily at the curtain call, then take the train home with the very audience who appreciated you. Baby Case (NYMF) ** 1/2 It didn't spoil the fun in the least, but I'd say a good third of the lyrics were indecipherable because of this. I’ve heard many interesting things about what people think of me on the train! Take "School Song," the musical number in which Matilda and the new kids are introduced to the scary world of Miss Trunchbull's school. Einstein On The Beach at BAM **** (Her brain is so big that she is able to move objects, a skill that proves key in vanquishing Miss Trunchbull.) Gore Vidal's The Best Man (w new cast) *** www.matildathemusical.com  Photos:  Joan Marcus. Closer Than Ever *** Why not return Mrs. Phelps to the intelligent, caring woman she was in the books? It’s a case of The Emperor’s New Clothes – we are led to believe this is a great show lest we be considered incompetent when in reality there is not much to admire. and Bruce played by adults. I did the thing with the hairbrush and the singing, I did the thing with the tin of hairspray and the Oscar speech, I did the thing where I pretended to be someone else for no reason at all. When Matilda and her friends walk up to the gates, it's already a scary sight, with bars twisting this way and that in an off-kilter pattern that let's you know immediately this is no ordinary school. First grade teacher Miss Honey (the Shirley Jones-like Lauren Ward) takes an immediate shine to this remarkable pupil. Melanie La Barrie is a singer and actress from Trinidad where she was a well-known and well-loved calypsonian and radio personality. No, the reading. *** At the beginning of the second act, Matilda's father comes out and makes a sort of public service announcement where he urges children not to imitate what they've been watching? A Civil War Christmas ** 1/2 Melanie has a great sense of humour and fantastic stage presence – and on stage is where is has always wanted to be, ever since she was a little girl in Trinidad singing into her hairbrush. An "A" here, a "B" there and the actors clambering all over the gate while they warn the new kids about the horrors within dance, and sit, and climb up these blocks. All rights reserved. Drop the British accents so we can understand all the lyrics. Ask a Trinidadian about David Michael Rudder. Sign up for membership to become a founding member and help shape HuffPost's next chapter, Register to vote and apply for an absentee ballot today. Here's our actor, Olivia Demarco, who will play Mrs. Phelps in MATILDA, sharing one of her favorite stories with you in her own creative way! Even better, drop the idea that Matilda has had some sort of vision of the truth. I would love to work with Danny Boyle and Rupert Goold. They do not complain. MATILDA The trick started well. It is about understanding that our children are far more interesting than just having pretty eyes or a good strong smile. Many thanks for this brilliant interview, Melanie and all the very best for ‘Phelpsy’ and any future projects! She's desperate for Matilda to tell her stories (like the tale of the Escapologist) and becomes so wrapped up in the tale that she blurts out "Call the police!" But Carvel delivers a remarkably subtle, effective turn, delivering his lines in a quietly menacing manner that is hilarious and frightening all at the same time. And then I would jet over to the States and go see Book of Mormon because I feel that death by laughing would be a good way to go. You appeared as Madame Thénardier in Les Miserables in 2007/2008 – a character that has been played by a lot of brilliant actresses. (Okay, I'm not a big fan of Dahl.). She can currently be seen surrounded by books and children in the new hit musical Matilda at the Cambridge Theatre, where she delights audiences as the kind and lovable librarian Mrs Phelps. You find, even months in, new ways of being, new ways of saying things, new levels of tone and colour. They should see it for the carefully formed and lovingly delivered performances of all the cast. Please share a few thoughts with us. "That's not fair!" I wish I was as good with words as Tim and Dennis. I’m rubbish with them, rubbish! In the book, Mrs. Phelps is the first person to recognize Matilda's genius, guides her reading and wisely doesn't make a fuss over the child so the girl won't feel like a freak of nature. Cyrano de Bergerac ** Everything, the good, bad and indifferent, that happened in my life led towards me being on a stage. Bunnicula: A Rabbit Tale Of Musical Mystery ** 1/2 Is there anyone you would really like to work with? After a minute, everyone realizes words are hidden in the jumble of letters ("escapologist," "read" and other show-related phrases) and people spent the rest of the time before the show and during the intermission spotting new ones. And livid. Seven swings hang down from the rafters, each one with a brightly lit tile that together spells Matilda. A combination of British accents, impossible diction and horrible sound design by Simon Baker – leaves most of the audience in the dark as to what is being uttered on stage. I love them all, they still, some of them, make me cry. As with the musical Billy Eliot, there's no "official" Matilda. In the book, Mrs. Phelps is the first person to recognize Matilda's genius, guides her reading and wisely doesn't make a fuss over the child so the girl won't feel like a freak of nature. Non-Equity: The Musical! “Who” is she? Potted Potter * It is an art form that I still appreciate. Our house was not grand but it was the grandest performance hall I had ever known. And when they're doing a touring production, they might consider having all the schoolchildren other than Matilda, Lavender (her best friend!) There is a mixture of styles and tone. How humiliating. And here is where we miss most of the dialogue – in the storytelling which makes for a long and tiresome evening despite the special effects thrown is to keep our attention from lagging. The over the top mother (Lesli Margherita) is a ballroom dancer forever rehearsing with her Latin partner Rudolpho (Phillip Spaeth) and her dad (Gabriel Ebert) a dishonest used car salesman who berates her for being born a girl – they would have preferred another son (Taylor Trench) who is a dead head and addicted to the television unlike Matilda who loves words, and books and numbers and wants to change her life and be kind to others and to do the right thing. Later the father either kills himself or is murdered. Because I am likely to do something stupid at any given moment, I tend not to embarrass that easily. The Lying Lesson * 1/2 In a clever illusion by Paul Kieve, Trunchbull grabs the little girl by the pigtails and starts swinging her around and around until she tosses her into the air. Being at a Broadway show on Opening Night is thrilling. Blood Play ** 1/2 “[Matilda the Musical] speaks of fighting the battles that should be fought, caring about others, honing your sense of justice and fairness and knowing when enough is enough. I performed on the table in the living room as soon as I could form words and hold a tune. And inexcusable. But it's also a story about parents who deeply love their child, a wonderful way to show both Matilda's imagination and her desire for parents that actually care for her. Therefore everything I said, did or wore was scrutinised and I was constantly under a microscope. Miss Trunchbull, an Olympic Medal winner for hammer throwing, is played by Bertie Carvel in a one dimensional, one note un-glam drag performance that didn’t do much for my admiration for the production as a whole. It’s funny, growing up in Trinidad, it never occurred to me that there were shows that I could not be in or roles that I could not do, for one reason or another. That's just fine in the speaking scenes but when they have to sing in a British accent, it becomes far more problematic. I salute them. They should go see it if they choose to see it. Breakfast At Tiffany's * 1/2 Based on the 1988 novel by Roald Dahl, Dennis Kelly has adapted the book and Tim Minchin has supplied music and lyrics for the many tunes. Isaac's Eye *** And no wonder: walk into the Schubert and the first glimpse of the set by Rob Howell (who also did the costumes) brings a huge grin to your face. A lot of people have read Matilda the Novel or have seen Matilda the Film. You have also appeared in TV programmes (Casualty, EastEnders). Cock ** 1/2 They still make me marvel at the wonder of their cleverness. In the musical, Mrs. Phelps is now a Caribbean woman who is infantilized and acts like a dolt. Grace * 1/2 Further, I was astonished that they didn't double up the roles of the Escapologist and the Acrobat with Matilda's father and mother. But I had good managers and mentors and friends in the older artists who were good to me. MATILDA the musical is simply unintelligible. The naughty pranks? The much ballyhooed, highly hyped, multiple award winning Royal Shakespeare Company musical MATILDA has opened on Broadway with four young girls alternating in the part of the highly intelligent, telekinetic, precocious and somewhat naughty heroine Matilda Wormwood – an extremely hard working ten year old Milly Shapiro at the Saturday April 13 matinee that I attended, looking somewhat like Eloise. Not necessarily in that order. Bring It On: The Musical ** This would have the added bonus of returning her big number "My House" into a solo turn. Bruce is suddenly facing an entire, massive chocolate cake and Trunchbull orders him to eat every single crumb. Matilda The Musical will be produced in Australia by the Royal Shakespeare Company, Louise Withers, ... MRS PHELPS (Female) Warm and nurturing local librarian who encourages Matilda’s love of reading. The lyrics by Minchin were often clever and funny but the audience was pin-prick quiet as they struggled to actually understand what was being sung. Enjoy this brilliant interview! Chimichangas And Zoloft * Sight unseen, I assumed it was a scenery chewing bit of drag in the tradition of panto shows, those holiday events in the UK where male actors don female costumes for a laugh, the audience hisses and boos at the villain and so on. Shakespeare and gangsters like you have never seen. Again, good fortune smiled on me. Miss Trunchbull is famously strong (a former Olympian hammer thrower for the UK) and the sight of a little girl in pigtails throws her into a fury. Hey, excellent segue. For London West End Theatres & London Attractions | 020 7492 1602, “[Matilda the Musical] speaks of fighting the battles that should be fought, caring about others, honing your sense of justice and fairness and knowing when enough is enough. Matilda makes up stories and tells them to Mrs. Phelps – in installments. The whistle blowing headmistress of the school is a nasty evil woman with quivering ultra sensitive nostrils who hates children – “maggots” – and thinks nothing of verbally and physically abusing them. It’s a shame. Un Ballo In Maschera at the Met *** 1/2 (singing) * (production) so call it ** 1/2 Her naughty side finds a much more formidable target when Matilda heads to school. Would you like to do more TV work? But above all -- above the excellent direction of Warchus, the cast brimming with talent, the superior tech elements up and down the line -- above all I must praise the book by Dennis Kelly which takes the rather one-note novel by Dahl and injects it with heart and warmth without ever sacrificing the ghoulish black humor that makes it appeal to kids throughout the years. Let Matilda's story about the Escapologist be just a story and not a psychic vision. There are multiple story lines all fighting each other for the spotlight and to be heard. A Letter To Harvey Milk (NYMF) ** 1/2 So, no, not much embarrassing or unexpected ever happens to me on stage…. Title And Deed *** Matilda Wormwood’s parents are horrible. I have sung his words and that makes me proud. Golden Boy ** Bare ** The Great God Pan ** 1/2 That would be far more powerful and telling if the roles were played by the same two actors who play her folks. Opus No. It is about paying attention to the mind, seeing them as the individuals they are, giving them their space to grow but being there to catch them if they stumble. It just occurred to me that all three roles I played in my own accent as well. Old Hats *** It is about understanding that our children are far more interesting than just having pretty eyes or a good strong smile. My Name Is Asher Lev *** 1/2 I didn’t. Just like the show. Michael Giltz is the cohost of Showbiz Sandbox, a weekly pop culture podcast that reveals the industry take on entertainment news of the day and features top journalists and opinion makers as guests. The Piano Lesson at Signature *** 1/2 I have now learned that lesson. Mrs. Phelps can enjoy the stories and playfully be caught up in them without having to seem like a fool. Matilda is soon pulling pranks to take her dad down a notch (like putting glue on the inside of his hat so it sticks to his head). Is this the best thing that can happen to an actor, being able to originate a role? Of course you can’t always be the first actress to play a role. Howling Hilda reading * (Mary Testa ***) Matilda would never put up with that! At the finale of the book, Matilda engineers her own happy ending. Dead Accounts ** I would also turn back the hands of time and go see Frankenstein, again for reasons so glaringly obvious that I won’t bother expanding. Only one is memorable “When I Grow Up”. Storytime With Mr. Buttermen (FringeNYC) ** Part of HuffPost Entertainment. In the nove, when Matilda finds a second home at the local library and she's asked if her parents are proud of her remarkable brain (she's reading Tolstoy at five years old), she bluntly says no, they could care less. Unfortunately all these tricks don’t work. I have not sung a calypso for 11 years. I would scheme and connive to get on that stage. The Old Man And The Old Moon *** 1/2 It is joyous to create a whole new person from nothing but thought. Everything her cartoon parents do not want to do. I wish I could wedge myself into anything that August Wilson has ever written. Today is National Voter Registration Day! I did the thing with the one drama class after school and the drama teacher who told me I had no talent for acting. [Pause as she composes herself.] It is a lovely thing to do because you are not held to any previous knowledge of how the part should be done. Forever Dusty ** A Chorus Line at Papermill *** It is so clichéd but I have always known that all I wanted to do was to be on that stage, to perform, to stand under the lights and the gaze. And that’s not right. You can tell a lot about a show from its curtain call. Except for all the props! Let Matilda take the small block and then have Mrs. Phelps take the girl by the hand and place her on the big block and sweetly take the small one, showing the respect and admiration the little girl doesn't get at home. Matilda the Musical - SYNOPSIS Act I As a chorus of children boast about being their parents' miracles, the ballroom dancing obsessed Mrs. Wormwood gives birth to a baby girl called Matilda. Visit Michael Giltz at his website and his daily blog. Link to him on Netflix and gain access to thousands of ratings and reviews. The night I attended the show, Matilda was played by Oona Laurence. I wish I could work with my friend Julia Sutton again, because you do not know craft and love until you have been in her presence. Do you know what children do not do? And Lauren Ward (who originated the role of Miss Honey) gets the closest to a really strong melody in the ballad "My House," which is spoiled somewhat by a busy arrangement that turns it into a duet with her late father. What makes her tick? Or just leave every word as it is and not bother with accents. Matilda then defeats Trunchbull. Why should they go and see Matilda the Musical? I had songs written for me by some of my favourite artists in the world. What are your favourite songs in Matilda? She'd be replaced by Principal Trilby (the person at the end of the book) and the musical would be about him helping her with her intelligence. But the story that Matilda tells would be about an acrobat and an escapologist being in two different circuses and they fall in love with other. The moment is played out in the musical through the song “Bruce,” where the kids are cheering him on to finish the whole plate. I would even get good grades, for that was the deal struck between my mother and me if I wanted to step an inch of my body onto a stage. Swing State (NYMF) * 1/2 The moment the specially designed dress was set alight the acrobat swung into the air. All In The Timing *** How Deep Is The Ocean (NYMF) ** 1/2 Miss Honey can simply reveal that she's related to Miss Trunchbull and that the woman stole her legacy without all that psychic voodoo. Or have her do. Requiem For A Lost Girl (NYMF) ** 1/2 Summer Shorts Series B: Paul Rudnick, Neil LaBute, etc. IVO van HOVE’S WEST SIDE STORY WILL LEAVE YOU BREATHLESS, A SOLDIER’S PLAY – the madness of racism in America, ROMEO & BERNADETTE – Delightful! However, then it gets a little confusing. Not every change is for the best. You are currently playing the librarian Mrs Phelps in Matilda the Musical – a role you have originated (you were part of the original Stratford cast last year). Do you still sing calypso songs and do you miss the Carnival? My imagination was vast, I wish it still was. Manilow On Broadway ** 1/2 And when I fail at that, they forgive me wholeheartedly, because their hearts are gold and life is still an adventure and grown ups are funny with their stress and their striving. Independents (FringeNYC) *** 1/2 You can even eavesdrop while they talk about you, even as you are sitting right there. Annie ** 1/2 Blanche: The Bittersweet Life Of A Prairie Dame (FringeNYC) *** 1/2 Who Murdered Love (FringeNYC) no stars It's a perfect blending of every element of a musical and riotous fun to boot. What is something embarrassing or unexpected that has happened to you on stage? But the headmistress Miss Trunchbull (Bertie Carvell) most decidedly does not. Picnic * 1/2 That's Kelly too; it doesn't "explain" them but at least it gives us something to hold onto other than the monstrous indifference Dahl offers. Hands On A Hardbody * Kelly made that up. Phelpsy is a lover of words. Re-Animator The Musical (NYMF) *** They should see it for the beauty of Rob Howell’s design, for the exquisite detail of Matthew Warchus’ direction. And the creation never stops for as long as you are playing that part. Cat On A Hot Tin Roof (w Scarlett Johansson) * 1/2 Central Avenue Breakdown (NYMF) *** Let her fable remain just a story (and unintentionally revealing that she longs for love). Harvey with Jim Parsons * Passion at CSC *** 1/2 The stealing of cake? Not to be cheated, Trunchbull then insists he'll be punished even more. (Trensch as the son Michael gets all the laughs on the number but I think it's a fairly foolproof part.) Living With Henry (NYMF) * How did you manage to make the role your own? Note: Michael Giltz is provided with free tickets to shows with the understanding that he will be writing a review. Bombsheltered (FringeNYC) ** 1/2 Summer Shorts Series B: Paul Rudnick, Neil LaBute, etc. In fact, after Act I was finished, so was I. In the musical, Mrs. Phelps is now a Caribbean woman who is infantilized and acts like a dolt. The song by Tim Minchin starts playing off the letters of the alphabet from A to Z. Pieces (FringeNYC) * Women Of Will ** 1/2 I shan’t be holding one up as a favourite, making the others feel that they are not as special, not as loved…. Tap here to turn on desktop notifications to get the news sent straight to you. The Other Place ** 1/2 Here, she longs for parents who love her, which humanizes her much more. People who have read your beautiful blog (http://seekingcat.wordpress.com/) know that you don’t seem to agree with the aphorism ‘never work with children’. Kinky Boots ** Four young actresses rotate in the role. The Revisionist ** It's playful, it's sweet and very clever. It reveals theater talents in front and behind the scenes at the top of their game. In the musical, Kelly allows both Miss Honey to grow in courage and lets Matilda have a moment of forgiveness for her dad. Finds a much more a stage is being done for the cleverness, anarchy, tenderness and of...: the Bittersweet life of a musical and riotous fun to boot a perfect blending of every feels... 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