Matilda: Save the Children

[MadAboutTheBoy]

I know I'm late to this, but I've just become familiar with this show and have been watching performances on YouTube. A pressing question arose for me: How in the heck does the director ensure that those kids don't break their necks? They are doing a lot of acrobatics, including gymnastic tumbling, jumping onto and dancing on small desktops, and dancing on risers that rise and fall as they're moving. And a lot of these kids look super young and/or tiny.


Considering how the issue of performer safety has been thrust front stage and center (pun intended) with all the Spiderman injuries, how do these children stay safe while doing such dangerous-looking stunts?

[Lavieboheme3090]

I mean anyone can fall doing anything. The show has been running for several years both in NYC and London with no major accidents. I am sure there have been bumps and bruises, but that set is no more dangerous than a school playground. If anything is safer because the stage unions have very specific rules that protect performers safety, and they are well rehearsed.

[Lavieboheme3090]

*double post*

[Tag]

If they screw up, they yell at them

[Fosse76]

This isn't Cirque Du Soleil. They aren't do anything more rigorous than the average grade-schooler in gym class. And they are rehearsed daily to minimize the possibility of accidents.

[dramamama611]

Yes, they do more strenuous work then in gym class.

They the kids well, but that's part of taking the job...they can't be afraid to do
what's asked of them.

I would also assure you that there are more precautions taken when children are involved then were they adults.

[yankeefan7]

I saw it last Saturday night (thought it was great) and the only thing that worried me at all was them on the swings.

[homeimp]

I know this isn't about Matilda but...

Boys were hurt doing the flip off the piano in Billy Elliot. I was told the rule was if there were three healthy Billy's the flip stayed in the show. If there were only two healthy Billys the flip became a leap, as depicted in the shows advertising. So they knew the flip was somewhat dangerous but the boys were asked to do it anyway. I would welcome confirmation of this from anyone with inside knowledge.

[broadway_show_fan]

In regards to the Billy Elliot flip, they stopped training new Billys to do it. Near the end of the run, the boys didn't even go up on the piano and did a few tricks from the ground level. I believe (but could be wrong - it's been awhile) that the last boy I saw who did the flip off the piano was Giuseppe Bausilio when he came to the Broadway production - probably because he had been trained on how to do it when he did the tour, so it stuck.