MATILDA Previews- Page 16

[mikey2573]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 3:50pm

With all the different reactions to MATILDA here and on other boards, I am very interested to see what the critics say. Doesn't it open this week?

[Up In One]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 4:09pm

This Thursday is Kinky Boots, next Thursday is Matilda, the following Thursday is Motown and the final Thursday of the month and the cut off for the Tony's is Pippin. Friday's papers are going to be great the whole month of April.

[kadu335]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 5:20pm

I just downloaded the London cast recording on iTunes... is it very different from the Broadway production?

[AEA AGMA SM]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 5:41pm

There have been minimal changes since the show was recorded in England. A verse was cut from "Naughty" (I've heard that the verse was cut even before the recording was made but the decision to include it was made anyway) and a few small lyric changes here and there.

[kadu335]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 7:40pm

Thanks for the info AEA. I'm only seeing it in November, but I wanted to get used to the score first.

[brdwayboy]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 8:32pm

do you know the schedule?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 4/2/13 at 8:36pm

The schedule for the Matildas? that is not public info, supposedly the cast only knows a week at a time.

[broadway_show_fan]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 12:02am

getatme - I agree with so much of what you said about the girls. I'm glad you enjoyed Milly more than I did and would really like to give her another shot soon.

If you saw Oona for your first time and also saw Sawyer at that performance, then yes, you saw Erica play Amanda. That was only the second performance for both Sawyer and Erica in those parts (their first performance having been two days earlier - my friend checked the board midday and heard them rehearsing snippets of "Bruce," so we figured they were putting Sawyer on that night). They've each done a handful of performances in those roles by this point, but can't say how many for sure, since I'm still missing board info from 3/29 and 3/30 evening.

I can totally see what you mean about Sawyer, who does play a little younger than Jack. Jack has a very "Neville Longbottom"-ish nature about him that I love (full disclose: I loved him back when he was in Billy Elliot as well as in Into the Woods). I'm still eager to see Sawyer and Erica as Bruce and Amanda as well as Luke and Madilyn as Eric and Alice. Maybe I'll see one of these kids the next time I go - 4/12!

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/3/13 at 7:39pm

To all those who have seen the show already...

How did your audience react to "The Hammer"?

I'm listeing to "Hammer" on the first day of Broadway previews on YT and the audience was in the stitches and there was a applause in one point during a funny part before the ending and the feedback after the number was huge.

[broadwayghost1]

Posted: 4/5/13 at 12:39am

I saw the show tonight 4/04/13. Oona played the part of Matilda and was fantastic. I thought the show itself was ok. I was bored during some of it. My seats were horrible. I was in the last row of the balcony and had a nice pole in my view. The crying kid next to me made it so much more enjoyable. Thank you to the usher who let me switch seats during intermission.

I did like "When I Grow Up", but thats all I can really remember from the show.

I think lots of kids will like it.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/6/13 at 11:50pm

(SPOILERS)
Oh, some more questions with the movie and the musicals:

1. Is the scene with the TV exploding still in the musical?
2. Please tell me the “Why are they all married?!” line is in it! Love that line! xD
3. I’m so nervous about my parents. They don’t take mean-spiritness, bullying, and abuse very well….esepecially my mom (Oh, taking her to see Les Mis the movie with me…she literally yanked my arm, whispering WHY DO YOU LIKE THIS?! during Lovely Ladies…I told her not to come -__-) And Matilda’s parents and Ms. Trunchbull are supposed to be abusive, esepecially the dad. And with Ms. Trunchbull throwing Amanda and with Bruce…oh man…I’m worried this won’t end well. Will they will like or at least tolerate Matilda? (In my defense, I tried to tell Dad about the musical before purchasing tickets, but he wouldn’t listen) And if the Chokey is in it, it will make things worse
4. Is the Chokey in it? It is, right?

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 5:53am

1 and 2) No - the musical is not based at all on the movie. Sorry about that.
3) Like all good stories, the evil is dealt with in a timely manner.

I suggest you read the novel (ignore the film) and then see if it's something your parents would like.

[Belle9]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 7:07am

I have to be honest in saying my parents also thought the verbal abuse was a bit much. The movie version seems to have Matilda deal with it in a slightly different way than the musical. In the musical, Matilda's nature is fairly dark, although she is still adorable and charming. I can't quite explain it, but there is something about the abuse that is a bit unnerving, which I suppose was the purpose. The Chokey is spoken about but never shown.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 8:15am

Ok, thanks u 2. Yea, Nick, i know :) but i was wondering if the directors adapt anything from the movie

[Nickhutson]

Posted: 4/7/13 at 8:30am

I dare anyone here to read some of dennis kelly's plays for grown ups. Conservative Americans wouldn't know what to do with themselves!! Makes Matilda look like sesame street.

[broadfan327]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 12:40pm

I saw it last night, and I agree with wickedrocks' review. It is a great production of a good musical. Its weakest point is the score. On its own, it does not stand up too well. I preferred the score to Kinky Boots. I saw Oona, and she was great, except for not being to understand some of her dialogue because of her accent, especially in the library scenes, and I was sitting up close. The other knock against it was the tone was a little too dark for my taste.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 11:07pm

I went back tonight and Bailey started out the show as Matilda. During The Smell of Rebellion my friends and I noticed Bailey was not out on her mat. The song proceeded as usually, but afterward a voice came over the speaker and said that Milly would be finishing up the performance as Matilda.

She jumped into the role perfectly and the audience went right along with her. I hope Bailey is ok, and she did come out for the bows, so I guess I can chalk this up to a fun theater story of seeing two Matildas in one performance.

The show hasn't changed much over previews, but the sound is mightily improved. The voices that speak in tandem with Matilda during the escapologist's story have been turned down significantly and it is much easier to hear the dialogue.

I love the show a lot, and it really puts me in the best mood. Such glorious creativity at work! (I adore the score too, btw and hope it wins at the Tonys.) Can't wait to read the reviews tomorrow night.

[disneybroadwayfan22]

Posted: 4/10/13 at 11:22pm

That is very weird that Bailey didn't show up. I guess she got sick? Anyway, I just heard her in Naughty. Beautiful, clear voice :)

And I love the new trailer. I literally saw it 12 times. Can't wait to see this next month :)

[getatme]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 12:23am

I, too, was at the show tonight. Apparently when Bailey was running off for her quick change before the song, she fell and hurt her knee a little bit and they didn't think they should risk putting her on for the rest of the show in case it was serious. But as of the end of the show, they seemed pretty sure that she'd be okay and it was just one of those childhood stumbles.

Milly handled it like a real professional, though. It's intimidating to step in mid-show as an adult, so I can only imagine how stressful it is as a child. Especially when she had to step in, right before "Quiet" which is really Matilda's emotional center, but Milly really did wow me.

This show is really just pure theater magic for me. I leave feeling completely rejuvenated and thrilled by everything I just witnessed onstage. The staging is so creative and tight, it's just stunning to see everything come together. I don't know if I'll ever be as wowed by any sequence as I am with "The School Song" and "When I Grow Up." I agree with Whizzer, I think the score is smart, funny, and completely emotionally fulfilling.

Really looking forward to seeing the reviews for this tomorrow night, but even more, I'm excited to see this enjoy a healthy and successful run.

Also, for the curious, I rushed this morning and the box office woman told someone who asked that there's a good chance this will be switching to a lottery come next week, but they haven't gotten an official word about anything yet.

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 12:35am

"This show is really just pure theater magic for me. I leave feeling completely rejuvenated and thrilled by everything I just witnessed onstage."

getatme, I couldn't agree with you more! Shows like Matilda give me hope for the future of theater, and will keep me wading through the mediocrities (and bombs) to discover gems like this.

[rosscoe(au)]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 3:42am

Glad to hear they have fixed the sound issues, that was the one problem with the London production.

[bearhorn]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 9:58am

I also saw the show last night (& glad to hear what happened to Bailey and that she's ok), but I left with very mixed emotions.

I was totally engaged with all of the "school scenes" and amazed by the talented kids. The sets and effects were terrific and the choreography was great throughout. Loved Bertie Carvel (Miss Trunchbull) and Bailey Ryon (Matilda).

However, I found myself mostly disengaged during the "home scenes". The performances were fine, but I just thought the school portion was much more interesting. I also found the score to be largely forgettable, with the exception of "When I Grow Up" and "Revolting Children". Serviceable, but not memorable.

I have no doubt that this show will (and should) be a total success. Best of luck with the opening and reviews tonight.

[John Adams]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:33am

>> I also found the score to be largely forgettable, with the exception of "When I Grow Up" and "Revolting Children". Serviceable, but not memorable.

I love the score! Besides the songs you mention, I wish I had a nickle for the times during this past year I've either been involved in, or overheard a conversation where the line, "All I know I learned from telly" suddenly popped into my head...

I really love "Quiet", too. As a bookworm, I can relate. I would consider "Bruce" a possible "serviceable" number, except that amazing piano line in the accompaniment makes me smile - plus, as a Doctor Who fan, I like the line about Bruce being larger on the inside than he appears on the outside. AND, I'm getting lots of mileage out of Trunchbull's dialog line, "It gives me a warm glow in my lower intestine".

I've read many comments in the Matilda threads where the writer describes the score as, "serviceable". I can never tell if the writer means, "meh" or "serves well to enhance the storytelling" because they never offer any further detail...

Updated On: 4/11/13 at 10:33 AM

[bearhorn]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 10:46am

For me, "serviceable" means music that helps move the story along, but is not all that memorable afterwards. I don't think I disliked any of the music, but just found most of it unmemorable outside the context of the scene.

I loved the "Bruce" scene and agree that "Quiet" is very pretty. They are just not songs that stuck i my head after the show. "When I Grow Up" and "Revolting Children", however, (happily) linger well past the final curtain.

[dave1606]

Posted: 4/11/13 at 11:11am

I was there last night as well. Bailey may be my favorite Matilda so far. I really wish I had been able to hear her Quiet. I saw the first and last previews, and the sound has definitely improved a ton, but Bailey also has the best diction of any of the girls I have seen so far. I heard every word she said from the last row of the balcony.

Milly did a great job of being thrust into the show the way she was! Her quiet was great, and she has a really strong voice.

I also want to say that I really love this score. I think so many songs are excellent, one that doesn't get menitoned enough is the "School Song." The staging of that song is truly brilliant, but it also stands on it's own and is one of my favorites on the cast recording.

I did notice a lot of changes to the orchestrations last night, some for the better some for the worse. I know why they thinned some things out and it did help with the lyrics, but I felt that some of the richness from the cast recording is lost. That said, one thing I really appreciated last night was the transitional music between scenes, really excellent. The orchestra in that theater is truly fantastic.

The performances have all improved since the first preview. Leslie Margherita in particular is really having fun with her part. She has definitely gone broader and brassier and I loved every second of it.

Bertie Carvel continues to command the audience. Every little tick is down to perfection.

One quibble that has not been fixed sound-wise for me is that in "Miracle" the doctor's microphone needs to be turned up. The "Every Life" section in that song is one of my favorites, and he gets a bit drowned out by everyone else.

Overall the show is still in very good shape. Tickets are going to be tough to get! I wish the cast the best tonight and look forward to seeing the show again in June!