Review Roundup: MATILDA THE MUSICAL at Moonlight Stage Productions

Nine revolting children take center stage in the San Diego Regional Premiere production of Roald Dahl's Matilda The Musical at the Moonlight Amphitheatre July 17 through August 3 at 8 p.m. The Tony Award-winning musical is inspired by the twisted genius of British author Roald Dahl (novels Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, The BFG among others; and the screenplays of Willy Wonka and the Chocolate Factory and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang) and is brought to life on The Moonlight stage by the creative team of Director Jamie Torcellini, Choreographer Colleen Kollar Smith, and Music Director and Conductor Elan McMahan

Tickets for Matilda The Musical range $17 - $57 with discounts for children, seniors, and military at all price levels. Tickets are on sale now online at moonlightstage.com, through VisTix at (760) 724-2110, and in person at VisTix. The 39th season continues with West Side Story (August 14 - 31), and Victor/Victoria (September 11 - 28).

Let's see what the critics have to say!

Kris Eitland, San Diego Story: Choreographer Colleen Kollar Smith's inspired and athletic dance sequences include young children leaping on and off desks, acrobatic flips, eye-popping fouettes, vivid ballroom contests, and climbing on silks. Not every line is audible over the stellar orchestra, directed by Elan McMahan, in part because music and lyrics by Tim Minchin are often fast and dense tongue-twisters. But in fully committed performances, Miss Rose and the incredible young cast, along with some famous adults, nail the British accent, thanks to dialect coach Vanessa Dinning. They successfully carry the message that children must be brave and a little naughty.

James Hebert, The San Diego Union-Tribune: As horrid as Trunchbull is, Mr. Wormwood gives her a run for her (ill-gotten) money, and Hafso-Koppman makes the character a sleazy delight. Miller-Weston also brings a kind of exquisitely offhand viciousness to the vacuous Mrs. Wormwood, and has a hands-down hilarious scene with her alarmingly limber dance teacher Rudolpho (a memorable Ala Tiatia). The show, though, needs a little sweetness, and the velvety-voiced Linton's eventually heroic Miss Honey is all of that; she and the appealing Shirley Johnston as the story-loving local librarian help give the grown-ups a good name.