DIRECTOR'S NOTE
ANGIE TOOMSEN
brain—far more powerful than even the sane
and educated adults around her (of which there
are few).
Through her journey she adapts to use even
fuller—almost unfathomable—mind power to
elevate her circumstances. In Matilda’s world,
playfulness, inventiveness, education—not to
mention erudition or virtuosity—are a threat to
authority. It is wholly satisfying to watch Matilda
exercise her voice and ingenuity and inspire the
kids around her to do the same.
“And when I grow up I will
be brave enough to fight the
creatures that you have to fight
beneath the bed each night to
be a grown up.”
Matilda lyricist, Tim Minchin, referred to
the song “When I Grow Up” as “a child’s
perception of adulthood, and an adult’s regret
for their lost childhood.” To a big kid out here
“adulting” in the “real world,” this number at
the top of act II hits me every time our cast of
beautiful small (and big) kids perform it.
The kids idealize adulthood, while so many of
us wish we could go back to the playground
and tell our little selves “it’s going to be
okay” and “you are loved no matter what.”
Growing up is complex, sometimes painful, and
frequently confusing. And that’s in the best of
circumstances.
Born into a home where she isn’t wanted and
is viewed with disgust and annoyance, Matilda
is miraculously able to take care of herself.
Beyond mere survival, she discovers books and,
thereby, the vastness of human knowledge.
We learn she has a very rare and special
22
Matilda is a deliciously subversive tale in all
its iterations: Roald’s Dahl’s book, the 1996
movie, and the musical, with its creepy, clever,
and beautiful score. The idiosyncratic and often
bizarre plot points are whole lot of fun to watch
unfold. The celebration of naughtiness and
insubordination is appealing as, in each case,
we find children creatively disrupting unfair
circumstances and standing up to toxic rigidity.
My personal connection to this show stems from
my own childhood, being bullied at school for
being overweight and probably a bit strange
(depending upon your definition). Somehow, I
found strength—and even gained the respect
(or indifference) of my bullies—through my
amazing teachers, a knack for writing, and arts
education (GO S.T.E.A.M.!! SUPPORT THEATRE
AND MUSIC PROGRAMS!!) But, a lot of kids
grow up believing the bullies were right. Those
who find their way or even thrive often carry the
echo of negative voices who told us we were
not capable or worthy.
Miss Honey identifies Matilda’s specialness
and she stands up for it. Though not all kids
teach themselves to read Dostoyevsky in the
original Russian, we should nurture and fight
for every child’s potential. The opening number,
“Miracle,” is a fun poke at helicopter parenting,
but it’s true—childhood is a precious miracle we
must protect by teaching children the value of
empathy, kindness, and their own limitlessness.
Angie
Matilda the Musical | theatrecr.org