To think Matilda the musical is a bit pants

[Singadream]

I like the book. I like Tim Minchin. The actors were all doing their job v well. But it just didn't do it for me.Yet everyone seems to rave about how amazing it is. Not many catchy tunes. No huge musical numbers to make you gasp. The fear is too pantomime. The pay off not wonderful enough. Or is it just me?

I refuse to go on principle. One of the great female parts ( mrs trunchball) that isn’t all about being a pretty love interest and they get a man playing it.
There are so few decent female parts for women it gets me really angry when men take one of the few good ones. Heaven forbid a woman play the part of a not very attractive woman!

I am so glad I am not alone in not liking it - this is the first time I'm come across others of my kind!

I don't know if it was the particular cast I saw, but it was either shouty and incomprehensible or quiet and I was dropping off. I wasn't mad about any of the songs, although that was not helped by not being able to hear the words. I see a lot of musicals, but just didn't get this one and I loved the book. I realise I am in the minority though!

I saw the RSC first run of it in Stratford before it went to the west end

Me too motherofdragons! I'm a big Tim Minchin fan anyway but I love Matilda.

I've seen most musicals and generally the new ones aren't as good as the oldies (Phantom, Miss Saigon, Les Mis) but this one definitely sits up there with the classics. Things like Mamma Mia and The Lion King are a bit blah for me.

Loved it and better than Charlie and the Chocolate factory. I thought it was better than the Lion King!

I think it is outstanding! (As a musician too)! The school song is musically and lyrically amazing.

YABVU. It's superb! Very catchy songs and engaging story. Both me and my then 7 year old loved it. I'd go and see it again!

Now if you'd complained about the bar prices at the Cambridge theatre is have agreed; £7 I paid for a glass of wine!!!!!

Yanbu it's dire

Yep @LadyHonoriaDedlock I love musicals. Also loved Tim Minchin live. His songs are fab. I love Sondheim (v clever) and Bernstein and most Lloyd Weber’s. Not snobby about new musicals.
Love Les Mis but too long. Love music from Evita but wasn’t convinced by the stage show. Can’t wait to see Hamilton (have tickets) and School of Rock. Am sure dd would like Matilda in due course.
couldn’t start this thread on my Facebook for example because a friend took me for a gift so it would look rude. She loves it so much she has seen in several times. Which is why I thought it was just me!

I've seen most musicals and generally the new ones aren't as good as the oldies

Are you specifically talking West End musicals? Because there have been some amazing "new" musicals (i.e. within the last decade), both off-West End and on Broadway that maybe haven't reached here yet or didn't make much of a splash over here. Waitress, Dear Evan Hansen, In The Heights, Once, London Road, Spring Awakening, The Addams Family, Groundhog Day, Bright Star, Come From Away, Fun Home... I think the past decade has really seen musicals come into their own and blow the traditional Lloyd Webber / Schönberg & Boublil canon out of the water.

That's not to mention some of the lesser-known late 90s / early 00s musicals like Parade, The Color Purple, The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, Urinetown, Floyd Collins, The Light in the Piazza etc etc.

(I probably care too much about musicals.)

@JudyGrandChamp I agree that a big problem with Matilda is not being able to make out all of the lyrics. The joy of it is in the clever wordplay and a lot of that gets lost, inevitably, because it's all so FAST. I enjoyed it a lot more when I listened to the soundtrack afterwards.

I think because it was Minchin's first experience of writing a musical he maybe didn't quite understand that could happen, and essentially wrote a really fantastic concept album which was then staged. Groundhog Day doesn't seem to have the same issues.

I can’t bear Lloyd Webber. Absolute cynical crap apart from Joseph and Superstar.
Seen most musicals? Parade? Dogfight? Waitress? Last Five Years? (etc, etc) Or just most mainstream West End musicals? The new ones are different from the old ones. It’s a bit like saying there hasn’t been a decent film since Psycho. I much prefer modern ones, although I can appreciate them.

*appreciate older ones I mean.

School of Rock is my absolute favourite musical. The talent of the instrument playing kids is just astounding. Knocks socks off other shows.

I loved it. It was beautifully staged and the cast (particularly the majority being children) were fantastic.
I'm not sure that I love the music enough that I'd consider buying the soundtrack, but I loved it as a theatrical experience.

Hamilton is bloody amazing new musical, instant classic it's astounding.

You'd have had a job seeing Waitress unless you are in the US cardibach!

Peachgreen - Fun Home is coming to London.

One I wish would come (but won't because it didn't have a long Broadway run) is Bandstand. Fantastic music.

I'd love to see Come From Away too.

You’re allowed to travel Alexander. I saw it on Broadway. The others have all been 8n the UK.

Noice See, I thought Lion King was overrated. Beautiful to look at, music ok, but not enough plot for a two hour musical.

I'll let you know in 366 days time when we've seen it in Cardiff!!

{saw this thread and couldn’t resist the boast} DD actually played a kid called “Alice” a few times a week for a period of 12 months

As a result, I obviously love it. Although we did go and see it once when she wasn’t in and I’m not sure I enjoyed it quite as much, I find the storytelling scenes a bit too long. She definitely made the show so maybe that’s why you weren’t that impressed

Oh wow @tabbytiger how exciting. Is she at stage school? Is she still acting?

She was never really an actress - she’s a dancer, the role’s primarily a dance role which is why she was cast I think. She likes singing and dancing and has had quite a few professional/semi-professional dance jobs but has never really done any acting (other than this). She was sent along to the initial audition by one of her dance schools!

You'll never get me on a plane journey that long cardibach - plus we can't afford.

One of my husband's students was in the London production of Dogfight.

I didn't get to see Last Five Years as I had to work but Dd & dh went down for a matinee.

Dd found a bootleg of Something Rotten (titled Tap Dancing Eggs to try & fool copyright). I laughed so much. I'd love that to be produced here.