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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

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Original poster

To think Matilda the musical is a bit pants

147 replies

Singadream · 18/12/2017 13:34

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?

OP posts:

TheClaws · 19/12/2017 22:47

I suppose my issue with Matilda is that, essentially, it is about child abuse. Now that might go over most 6 year old’s heads as they are posed in front of the Matilda poster in front of the theatre and sing all the songs, etc. But that is what Matilda is about. As a book, a younger child can skim over themes. As I said in an earlier post, I’m not sure Dahl would have ever intended this kind of material to be made into a laugh-a-minute stage show. (Sorry to be a wet blanket!)

MummaGiles · 19/12/2017 22:50

LOVE it. Seen it twice. Would see it again in a heartbeat. But not everybody can like everything.

AlexanderHamilton · 19/12/2017 22:53

It is aboit child abuse. But I don't think it's a laugh a minute show. It's quite dark in places especially the acrobat & escapologist sub-plot (Matilda's story) & very poignant.

Charley50 · 19/12/2017 23:22

I'm a bit with TheClaws. I actually found it quite upsetting (and the book too) and had a little cry in the theatre.
I liked the set and the swings etc. but the songs were so fast it was impossible to hear the words, which are meant to be one of the genius things about it. Yeah probably would have enjoyed it more if we knew the songs.
I'm not massively into stage musicals anyway but I liked Charlie and the CC, and Book of Mormon.

LizzieSiddal · 19/12/2017 23:26

Yabvvvvu!

I love Matilda and I don't usually like musicals.

In fact I've seen it twice and would go again tomorrow if I could.

Ohmyfuck · 19/12/2017 23:32

I think it's wonderful!

peachgreen · 20/12/2017 00:23

@cardibach I'm mostly replying just so I can grab you by the (virtual) lapels and enthusiastically agree with you that Waitress is amazing (and also Parade).

peachgreen · 20/12/2017 00:24

@AlexanderHamilton Yes I know, I'm looking forward to it.

AlexanderHamilton · 20/12/2017 00:50

My dd's birthday cakes

To think Matilda the musical is a bit pants

cardibach · 20/12/2017 16:42

Yay peachgreen ! Musical soul mates! When I was in the states last year we went to Marietta and found Mary Phagan’s grave. It’s very peaceful.
AlexanderHamilton a friend of my daughters was in Dogfight too - you don’t live in the midlands do you?

AlexanderHamilton · 20/12/2017 17:35

We used to live in the West Midlands but are now further north. Did the person your daughter knows go on to do a tour of a more dancy musical?

My dd would LOVE to see Waitress. But I think Come From Away would slightly win over it.

MuddhaofSuburbia · 20/12/2017 18:32

I love musicals, but I wasn't keen on Matilda- mostly bc the songs weren't all that imo
The set was great, Trunchbull was ace and Matilda was super doop- but the SONGS yawn
We couldn't remember more than the odd line by the time we came out. If I shell out £250 on a Big Night Out then by GOD I want to be whistling merrily on my way down to charing cross

MuddhaofSuburbia · 20/12/2017 18:35

....book of mormon and an American in Paris otoh were uh mayyy zing. Am hoping BOM doesn't close before my dds are old enough to see it

greenlanes · 20/12/2017 18:51

Totally agree. I am quite old and have seen all of the great musicals, mostly with original casts. I can sing all the songs even 30-40 years on. Matilda was totally forgettable. The music was dire, staging was fabulous, some of the (original) cast were really good, but not all. It, for me, is an Emperor's New Clothes musical. But then truthfully I find a lot of the new stuff like that including most modern operas.

peachgreen · 20/12/2017 19:35

@AlexanderHamilton My DH and I are currently debating what we'd prioritise - Waitress or Come From Away. I say Waitress but I think I'm biased because I'm pregnant!

cardibach · 20/12/2017 22:31

Alexander yes! But if you’ve moved you aren’t who I —worried— thought you might be.
I’m going to see your namesake next week. Very excited.

cardibach · 20/12/2017 22:32

Strike through fail. I can normally do that, too...

OliviaBonas · 20/12/2017 22:35

I absolutely loved it! The songs make it.

AlexanderHamilton · 20/12/2017 23:40

We go February half term cardibach

FeelingGuiltyAlready · 20/12/2017 23:44

I disagree op. I have seen ever such a lot of West End musicals over the past 30 years years (job related) and I would put Matilda in my top 5. I would go back and watch it again tomorrow in a heartbeat.

FeelingGuiltyAlready · 20/12/2017 23:47

But it's not a laugh a minute stage show is it TheClaws?

It's nuts to say you like the book but think it's too upsetting to see the book re-enacted on stage. Same story, different media.

TheClaws · 21/12/2017 05:11

To be fair, I never said I found the show too “upsetting to be re-enacted on stage”. I think the material was not intended by Dahl for the stage. It isn’t simply a case of same story, different media: different media changes perception, particularly in children.

And while you’re right, it isn’t a laugh a minute - there are moments of darkness and poignancy as another poster pointed out. The meaning of those would likely escape younger children though, so while we know why Miss Trunchbull behaves the way she does, etc., they will just be confused as to her motivations.

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