AIBU?
to boycott Matilda the musical on principle because it gives one of the few great female acting roles to a man.
Bodicea · 21/10/2018 09:34
There are so few great female characters as it is and there especially aren’t many that aren’t the pretty young thing, token love interest role. It has really annoyed me.
Bodicea · 21/10/2018 09:35
I remember when I was into drama at school whenever we did a show there were so few female parts and so not very many boys that went to drama club. The most mediocre boys got great parts and great girls missed out. I don’t even do acting any more but the lack of roles did put me off trying to make a career out of it. Times haven’t changed much.
EspressoPatronum · 21/10/2018 09:36
It was the only thing that disappointed me when I went to see it..
YuhBasic · 21/10/2018 09:36
I’d boycott it because it just isn’t very good. Gutted.
Sallygoroundthemoon · 21/10/2018 09:36
I'm assuming this is a joke? I thought that role was always played by a man in drag and that's the whole point, like pantomime dames.
Jaxtellerswife · 21/10/2018 09:37
Isn't it tradition that men play women and women play men or boys?
By all means stick to your principles but I doubt it will make any difference and it might be a shame if a child doesn't get to see something they may love.
NotANotMan · 21/10/2018 09:40
How many male roles are played by women then?
Matilda isn't a pantomime, nor is it a traditional musical. I can't see why they have done this.
Haffiana · 21/10/2018 09:40
because it gives one of the few great female acting roles to a man
It isn't and it doesn't and there aren't.
Maybe it is different in Russia?
OpalIridescence · 21/10/2018 09:42
Hmm, I went to see this and I thought the show was brilliant. I agree that there are a shortage of great parts for women.
However, watching a talented little girl take the lead and seeing her face during her standing ovation wasn't something I would have wanted my DD to have missed.
I was a little surprised when Miss Trunchhall took the stage, my DD immediately said that's a man!
I also could have done without the hilarity made of Miss Trunchhall gym skirt and bra.
The actor though, was very good.
Guess I am on the fence!
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 09:42
Erm... you've heard of the pantomime tradition where men play women, women play men/principle boys? Hairspray, even!
You are mistaking satire for misogyny!
Instead of railing about the free flowing gender bending of our pantomime tradition we ought to be celebrating its parody of gender stereotypes.
user1495884620 · 21/10/2018 09:43
Surely Miss Trunchball is not even the greatest female role in that play? That would be...err...Matilda.
JustJoinedRightNow · 21/10/2018 09:43
Matilda the musical is brilliant. You would be missing out if you boycotted it because of this.
Nothisispatrick · 21/10/2018 09:43
I thought that role was always played by a man in drag and that's the whole point, like pantomime dames.
Are you thinking of Tracy’s mum in Hairspray? Why would Miss Trunchball be played by a man when it’s played by a woman in the film?
SoftlyCatchyMonkey1 · 21/10/2018 09:44
Actually I liked that it was played by a man
Butch, intimidating, sinister and comical at the same time. I think it added a bit of humour to the role.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 09:45
Matilda isn't a pantomime, nor is it a traditional musical. I can't see why they have done this. Because Dennis Kelly is well versed in both traditions and chose to give them a good shake up!!
Fatasfook · 21/10/2018 09:45
Unless you know for a fact that a man was employed instead of a woman because he is a man rather than the right actor for the job then I can’t see why you would be bothered. Maybe he did the best audition
JayoftheRed · 21/10/2018 09:47
I'm boycotting it but not through choice. It comes to my local theatre next year and the cheapest tickets for the shitty seats so far back you can't see the stage are £37. Decent seats are £67. I am utterly priced out. So I won't be going!
JaiNotJay · 21/10/2018 09:47
one of the few great female acting roles
I don't really think Miss Trunchbull is on par with Lady Macbeth, Juliet, or Blanche Du Bois!
HRTpatch · 21/10/2018 09:48
It has one of my favourite MT songs...This house.
I am sure no one gives two figs if you boycott it.
Bodicea · 21/10/2018 09:50
Matilda isn’t a pantomime. It is a musical based on a book. In the film adaption it was played very well by a woman. Yes Matilda is also a great role for a girl to play but it is possible to have more than one good female role in a play.
It just seems a shame that because the role doesn’t fit into the standard stereotype of a feminine woman that they thought it would be hilarious if it was played by a man.
At least in pantomimes the women get to take on some of the men’s roles in return. This is a lost chance for a great female actor to take on an interesting, physical role.
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 09:50
Why would Miss Trunchball be played by a man when it’s played by a woman in the film? Because the play came first, by a long margin, and has had many men in the original role in all countries it went out to!
BertrandRussell · 21/10/2018 09:50
Is it a pantomime? Is there a young male lead and is he played by a woman?
CuriousaboutSamphire · 21/10/2018 09:51
Matilda isn’t a pantomime. It is a musical based on a book I fear you have missed the point!
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