MAYHEM MIXED WITH MAGIC
Novato Theatre Company considered a daunting task of shepherding thirty young actors ages 10 to 13 to stage Matilda the Musical, the Broadway hit by Dennis Kelly (book) and Tim Minchin (music and lyrics) based on the book written by Roald Dahl, the much-beloved children’s author. Those familiar with Dahl recognize him as the author of James and the Giant Peach, Charlie and the Chocolate Factory, and other children’s stories made into award-winning movies.
Veteran director and choreographer Marilyn Izdebski had the chops to take on the challenge. Izdebski, a former acting school head, took only a few days to cast the adult roles for this production and double-cast ten major child roles.
Melody Payne (Mrs. Wormwood), Pat Barr (Mr. Wormwood), Jane Harrington (Miss Trunchbull),
Anna Vorperian (Miss Honey), Piper Lebeau and Piera Tamer (Double-Cast as Matilda)Then ten weeks of fun started, as Izdebski proceeded to choreograph, rehearse, and rehearse again her cadre of so many children and fourteen adults to produce spot-on singing and dancing. Thirty actors on one stage? Twenty-two of them children? They deliver one amazing and truly impressive show, backed by a tremendous offstage band led by Judy Weisen.
Melody Payne (Mrs. Wormwood) and Jane Harrington (Miss Trunchbull)The talent and weeks of rehearsal was evident as tweens took over Act I, moving quickly and with precision dance moves on a spectacularly impressive set by Michael Walraven, with outlandish props by Cindy Morris. Colorful and individual outfits by Adriena Gutierrez give insight to each child’s personality.
Initial glimpses of childhood dreams are soon replaced by uniforms and harsh subjugation at the boarding school run by Headmistress Trunchbull in an outrageous role by Jane Harrington, hilarious as the over-the-top bully with her students cowering in fear. It’s a tour-de-force when she throws a pigtailed student out the window. (Note: No children were harmed in this production.)
Melody Payne (Mrs. Wormwood) and Anna Vorperian (Miss Honey)Harrington’s perfectly nasty role is matched by Melody Payne, who stole every scene as Mrs. Wormwood, the inanely sexy dingbat who is Matilda’s mother. Payne’s singing, dancing, and screeching are a riot. Matilda’s father, hilariously enacted by local favorite Pat Barr, matches her antics as a clueless and scheming parent. They dismiss their daughter Matilda, a double-cast role by Piper Lebeau and Piera Tamer, as abnormal, because Matilda reads books. Their favored child, played on opening night by Samantha Raab and double cast with Annabelle Green, is a lay-about dolt sharing the Wormwood’s distaste for intelligence.
Matilda finds an ally in a teacher at the Trunchbull Academy, Miss Honey (Anna Vorperian) who recognizes Matilda’s uniqueness. They sing several lovely songs together including “When I Grow Up” with fellow classmates joining in from around the audience.
The classmates are powerless against the headmistress. Undaunted, they plot their limited revenge. Matilda helps them right the wrongs with logic and a bit of her mystical power, giving the audience cheers for the underdog.
Piper Lebeau and Piera Tamer (Double-Cast as Matilda)Matilda the Musical champions courage in the face of bullying, and love overcoming despair. Nasty Miss Trunchbull finally has enough of the otherworldly signs. Smarmy parents Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood have had enough of Matilda. Miss Honey steps in to help, and Matilda has a new home and a promising future.
It’s amazing how the young actors sing, dance, and act with talent years past their ages. With so many up-and-coming youthful stars too numerous to mention individually, this charming production is a knockout. One could say this “Matilda” is a triumph of the ages, especially the youngest ones.
Melody Payne (Mrs. Wormwood), Pat Barr (Mr. Wormwood)photos by Jere Torkelsen
Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical
Novato Theater Company
5420 Nave Drive in Novato (Marin County)
Fri and Sat at 7:30; Sat at 1 (May 24 & 31); Sat at 7:30pm (May 31 and June 7); Sun at 1
ends on June 8, 2025
for tickets ($26.50-$36.50), call 415.883.4498 or visit Novato Theater
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Cari Lynn Pace is a voting member of the San Francisco Bay Area Theatre Critics Circle.
