Matilda the Musical

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:Loved it! But, it was very dark compared to the original.

I’ve always found Roald Dahl to be pretty dark. I don’t think it is any darker than the book.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the music, I hate the adaptation of the lighthearted story that the original book was (imo). This was a depressing story of an abused child crying out for help.

The escapologist thing was weird. Is that in the stage show too?

The bolded is always what Matilda was. Both the book and the original 90s movie. This movie was very different from the novel, much more different than the 90s movie. But in ways I thought were very effective. Roald Dahl's books are all about how children experience a world that treats them poorly and how children are capable of more depth and understanding than anyone gives them credit for.

We loved the musical! I was a little bummed that there was less magic than the book, and I missed the parts of the book I loved (I didn't even know it was a musical so went into it expecting something more like the 90s movie) but overall I was so blown away with the music and the talent of these kid actors etc that it made up for anything I was missing. Really wonderful!

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:

Anonymous wrote:I love the music, I hate the adaptation of the lighthearted story that the original book was (imo). This was a depressing story of an abused child crying out for help.

The escapologist thing was weird. Is that in the stage show too?

The bolded is always what Matilda was. Both the book and the original 90s movie. This movie was very different from the novel, much more different than the 90s movie. But in ways I thought were very effective. Roald Dahl's books are all about how children experience a world that treats them poorly and how children are capable of more depth and understanding than anyone gives them credit for.

We loved the musical! I was a little bummed that there was less magic than the book, and I missed the parts of the book I loved (I didn't even know it was a musical so went into it expecting something more like the 90s movie) but overall I was so blown away with the music and the talent of these kid actors etc that it made up for anything I was missing. Really wonderful!

I just finished reading the book again with my kids a few weeks ago. I feel like the original novel is about her relationship with Miss Honey, and her stepping into a mother role and MH helping to guide her. That was glossed over in the new film. The “stay with me, I’ll adopt you!” felt so out of place at the end of the new film.

[Anonymous]

My 6 year old loved it. Emma Thompson is fantastic. Such an amazing actress

[Anonymous]

I’ve seen it twice and my 10yo had watched it 3x. I think it’s great. I do agree for some younger kids the PG rating might not be a good rating indicator. That’s why we have common sense media though.

[Anonymous]

Pretty good movie, but Broadway play was sooooo much better.

[Anonymous]

Anonymous wrote:I love the music, I hate the adaptation of the lighthearted story that the original book was (imo). This was a depressing story of an abused child crying out for help.

The escapologist thing was weird. Is that in the stage show too?

All of roald dahl’s books have abusive characters in them. He’s a strange one himself. Maybe it’s aspergers plus normalized abuse plus hyperfocus on fictional writing.