Why Matilda makes grown-ups and kids cry
Roald Dahl’s well-loved literary work, Matilda, comes alive onstage in the musical presented by Atlantis Theatrical Entertainment Group (ATEG). More than two decades after the big screen version, Matilda dazzles live audiences and focuses the spotlight on its young actors.
The Sunday matinee that we watched Matilda at Meralco Theater saw eightyear-old Uma Naomi Martin playing the lead. She is a Filipino-British talent who started performing onstage when she was only three years old. Matilda is her biggest stage role to date and she did not disappoint.
From the British accent required for the role, we can guess that Uma had an edge over the two other child actresses — Esang de Torres and Felicity Kyle Napuli — alternating as Matilda. Uma’s vocal range is likewise impressive enough, like when she rendered I’m Here with The Escapologist, the alterego of her dad, Mr. Wormwood (played by Joaquin Pedro Valdes). Or her haunting solo in Quiet.
It took Atlantis seven years to stage Matilda in Manila, from the time the musical premiered in London’s West End. Yet, it appears that Matilda is much-awaited by local audiences. The Sunday matinee on the first weekend run of Matilda was a full house. And by word of mouth, the succeeding performances will likewise be expectedly packed.
Miss Trunchbull is the antagonist that you will not surprisingly hate, but instead love. Yes, she terrorizes the kids with her violent punishments and imposes stringent rules. Though the diminutive Matilda refuses to be harassed and intimidated by their sadistic headmistress.
Jamie Wilson, the actor who breathes life into the female character, delights the audience and proves that he can indeed give justice to the tyrannical Miss Trunchbull. He is riotous. He upstages his co-performers without meaning to. Yes, he is lovable and a darling even if his character is not supposed to be so.
The versatile Cris Villonco, last seen onstage in an off-beat character in Fun Home, takes on the role this time as the sweet and affectionate Miss Honey. Since most of the adult characters in the musical are baddies, Miss Honey is the kind teacher who shows genuine concern for Matilda and eventually adopts her. Carla Guevarra-Laforteza is hilarious as Mrs. Wormwood, who gamely does cartwheels onstage also as The Acrobat.
Second Act opens with the poignant When I Grow Up, with the kids riding on a giant carousel that surely added charm to the musical. Lawyer Dan Albert de Padua, the new president of Atlantis, told us during intermission that the Second Act had more stirring moments. It was not a promise. It was undoubtedly a fact. Add the rousing Revolting Children to the second half, bannered by brave, young Bruce, who leads the tykes to go up in arms against Miss Trunchbull.
Take a bow, director Bobby Garcia. Working helm of a children’s musical is certainly doubly challenging. For Matilda, Bobby had to direct brighteyed and highly-energized young talents — three lead actresses and two sets of children, eight in each performance — and make them sing, dance, act with boundless energy. As expected, Bobby pulls it off impressively well.
The film version of Matilda shown in 1996, starring Mara Wilson and directed by Danny DeVito, was heartwarming enough. But the power of Matilda’s story is stronger in the theater musical and captures more the book’s spirit that made a lot of grown-ups (this one included) and even kids in the audience cry.
Matilda runs at the Meralco Theater until Dec. 10, with performances from Fridays to Sundays, with Saturday matinees.