'Matilda Jr' is the shortened 60-minute version of Tim Minchin's beloved musical (from the Roald Dahl novel), which keeps most of the songs and storyline, and still delivers all the punches.
In this version, presented for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, local theatre-training establishment, The Nardone's Academy Of Performing Arts, from Lochgelly in Fife, showed us exactly what punches this show could deliver!
Using two different age groups, with primary school-aged children as the youngsters and teenagers for the adults, this made the show not only more believable and realistic, but created some truly lovely dynamics within the ensemble too. And my over-riding thought as I left the theatre this afternoon was simply...WOW! The amount of energy, talent, energy, enthusiasm, energy, dedication, and energy, that these students expounded was phenomenal. Their acting area extending beyond the stage into the front row and part of the central aisle, there was absolutely no coming out of character, and their commitment to the show was just inspiring.
I have seen this show now perhaps 5 times, and never before has it excited me the way it did this afternoon. The accents were all very good, the characterisations were all superb, the costuming and set both perfect. In fact it is impossible to find any fault with this show at all.
The young girl playing Matilda was stunning, the young boy Bruce Bogtrotter was incredible, and the older student taking on the role of Miss Trunchbull was West-End worthy. Absolutely the best characterisation of this role I have thus far seen. Bravo! But those are just three of a very large cast of skilled and dedicated young performers.
The singing and choreography were excellent every time, and I am so dissapointed that I live so far away (Manchester), but hopefully I shall have the opportunity of seeing these talented yougsters and youths perform again some day soon. Absolutely amazing!
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 22.8.22
Reviewer - Matthew Dougall
on - 22.8.22
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