Matilda the Musical by Archmere Academy in Claymont, DE
March 6, 2024
Review submitted by Olivia Lee of Harriton High School
Sometimes they may be a little bit naughty, but Archmere Academy embraced Matilda the Musical with childlike cheek that is guaranteed to get you grinning!
Matilda the Musical is a musical based off of Roald Dahl’s Matilda, written by Dennis Kelly and composed by Tim Minchin. Matilda is an extraordinary little girl in every sense of the word – a genius able to read before ever going to school. While her abusive parents fail to recognize this, Matilda’s teacher, Miss Honey, does, and the two go on an epic conquest of revenge against her parents and the evil headmistress, Miss Trunchbull.
Archmere Academy was brimming with talent from all sides. Maggie Shelton played Matilda with incredible stamina and stable vocals. Her singing, paired with Jack Maister’s as the Escapologist, made for a heartrending duet in “Acrobat Story IV (I’m Here).” But perhaps the most stunning singer of all was Bridget McNamara as Miss Honey – McNamara performed with her incredible technique shining in her operatic vibrato and crystal-clear diction, yet never neglected in-character facial expressions. Her emotion in “My House” was especially raw and beautifully poignant. The cause of her sorrow, Miss Trunchbull, was played brilliantly by Jack Roarty, whose hilarious mannerisms and immersive acting very nearly stole the show! Rarely was the audience not howling with laughter when Roarty was on stage, especially when he pulled a child-hurling stunt with a large mannequin.
The rest of the cast and ensemble displayed lots of talent as well. Brianna Cubbler’s (Mrs. Wormwood) powerful vocals shone in “Loud,” while her dance partner, Sam Wahl, got the audience laughing in his role as the suave Rudolpho. Playing Mrs. Wormwood’s husband Mr. Wormwood, Jonah Tonn won over the theater with his seamless banter with the audience during the intermission carrying into “All I Know.” Whether roasting bookworms or promoting television, Tonn was always equipped with a witty comeback. Among the school children, Caileigh Crane (Bruce) stood out with their charismatic cake-eating performance in “Bruce” and fancy riffs in “Revolting Children.”
The production crew at Archmere was by no means short on talent, either. Sound was executed practically flawlessly, an impressive feat for Henry Bellace controlling thirty-three mics and a live pit orchestra! The set was innovative, with a set of staircases used like puzzle pieces to form classrooms, sheds, and circus rings. Not to mention the publicity – so much dedication and passion were put even into the advertising, and Bridget McNamara’s program cover design perfectly captured the essence of the show with ominous silhouettes in shades of purple.
Archmere Academy’s production of Matilda the Musical will certainly leave you with a childlike sense of wonder at their talent, passion, and miraculous sense of humor!
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Review submitted by Mae Londergan of Harriton High School
“The Burning Woman, Hurling Through the Air, with Dynamite in Her Hair, Over Sharks and Spiky Objects, Caught by the Man Locked in a Cage” is quite the feat, and so was Archmere Academy’s production of Matilda.
Matilda the Musical, based on the book by Roald Dahl, follows the titular character, a brilliant little girl, through her first year of school and her difficult home life with a family who never understood her. At school, she finds a family among new friends, develops superpowers, and fights back against the cruel regime of the headmistress, The Trunchbull.
The Trunchbull was played by Jack Roarty, who owned the stage every time he was on it with the headmistress’s full aggression, striking fear into the hearts of the school kids. His vocals in “The Smell of Rebellion” were impressive, adding greatly to an already fun number. Trunchbull’s niece, Miss Honey, Matilda’s teacher and mother-figure, is written to be the emotional heart of Matilda, and Bridget McNamara absolutely was that. Her voice was lovely, and all of her songs, especially “My House,” conveyed Miss Honey’s quiet strength exceptionally well. Maggie Shelton, who played Matilda, did a great job at capturing her precocious nature, making her a sympathetic main character that the audience rooted for throughout the show.
Brianna Cubbler did a fantastic job as Mrs. Wormwood, both singing and dancing very well in “Loud,” leading the ensemble in making it one of the most fun songs in the show. Sam Wahl’s Rudolpho acted as comic relief, with ridiculous dance moves and general silliness that elicited laughs from the audience and stole the show every time he was onstage. Right after intermission, Jonah Tonn’s Mr. Wormwood took over for a bit of crowd work, roasting crowd members for reading books as an introduction to “All I Know.” And while it was a good introduction to the song, it was also a memorable part of the show, unique to this production.
The ensemble is an integral part of Matilda, and they did a great job: they all had energy in every song, dancing and singing and even doing synchronized exercises for “The Smell of Rebellion.” They also made good use of their props, especially in “Bruce” with the giant chocolate cake and when The Trunchbull threw the Amanda Thripp dummy across the stage – that one got a much-deserved laugh from the audience. All of those awesome ensemble members were mic’ed, and all thirty-three mics were run by one student, Henry Bellace, so kudos to him for the near-perfect sound throughout the show!
It must be said that “Bambinatum est Magittum” (children are maggots), but maybe not the Archmere Academy students, because they put on a great show!
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