BIB Reviews: Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical - be the change you want to see!
Earlier this year I got to see the award-winning RSC stage version of Roald Dahl’s bestseller, Matilda for the first time at the west end which was amazing, the talent was incredible. Then I had the chance to see Roald Dahl’s Matilda The Musical, during the BFI London Film Festival, the movie adaptation of the musical theatre adaptation, which was great fun.
I watched the film at the Royal Festival Hall a day after the World Premiere because I woke up late to see it during the Press screening on that day (which messed up my film watching schedule). Anyway onto the review: It was a blast of nostalgia and visually engaging! An absolute delight to watch. Matilda isn’t just a film about a little girl finding her voice but also teaching valuable lessons. It highlights finding people who believe in you enough to lend their support and the importance of speaking up against injustice, wherever it’s found. The film also champions UK talent - ranging from the creatives, the writer, director and on-screen talents; it’s a massive spotlight on the young talent in the UK and there’s ALOT.
Miss Honey was played by the lovely Lashana Lynch, and it was refreshing and nice to see a Black woman on screen not be perfect or strive for greatness but just be. More of this please.
Musical wise, I do love the original London recording version but the soundtrack was just as amazing as that version! The last song with Miss Honey (played by Lashana Lynch) and Mathilda (player by Alisha Weir) was so beautiful and heartwarming.
“You stupid horrible bully” when Matilda said this the cinema when off, clapping and cheering, even me I wanted to shout and be like ‘you tell her Matilda'‘. I had no idea, the screening I went to was a special matinee for BFI’s Education events, so there were so many school kids watching too, it was so cute to hear the reactions when Trunchell and the parents first appeared on the screen. Matilda the Musical is definitely a watch for kids and the family during the holidays.
Recommended Reading:
BFI’s Education events, a curriculum-linked study days and interactive events for students aged 9 to 19 for a range of subjects throughout the year, online, at BFI Southbank, and selected partner venues outside of London. Programmes like this are so important in helping younger people explore the arts and i’m so grateful I got to go these type of events when I was younger; for resources, check out here.
And to end, “If you always take it on the chin and wear it, nothing will change’. Be the change you want to see.
Matilda The Musical is released in cinemas in the UK and Ireland on Friday 25 November.