The Loud New Musical Matilda Turns Dahl Into Dull

Joan Marcus

Location Info

Map

Shubert Theatre

225 W. 44th St.
New York, NY 10036

Category: Theaters

Region: West 40s

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Details

Matilda
by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin
Shubert Theatre
225 West 44th Street
212-239-6200, matildathemusical.com

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More About

• Matthew Warchus
• Tim Minchin
• Roald Dahl
• Theater
• Off-Broadway

As for Ward, her sweetness, of both voice and presence, is a known quantity to those who’ve seen her in musicals like Off-Broadway’s Violet and the Roundabout revival of 1776. She and the Matildas get most of the bearable moments here. As written (script by Dennis Kelly), their scenes are rather dull and predictable, but the relief their quietude brings from the otherwise nerve-racking context is so immense that I kept wishing they would go on longer. But since Matilda already runs over two and a half hours including intermission, which would seem excessive even for a well-done children’s show, I think on the whole I had better withdraw that wish. Instead, I’ll take Matilda’s advice and, the next time Broadway is threatened with a British children’s musical, I will stay home with a good book.