Roald Dahl's Matilda the Musical

Brilliant, playful, and with the timeless "la résistance contre les adultes" poetics of Dahl. The musical guise fits it unexpectedly well, which is something you wouldn't think in your wildest dreams. After all, what could be more repulsive on paper than a musical remake of a children's classic where most of the parts are sung by first graders. But everyone is enjoying it to the max, led by Thompson, who tops them all in an unprecedented way. And how that thirteen-year-old Alisha can keep up with her performance is an unfathomable mystery. A "Paddington-esque" film for the whole family, which even the biggest grumbling adult "why the hell are those kids singing" moron will be so energized that at the end of "Children Rebellion" they will be humming along with a smile of satisfaction on their lips. (26/12/2022)

I had recently seen Danny DeVito's Matilda for the first time, and was largely unimpressed by it, so I was curious to see how the story would look in a more modern and musical package. I like Emma Thompson, but I have to admit that I found Pam Ferris more suited to the role of Trunchbull, she looked more despotic and believable, whereas with Thompson, though she played her role well, it was more obvious that she was more made-up, plus one associates her more with positive characters (as Nanny McPhee, was she also almost unrecognizable, but into a role that was more suited to her). The performance of little Matilda was fine, as was Mara Wilson back in the day, likewise with Lashana Lynch as Miss Honey. Aside from that, I liked that Matilda and Miss Honey's stories were more connected, making their encounter seem more fateful. What I would still criticize the new Matilda, however, is its running time, which could definitely be shorter, and I would also cut down on the singing (yes, even though it is a musical). (01/01/2023)