Top Five Songs: Matilda

Matilda is a sly show with a bouncy score and witty lyrics.  I hope Tim Minchin continues to write for musicals, because his theatrical debut is terrific – not perfect, of course, but brimming with personality and potential.  Here are my favorites.  (Pictures are taken variously from Stratford-upon-Avon, West End, and Broadway productions.)

 

 

“Miracle” – I get such a kick out of this opening number, which plays on the idea of “perfect little angels” and “participant trophy” culture.  Scores of smug children bask in the glow of their parents’ indiscriminate, hyperbolic praise, and in addition to being wonderfully funny, it provides a nice contrast with the disgust and disinterest of Matilda’s horrible parents.

 

Best line:  “Special-ness seems de rigueur. / Above average is average – go figure. / Is it some modern miracle of calculus, / That such frequent miracles don’t render each one un-miraculous?”

 

 

“Naughty” – No surprise here, since I gushed about it in my original review.  This solo is utterly fantastic, smart and spunky.  I like the literary references that show off how extraordinary Matilda is, and the message – in order to take control of your life, sometimes you have to break the rules – is brilliant.

 

Best line:  “Even if you’re little you can do a lot, you / Mustn’t let a little thing like ‘little’ stop you.”

 

 

“When I Grow Up” – This song, with its lovely, simple melody, takes a short break from the action to let the kids in the ensemble muse about life and the future.  They’re all anxious to be older, when they’ll no doubt be taller, smarter, stronger, braver, and able to handle everything life throws at them, yet still maintain everything they like about being young.

 

Best line:  “When I grow up, / I will have treats every day, / And I’ll play with things that Mum pretends / That mums don’t think are fun.”

 

 

“Quiet” – Another solo for Matilda, a nice 11 o’clock-ish number that depicts her breaking point.  What starts as a frantic cascade of facts, questions, and frustrations coalesces into stillness as a sudden, crystalizing calm washes over her.  A fantastic character piece, and a treat for the young actress playing her.

 

Best line:  “I’m sorry – I’m not quite explaining it right, / But this noise becomes anger, and the anger is light, / And its burning inside me would usually fade, / But it isn’t today.”

 

 

“Revolting Children” – Here, the kids follow Matilda’s example from back in “Naughty” – they take control by acting up, turning Ms. Trunchbull’s adjective use of the word “revolting” into a verb.  The rock flair and anthemic chorus bring the show to a rousing climax.

 

Best line:  “We will become a screaming horde! / Take out your hockey stick, and use it as a sword! / Never again will we be ignored! / We’ll find out where the chalk is stored, / And draw rude pictures on the board! / It’s not insulting; we’re revolting!”