Matilda @ Clayton High School

When "Revolting Children" are finally pushed to their breaking point, "The Smell of Rebellion" drifts through Crunchem Academy. Clayton High School's lively production of Matilda was cleverly new and all but "Pathetic".

Composed by Tim Minchin, Matilda the Musical, adapted from Roald Dahl's novel, premiered at the West End in 2011. Originally staged by the Royal Shakespeare Company, it transferred to Broadway just 2 years later, going on to win 7 Olivier Awards and 4 Tony Awards. This thrilling story follows the precocious young Matilda as she navigates life with negligent parents and attends school with cruel headmistress Miss Trunchbull. Despite her dreadful situation, Matilda tells vivid stories of a flying acrobat and daring escapologist, finding solace in Miss Honey's warm acceptance of her intelligence.

Cleverly positioned sets and cohesive costumes anchored Clayton's production. From couches and vanities to reversible flats and platforms with desks, each set had incredible detail. Despite all being visible at the same time, the distinct color choices and styles separated each area of the stage, creating an interesting visual depth. Each costume represented the true personality of the characters; gentle floral dresses for Miss Honey, abrasive combat boots for Miss Trunchbull, and colorful childlike outfits for Matilda. The contrast of Matilda's bright patterned dresses with the militaristic school uniforms provides a visual representation of her unique mindset, while the switch from red to blue tones depicts her emotional growth.

Matilda Wormwood, played by Briel Davis-McCoy, wonderfully balanced childlike naivety with understanding of the cruel actions of adults in her life. Davis-McCoy beautifully portrayed the emotional development while simultaneously keeping it age-appropriate for the character. Her enchanting vocals in "Quiet" had the audience entranced, and her spunky rendition of "Naughty" had them dancing in their seats. Played by Greta Peters, Miss Honey's motherly compassion toward Matilda created a compelling love within chosen family. Throughout the entire production her facial expressions conveyed timid emotion, coming to a head in "My House" where her sweet vocals blended seamlessly with the Escapologist.

Speaking of the Escapologist and Acrobat, Elijah Murrell and Paulette Ford, respectively, illustrated the tragic love story with passionate body language. The combination of smooth vocals from the Escapologist and elegant dancing from the Acrobat, created a charming duo. In contrast, Miss Trunchbull (Alexis Amerman) was cold and harsh in every movement and facial expression. The skillful growl of her voice in "The Smell of Rebellion" maintained her wicked nature, as did her commanding stage presence. The ensemble of Crunchem Academy students, made up of talented young middle students, had endless energy and hilarious one liners.

Innovative props and artistic lighting immersed audiences in the magical world. A huge chocolate cake, with slices cleverly held together by magnets, accentuated Miss Trunchbull's cruelty� as did the flying mannequin representing one of the school children whilst also providing comedic relief. Creative Lighting brought the mood of each scene to its forefront, including dim lights within Matilda's abusive home while color changing LED strips ingeniously lit up the couch as a television set.

The children might've been a little "Naughty", but Clayton's performance was a brilliant "Miracle" of theater.