LEHI — Growing up, the books of Roald Dahl and the imagination behind them were very important in my household. Making a drive to Lehi to see Matilda the Musical at the Lehi Arts Council in Friday traffic may seem a bit crazy for a Northern Utahn, but since this is the year anniversary of my mother’s death and I have vivid memories of her reading the book to me, I take any opportunity I can to see the musical with music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly. The story follows young, brilliant Matilda, played the night I saw the show by Alicia Wright, as she struggles with the trauma of parents who do not love her, a principal who mistreats her, and powers that she cannot understand.
As I settled into my seat, I read the directors note by codirectors Howard and Kathryn Little and felt a surge of excitement for the show I was about to witness. When a director(s) can understand the assignment, especially the deeper assignment that I see as a mental health therapist in so many of these stories, I know it will come through on stage. The point that the Little’s make about what do you do when the people you trust are untrustworthy remain for me the main theme of Matilda and the motivations for the characters of Matilda, Miss Honey, played with such depth by Kat Hawley Cook, and so many of the others portrayed in the show.
Matila plays through August 3 at the Lehi Arts Council. | Photo Credit: Kim Filmore
Cook as Honey profoundly connected as a person who had been convinced that she is pathetic and does not have enough courage to stand up even though she has important things to say. Her terror in the song Pathetic is potent. This is contrasted by the beautiful peace that is shown with her golden voice in a particularly touching and favorite song of mine, My House, near the end of the show. As Cook sang the words of My House, in the tiny set by Tina Fontana, I completely connected with the feeling of finally being safe, no matter the size or ambiance of the home.
Wright as Matilda, by contrast, portrays power and seeks for justice. Her theme of “that’s not right” echos throughout the show, and Wright does a great job of showing the character of Matilda not backing down and having the strength to stand up to trauma no matter how hard it is.
Of course there is the evil Trunchbull, played with ease by Trevor Williams. In all stories, the most frightening villains have no idea they are doing wrong. Williams portrays the character of Trunchbull as being above reproach in terrifying accuracy.
Photo Credit: Kim Filmore
Another impressive thing with the direction of the Little’s is their willingness to think outside the box and create a production that is unique while true to the story. One of the first elements of this is the casting of the doctor in the song Miracle played by Mallory Miller. I am not sure how many times I have seen Matilda, but I am sure it is in the double digits. However this was the first time the doctor was played by a female presenting person. Nothing in the script seems to indicate gender in any way. I follow on social media a prominent Utah theatre director who has gone out of their way to share statistics regarding auditions of shows and how often women outnumber men in auditions 3 or sometimes 4 to one. I love seeing directors make a choice like having Miller play the doctor and giving more women a chance to have prominent roles.
Lighting design by Elizabeth Griffiths was quite pronounced. This was most noticed in School Song, where in combination with the projections by Caleb Wallengren and choreography by T’naiha Ellis lead to a perfect scene that looked like it had been plucked out of a Tim Burton movie. The contrast of the sweetness of Miss Honey’s classroom was palpable and showed the difference of the children’s experience.
Lehi Arts Council has showcased a great introduction to this show, digging into the deeper meaning and trauma behind adults who aren’t trustworthy and don’t provide the safety they are supposed to. More than just a fun night out, it is a healing look at the right to be a little bit naughty.
