Matilda: The Musical

[School of Movies 2023]

This, folks, is arguably the greatest adaptation of one of Roald Dahl's books made to date. Taking everything that was great about the 1988 book (one of his last, only followed by Esio Trot, The Vicar of Nibbleswick and The Minpins) and one of the abiding favourites for many kids and previously-kids who aren't entirely sure if they have truly grown up yet.

It's about a schoolgirl who develops telekinetic powers that she uses to banish a truly horrific headteacher. But that is merely the skeletal plot, there is so much there about being lonely, being neglected and abused and using your frustrations for something positive (making this the Anti-Carrie). And that was conducted in the beloved Mara Wilson and Danny DeVito film from 1996. 

But in turning this thing into a successful West-End musical Tim Minchin added some truly memorable, frequently brilliant songs, a whole sub-plot about a story Matilda is weaving together, even more significance for the role of Miss Honey (played with astonishing fragility by Lashana Lynch). It's also a little less mean-spirited than a lot of Dahl's work, which makes it more suited to newer generations. 

Alisha Weir absolutely kills it as Matilda, and Emma Thompson is unrecognisably foul as the monstrous Agatha Trunchbull. This film adaptation of the musical play adaptation is a Netflix-funded production, so should be possible to see right now. And with Wonka on the way from the director of Paddington, we hope this is the beginning of a 2020s Dahlaissance.