Bryan Austermann has created a less sneaky and sly Trunchbull than others I have seen. And Slow Burn Theatre Company does not break with this tradition. Speaking of her, a man traditionally plays the headmistress, adding to the show's humor. Mallory Newbrough and Anthony Cataldo in a scene from Slow Burn Theatre's 'Matilda: The Musical' now on stage at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. But in the end, Matilda's smarts and magical powers may prove too much for even the Trunchbull to overcome. It is a dark, narrow cupboard with spikes in the walls and nails sticking up from the floor. Her other cruel penalties include locking her charges in the 'chokey' for lengthy periods. Let's not forget, the Trunchbull is an Olympic javelin, discus, and hammer thrower from the 1972 Olympics. For instance, in Dahl's dark, twisted world, she picks a girl up by her pigtails, and throws her a far distance. Trunchbull emotionally and physically abuses the children. Meanwhile, the school which she attends has a headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, who makes Miss Hannigan from Annie seem like a Girl Scout Adviser of the Year candidate. Her parents mock her and emotionally abuse her. She is brilliant for her age, yet not only underappreciated but mistreated.

The title character is the type of person you would call an outsider. For those unfamiliar with the show, some background may be helpful. It is not clear when Dahl or the musical adaptation's creators have set 'Matilda.' However, the timeless story set in England, about the anarchy of childhood, bad parenting, bullying, the power of stories, the imagination, and a special little girl hoping for a better life, speaks in different ways to each generation witnessing 'Matilda.' That is the definition of a classic, and 'Matilda' certainly is one. Wormwood badmouths books and rips them apart. One cannot help but squirm, knowing that censorship is happening today, as Mr. Wormwood (a colorfully kooky Anthony Cataldo) rips pages out of a book that the girl has borrowed from the library. In fact, censorship happens in 'Matilda.' Specifically, the girl's father, Mr. Ditto for Charles Dickens' 'Oliver Twist,' which Matilda has also read. And yes, Dostoevsky's novel has found its way onto banned books lists. 'Crime and Punishment' by Fyodor Dostoevsky? Yes, the little girl has read it. And she somehow possesses the capacity to read and comprehend books intended for older children and adults. Indeed, the title character is an avid reader. So, it is entirely timely to mount a production of 'Matilda.' After all, the musical, based on children's author Roald Dahl's popular tale, celebrates the power of the imagination and the joy of reading. It is running through April 10 in the Broward Center for the Performing Arts' intimate Amaturo Theater.ĭuring the recent past, school districts have made headlines by banning books. The youngster leads an impressive cast of triple threats, (adults and children), in Slow Burn's bravura production. Also, to her credit, she never comes across as 'cute.'īryan Austermann, center, is the wicked Miss Trunchbull in Slow Burn Theatre's 'Matilda: The Musical' now on stage at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts. Phelps (an enthusiastic Karen Stephens with a convincing Caribbean accent), Khan, while speaking and singing on-stage as 'Matilda,' looks and sounds as natural as someone breathing. Whether the titular character is scolding her nitwit father for putting profits over people, or dramatically reading the story about the escapologist and acrobat to a mesmerized Mrs. If Saheli Khan can demonstrate this type of confidence, poise, and spontaneity on stage at her young age, it is tempting to think about the feats she can achieve when Khan is older. No doubt, she demonstrates the kind of stage presence and naturalness that is common for experienced and respected performers four times her age. The first thing that you will likely marvel at in the professional, nonprofit Slow Burn Theatre Company's mesmerizing production of 'Matilda: The Musical' is the performance of the 10-year-old playing the roughly 6- year-old titular character. The company of Slow Burn Theatre's 'Matilda: The Musical' now on stage at the Amaturo Theater at the Broward Center for the Performing Arts.

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