Matilda

[Phantom of London]

Wow

[Childcatcher]

I second your WOW! Was there last night and it kinda blew
me away. Nice to have something so new, witty and clever in the west end
The most talented kids I've ever come across, fabulous, ingenious set and don't get me started on miss trunchbull, think I wanna be her.......him lol

[ThankstoPhantom]

Can't wait to see this.... Going on Friday night.

[Nickhutson]

Yep - best British musical ever; it's a flawless show.

[songanddanceman2]

'best British musical ever'
LOL think that may be a stretch

[Nickhutson]

haha. It's not a stretch in my opinion - but, I am sure there are some that disagree, and they're welcome to.

[pwar]

I think you need to sit and reflect on something for more than a couple of months if you want to use a superlative like 'Best British musical ever.' Seems that something could come out in the next couple of months and that would in turn be the best one ever.

It especially annoys me when people say that a film released within the last couple of years is one of 'the best of all time' -- within the last 100 years, the best film of all time happened to be one that you were excited about and saw in the theatres? Please, self-centrism is lame.

Also an Australian wrote the score and lyrics (yes a Brit wrote the libretto and another wrote the book from which it's based), so I don't think you can really call it 'British' without some reservation. (FWIW, wikipedia is essentially wrong in calling Minchin 'British-Australian' as he was only born in England and quickly moved to Australia).

[Nickhutson]

All true - yes.

I've sat and reflected on it for a year, as I saw it back in January - and seeing the show again has only reconfirmed by beliefs.

I call it British purely because it's not American; it premiered in Britain, features a British director, producer, orchestrator, set designer, illusion designer, choreographer, librettist, novelist, cast...

[MariusPontmercy]

I'd say it comfortably qualifies as British - a British book-writer adaptating a British novel (set in Britain), directed by a British director for a British company. What is it if not British? You'd hardly call it an Australian musical!

Anyway, whether or not it's the best - I agree that's a bit of a sweeping statement - it's pretty close to perfect, I saw it for the first time in London last night after loving it in Stratford in January, and if anything it's even better. Bertie Carvel is sensational, as is the girl I saw playing Matilda, and the whole thing is just so beautifully written, produced and performed. Loved it.

[pwar]

I might be forced to eat my words when I see it this coming week.

RE: 'You'd hardly call it an Australian musical' -- calling it that would clearly be more wrong than calling it 'British'. I think that a good example would be similarly calling the Harry Potter films 'British' unreservedly.

My point is really that by calling the show 'British', you're either underselling the importance of the composer-lyricist or wrong about his background.

[Mark_E]

Les Mis is often considered as a British Mega Musical.....

[Nickhutson]

Yes. Which is written by the French :)

[ClapYo'Hands]

What, all of them?

[Nickhutson]

haha. No - just the source material, music and original book and lyrics.

[bob8rich]

Clapyohands - LOL! Love it.

[Nickhutson]

Yes! Made me chuckle, too!

[CONAries]

Tim Minchin was born in England... and holds British citizenship! In every sense this is a British show!

[Childcatcher]

Can we talk about Matilda on this thread, gettagrip people....
have you all seen it before you pre judge its NOT the best british musical?.... Im not saying it is but its pretty bloody impressive, and awoke my interest after being bored silly by reruns/sorry new productions of .... Its really really good, go see and then post feelings/thoughts, I personally think its fine to say something very new is the best you've seen if it makes you feel a certain way is up to the individual. Matilda, I loved, **** seat and going back to pay for closer, but one of the most perfect, flawless shows I have ever seen.

[Childcatcher]

amused they starred out the word .s.h.i.t

[pwar]

God, he says 'pants' instead of 'trousers'. If that doesn't make him non-British, I don't know what does... But seriously, he was born in England (which means nothing) to Australian parents, and they quickly all moved back. He only has UK citizenship and lives here because of his English wife. According to any of the biographies that he's written, he is Australian.

No-one is stopping anyone from discussing the show -- I'm interested to hear what they've changed, if anything, since its transfer. (And that is probably the most disturbing combination of avatar/username I've ever seen.)

[ClapYo'Hands]

I wasn't aware he had written any biographies...

[pwar]

http://www.timminchin.com/about/

A biography doesn't really have to be a book...

[Nickhutson]

To answer Pwar's question as to what has changed since the Stratford production - well, nothing really stands out as being hugely different.

There are a couple of new scenery items, line changes here and there and a big (and extremely effective) lighting change - but the show was so perfect back in Stratford, it doesn't need much changing - other than the proscenium arch.

Then of course, there are the new leads - so, that leads to a different experience every time. Bertie (Carvel) told me to see the show as many times as possible in order to gain a reaction as every show is different.

[ClapYo'Hands]

Biographies don't have to be books, no, but they do have to be written by somebody else...

[Nickhutson]

Nah - performers always write their own Biographies for programs or websites. They just write them in the 3rd person.

As a side note - Tim Rice's bio is hilarious!!

Gems include: "Tim lives in London, Cornwall and on the motorway between the two, has three children, his own cricket team and a knighthood."

"The first volume of his autobiography, Oh What a Circus, was published in September 1999. If his publishers ask, he is currently working on part 2, due out five years ago. In the unlikely event that you want even more info, try www.timrice.co.uk/"

[ClapYo'Hands]

Haha, OK, I do agree that Tim Rice's is brilliant!

My argument was one of Biography Vs. AUTObiography.