Roald Dahl’s Matilda (book by Dennis Kelly; music & lyrics by Tim Minchin) is a humorously dark tale of a mistreated daughter — two mistreated daughters, as we find out when Matilda’s imagined story, told to her friend the librarian (Marie Papciak Kuntz) turns out to be true.
In the title role, Jocelyn Snitgen offers a great voice and believable acting balance between oppressed victim and empowered avenger. Bill Henson is an entertaining uber-bully villainess, as are the also-evil parents, bumbling, belittling father Mike Kinney and mom, Kait (Katherine) Wilson, who revels in over-the-top tacky, shallow selfishness. (Kait also served as music director.) Caitlin Christenson is a beneficent Miss Honey, the fearful but nurturing teacher learning to stand up for herself as she takes Matilda under her wing.
Small roles of note include the comically dull brother (Kat Koehn), bimbo mom’s slimy dance partner (Philip Franke) baffled obstetrician Josh Martin, and Bobby Maldonado as the avuncular Russian mob boss. We welcome back to the area and the stage, the excellent Don Greybiel as the Escapologist, who, with acrobat wife Emily Kloc, embody a parallel story that proves relevant at the end.
Kudos to director Helen Hart, and also Choreographer Lauren Mudry whose creative, precision movements brought the group numbers to life (with Kait’s music/choral management, as well.) The children were delightfully revolting (and 6-year-old Lyla Krauss, joining 11 year old sister Lorena onstage, was particularly adorable, keeping up with the chorus of bigger kids.)
Speaking of ages, this full length (2 1/2 hours) somewhat complex show is not ideal for preschoolers — who may leave with nightmares about being put in “the chokey” by that witch, Miss Trunchbull.
NOTE: there will be no tickets available at the door. However, tickets may be purchased online or on a smartphone up until curtain time each night. All seats are reserved, with two empty seats between each group. Masks are encouraged. For details and tickets visit the website at: http://www.evolvetheatrics.com
Lakewood High School Performing Arts Center is a 40-to-60 minute drive, depending on what side of town you’re on, but it’s a very nice auditorium and easy to find, straight out west Saginaw/M 43 past
Grand Ledge, Mulliken, Sunfield and Woodbury — (it turns into "Brown Road" at the end)
7223 Velte Rd, Lake Odessa, MI 48849 — on the corner of Brown and Velte.