Music and magic for ‘extraordinary show’

A show with high energy dance numbers and spectacular special effects Matilda the Musical is not to be missed, says president of Nelson Musical Theatre Hugh Neill.

With a local cast of 40, a crew of 30 and high specification rigging, lighting and sound gear, the production was of a scale not seen before at Nelson’s Theatre Royal, he said.

“It’s massive … an extraordinary show on so many levels.”

Illusions included a child being thrown off the stage by her ears before suddenly re-appearing, and words magically popping up on a blackboard, Neill said.

Other scenes involving magic were delivered with the help of “lighting genius” and were among many surprises throughout the production showing next month, he said.

Matilda the Musical – based on the 1988 book Matilda by Roald Dahl – met with critical acclaim when it ran on the West End and Broadway, after being created 15 years ago.

A film version of the musical came out in 2022.

About 100 people auditioned for the show in Nelson, with children making up just over half the roles, Neill said.

“The kids knew every song before they even turned up.”

A national musical consortium provided the costumes and props, circulating the resources among non-profit musical societies in New Zealand wanting to put on the show.

The set was built by local volunteers because the set available from the consortium was too big for the theatre.

Performers included professional musicians, with instrumentalists from the Nelson Symphony Orchestra among 12-14 in the orchestra pit, Neill said.

Two casts had been created for the child actors, with 18 performances of the musical between March 4-21.

There were three Matilda’s, aged 10-12, who brought their different personalities to the protagonist’s role, Neill, the show’s co-production manager, said.

The children came from across the region including Motueka, and showed “amazing dedication”, he said.

“I’ve never had kids … who work together so well as a group.”

Miss Trunchbold was played by Jake Danson, among the show’s talented actors, Neill said.

Rehearsals started in September, at NMT’s Red Door Theatre in The Wood, and at the nearby Energy Centre at Founders Park.

Mamma Mia was the last musical NMT staged at the Theatre Royal (in 2016); the oldest wooden theatre still operating in Australasia, which was closed between 2005-2010 for a $6.4m refurbishment.

Covid caused NMT’s Mary Poppins to be cancelled at the last minute.

It was NMT secretary Tobias Young who pitched the idea of staging Matilda, and Neill agreed it was about time to do another major show, he said.

With grants getting increasingly harder to come by, ticket sales were all important to help cover the approximately $200,000 cost off putting on the show, he said.

Around 1300 tickets had been sold so far, with a goal of selling 4,000, Neill said.

He urged people not to delay and book seats.

“I guarantee you will not be disappointed.”

NMT’s version of Matilda the Musical is directed by John Amosa, with Gemma Laing as choreographer, Chris Lukies as musical director and Lily Elen Hine as vocal director.

By Warren Gamble, Nelson Mail