In the hands of the British Players, Matilda the Musical is a fun-filled romp with a twist of wretchedness — in other words, vintage Roald Dahl. Known for creating excruciating moments of heartbreak and sadness mixed with glee, Dahl’s Matilda is packed with gruesome misery sprinkled with bits of hilarity. This production by the British Players captures the play’s wit, heartbreak, and silliness, and delivers it all with just the right punch.
Matilda is a misfit, too smart for her own good. From the very beginning, Matilda, played with spunk by the remarkable Allyson Crane (Jules Kanarek on specified performances), articulates the character’s massive passages with impeccable clarity and diction, anchoring the show. She’s ignored by her self-absorbed Mum and disregarded by her equally ineffectual Dad, who despises books and intellectual pursuits. Her nearly dim-witted father berates her, calls her foul names, and even refuses to acknowledge her gender by constantly referring to her as a boy. Matilda is a prodigy who reads books while others her age can barely decipher letters, shrugging off the near-daily barrage of insults.
She discovers escape by daydreaming and fantasizing when banished to her room for no good reason. She also finds solace with her teacher, a kind-hearted Miss Honey, a tender portrayal by Hollie Dickman. But all semblance of humanity evaporates when the ferocious headmistress Miss Agatha Trunchbull, a heavily trussed-up Missi Tessier, strides in like a tank (excellent costuming by Nicola Hoag), barking orders and foisting punishments like a maniacal drill sergeant.
Strong and courageous, Matilda perseveres through it all and is unrelentingly adamant in proclaiming when something isn’t right or fair. She finds unlikely ways to thrive and even discovers hidden powers that come in handy as she unwittingly rights unrightable wrongs. From Willie Wonka to James and the Giant Peach, magic has a key role and is a central theme throughout Dahl’s books. For Matilda, the magic is subtle and almost sneaks up on the character, unaware. But the powers are there when she needs them, and Matilda finds a way to live the life she was meant to live, surrounded by precious books and stories, helping others along the way.
Nicola Hoag’s terrific costumes ran the gamut from school garb to circus acrobat, to long cloaked mafia and henchmen attire. Hoag also designed the well-turned set flanked on both sides by huge images of classic bound books. Graphic designer and projectionist Matt Mills depicted scenes ranging from a schoolroom to a countryside manor, hallways, and a lush English garden. Lighting design by the always reliable Don Slater shifted from frothy playground fun to sinister when the headmistress was ready to pounce on someone for a perceived misdeed.
The full orchestra under Charles Hoag’s zesty direction kept the tunes flowing in alignment with a massive array of agile young performers, an amazing feat. The multi-talented Nicola Hoag directed the show with energetic playfulness, crunching through the massive song and dance numbers with ease. For the uninitiated, the song titles say it all: from “Miracle,” “The Hammer,” “Loud,” and “Telly” to “When I Grow Up,” to name a few. “The Smell of Rebellion” is a raucous cacophony of resistance where the youngsters let loose all of the pent-up frustration and anger from the repressive educational regime with a Spring Awakening kind of vibe. Choreographer Shannon Cron and all of the directors, designers, musicians, and wranglers worked together seamlessly to make magic happen.
Roald Dahl fans and novices alike would appreciate the creativity, talent, and nonstop fun in this production of Matilda. The British Players have shown again why they’ve been a beloved treasure for 60-plus years with a full next season in the works.
Running Time: Two hours and 30 minutes, including a 15-minute intermission.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical played from June 13 to 28, 2025, presented by the British Players performing at Kensington Town Hall, 3710 Mitchell St, Kensington, MD.
Roald Dahl’s Matilda the Musical
Book by Dennis Kelly
Music and Lyrics by Tim Minchin
CAST
Jules Kanarek: Matilda Wormwood
Allyson Crane: Matilda Wormwood
Missi Tessler: Miss Agatha Trunchbull
Hollie Dickman: Miss Honey
Bob Schwartz: Mr. Wormwood
Chloe McGinness: Mrs. Wormwood
Julien Kirstein: Michael Wormwood
Priscilla Howell: Mrs. Phelps
Alex Silvey and Aidan Swank: Bruce and others
Amanda Thripp: Anna Tyre
Allison Caballos: Lavender
Anna Tyrrell: Amanda Thripp
Tyler Guenther: Nigel
Scarlett Alam: Hortensia
Ella Milone: Alice
Una Pereira: Eric
Ian Swank: Escapologist
Doug Richesson: Rudolpho
Lauren Pacuit: Acrobat
Eilen Kaplan: Doctor
Robert Leembruggen: Sergei
Teen Ensemble
PRODUCTION STAFF
Director: Nicola Hoag
Producer: Colleen Darling
Stage Manager: Sara Cath
Music Director: Charles Hoag
Choreographer: Shannon Cron
Stage Designer: Mike Lewis
Set Decorator: Nicola Hoag
Costume Designer: Nicola Hoag
Lighting Designer: Don Slater
Sound Designer: Matt Mills
Graphic Designer & Projections: Matt Mills
Props Designer: Valerie Matthews
Hair and Make-up Design: Cathy Dunn
ORCHESTRA
Sue Mason-McElroy: Piano
Arielle Bayer: Keyboard 2
Jared Creason: Bass
Lauren Smith: Reed
Paul Weiss: Trumpet
Melissa Bayliss: Trombone
Matthew Byrdy: Percussion
George Hoag: Percussion
