Matilda: 'Marvellous' reviews on Broadway

Posted on 12 April 2013

Matilda the Musical has received rave reviews from the US press after its "marvellous" opening night on Broadway.

The London transfer of Matilda the Musical was described as "the best family musical in years" by the Chicago Tribune.

The New York Times described the Royal Shakespeare Company's Roald Dahl adaptation "the most satisfying and subversive musical ever to come out of Britain".

Matilda, written by Dennis Kelly and Tim Minchin, was a "blast of nasty fun" according to Associated Press.

TIME Magazine was even more positive, with Richard Zoglin proclaiming "It would be easy to call it the best British musical since Billy Elliot, but that, I'm afraid, would be underselling it" continuing, "You have to go back to The Lion King to find a show with as much invention, spirit and genre-re-defining verve."

Directed by Matthew Warchus, Matilda The Musical was not altered in any way for the American audience in what was seen as a risk that paid off, according to the Financial Times.  Brendan Lemon of the FT described Matilda as "a marvellous escape from the usual Broadway-musical fare."

Although most of the roles were recast for Broadway, the four young actresses playing Matilda were trained to speak in an English accent.

Most of the roles were re-cast for the Broadway show but each of the four actresses playing Matilda were trained to speak with a British accent.

Actor Bertie Carvel, who won huge acclaim playing Miss Trunchbull transferred to New York from the West End. The praise continued to be lavished on Broadway, with the Chicago Tribune describing his "deliciously malevolent" performance and a "seismic force."

Matilda which continues to be performed at London's Cambridge Theatre is an "edge-of-the-seats nail biter" according the New York Times.

Book tickets for Matilda at The Cambridge Theatre London now!