Arts
Matilda: Of favourite scenes and songs
View(s):With Matilda the Musical scheduled to cut a dash at the Nelum Pokuna from June 5-9, Cinnamon Life caught a moment with some key characters in Roald Dahl’s well-loved story: Mrs. Trunchbull played by Ryan de Villiers (RV), Ms. Honey played by Bethany Dickson (BD) and Ms. Phelps the Librarian played by Nompumelelo Mayiyane (NM) for a quick chat.
Ryan de Villiers as Mrs Trunchbull. Our cover features Bethany Dickson as Ms. Honey with Matilda
From the entire musical what is your favourite scene from the play?
RV – I think our preferences keep changing but right from the start, ‘Bruce’ has been my favourite song and scene from the musical, just the whole scene. I also like Revolting Children. I really enjoy the songs I perform as well.
BD -The song ‘Quiet’ sung by Matilda, it’s a beautiful song. It’s so great to be on stage at that moment and to be able to listen to such a beautiful song every night. I’m not in it but I love Revolting Children, I think it’s fantastic, the song and the scene. There is a lot of underscoring and singing but that is definitely my favourite part of the show.
NM - I think I definitely agree with Ryan that it keeps changing. When we started the production, I was really excited about the school gates and we loved it. Now that we have been in it for a while, the scene that I’m really starting to enjoy is the last scene between Ms. Phelps and Ms. Honey when we are almost narrating what happens with the rest of the story and I think there is just a moment where, we just acknowledge that good has won. I think that always speaks so loudly that so many things can happen but, in the end, good will win. So, I appreciate that scene a lot.
Is it tiring to do a show that requires a lot of singing and that too in an array of different ways?
BD -Yeah it is! I’ve been in several productions where it varies, the level of singing and the dialogue. This is a very shared sort of production, of course you have Matilda, but there is Mrs. Trunchbull, Ms. Phelps, the Wormwoods and Ms. Honey, so the weight of it doesn’t fall on one particular person but it is still tiring.
Nompumelelo Mayiyane as Ms. Phelps, with Matilda
What is the most challenging scene or song to perform from the play?
RD - I’d say the most challenging will be the first scene, weirdly enough, because the show has already been going on for like half-an-hour and I’m sitting in my dressing room just trying to stay in my character and keep calm while everyone else is into it by the time I start. I always feel quite on edge at the start.
How has it been to play Ms. Honey to Matilda?
BD – I love the relationship between Ms. Honey and Matilda. Ever since the first day of rehearsals it was such a beautiful relationship to discover, it really is a special one. If you watch the production, you understand that at the end you figure out something about Ms. Honey that you don’t realize at the beginning. So, Matilda is very integral in the discovery of that. In my character’s perspective, it’s a beautiful role to act with and of course with each child comes a new flavour that is also refreshing. When you are on a long contract it’s nice to get a new injection of energy since each child performs differently, which is wonderful. They are brilliant children.
How do you get into the character of Mrs. Trunchbull?
RD – The process of putting on make-up, the wigs and the whole suit takes an hour, and that really helps me literally get into character.
BD – When Ryan’s normal, I don’t mind going to visit him but as soon as he dresses up as Mrs. Trunchbull I go up to his door and get too nervous to knock!
Matilda the Musical will be on at Nelum Pokuna Mahinda Rajapaksa Theatre from June 5 to 9. Tickets are priced at Rs. 5,000 Rs.7,500, Rs.10,000, Rs.15,000 and Rs.20,000. For more information, please contact the Cinnamon Box Office on 071 711 8111 or visit www.cinnamonboxoffice.com or come to the Cinnamon Box Office counter at Cinnamon Lakeside Hotel.