Tag: Musical

Watching Vinnie Jones dance and hearing him sing wasn’t on my 2024 bingo card, yet here we are. It’s a surreal sight, but it somehow works in Only Fools and Horses: The Musical. I’ve never watched a single episode of the original series, but I still enjoyed it. The writing does all the heavy lifting, full of jokes that even outsiders like me can laugh at.

After a string of great shows, I finally hit one I truly hated: Wicked. Maybe I’ve lost touch with my inner child, or maybe the production has simply run out of steam. Either way, it was a slog.

A comedy about religion? And a musical? Of course, I couldn’t resist. The Book of Mormon isn’t your grandma’s idea of an evening at the theatre—unless she has a surprising tolerance for songs about maggots in scrotums.

I’m no musical theatre expert, but Matilda the Musical? Not bad at all. The kids’ cast carried the show brilliantly, bringing humour and heart without ever overdoing it. The music and lyrics, written by Tim Minchin, were clever and sharp, perfectly capturing the chaos of Roald Dahl’s world.

Speaking of Minchin, it’s a shame he wasn’t on stage himself. After his performances in Californication and Jesus Christ Superstar, you know he’d steal the show—and I bet he could strike a brilliant Matilda pose too.

What impressed me most was how the show appealed to both kids and adults without pandering to either. It’s a children’s performance at heart, but the darker themes and witty lyrics gave it depth for the grown-ups. A solid night out, even for someone who doesn’t usually do musicals.

👍👍

Matilda the Musical
Cambridge Theatre, London
Music & lyrics by Tim Minchin
Book by Dennis Kelly
Based on Matilda by Roald Dahl
Directed by Matthew Warchus

Elia Kabanov is a science writer covering the past, present and future of technology (@metkere).

Illustration by Elia Kabanov feat. Midjourney.

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I didn’t know what to expect from my first-ever musical. Would it be some sort of over-the-top operetta? Or just a regular play with songs awkwardly shoved in? Either way, I’m glad Back to the Future: The Musical was my first. First times are always special, aren’t they?