Nothing makes me happier than seeing children get inspired by theatre. It brings me back to my childhood when I was first introduced to Phantom of the Opera, Shakespeare, and West Side Story. This is why even though I have my issues with Matilda I’m always going to be excited to support and cheer on any company that sets out to do it. Deep down I know this performance will be a catalyst for dozens of young people to become excited about musical theatre and that’s key to the preservation of the artform. The latest staging of Matilda comes through a collaboration between Kaysville City Musical and Hopbox Theatre at Davis High School in Kaysville. While this isn’t the flashiest version of Matilda I’ve seen, it’s entertaining and worthy of your time.

As with any performance associated with Hopebox they have a Hopebox recipient who is facing cancer and the performances fundraise to help this recipient. This is a wonderful mission, but I appreciate that Hopebox doesn’t lean on the mission. In fact, they use it as a catalyst to make passionate and wonderful theatre. I wondered if the loss of their intimate space would hurt their appeal but director Amy Turner has brought that heart and soul to the larger Davis High auditorium and one can’t help but be touched by the community spirit the cast and crew bring to the entire proceedings.

I saw the Teal Cast, and they are all very good with their roles. I was particularly impressed with Benjamin Stevens as Bruce. The song “Bruce” was a real highlight. I also love “The Smell of Rebellion,” and they do a great job with that here. Matilda is played with plucky determination by Avenley Sidwell and Tyler Bell is a very sarcastic Trunchbull. The rest of the cast is large and the choreography by Kelsey and Kayley Turner is a lot of fun.

The main critique I’d offer for the company is to work on enunciation. The microphones they are using muffle the sound quite a bit and if I was less familiar with the show I might have struggled to know what the actors were saying or singing. Also the production is simpler than I expected. I have seen both Kaysville and Hopebox put up such outstanding work I assumed the two of them collaborating would dazzle (like Kaysville’s Secret Garden was stunning, and Hopebox’s Oliver blew me away.) Instead it’s on the modern simpler side. Most of the set design is colored lighting with sets for Miss Honey and the Wormwood’s houses/Trunchbull’s office but something like the Chokey is more basic in its portrayal. Not bad just simpler than I was expecting.

At the end of the day Matilda is about the kids and their introduction to musical theatre. While I do have my issues on the musical’s book, I can’t deny kids get a story which focuses on their independent worth and value. It also can be quite funny with its over-the-top villain and ridiculous parental figures in Mrs and Mr Wormwood (Larisa Stewart and Drew Anderson respectively. ) They are all terrific here, and I’m sure the other Silver cast is equally strong.

If you want to learn more of my thoughts on Matilda (and Annie) check out this episode of my podcast.)

With it being at Davis High School this production has a shorter run than the typical month Hopebox shows receive. So get the family together and have a good time at Matilda. It’s not a perfect show but there’s still plenty here to entertain and inspire families. It plays through July 15th and tickets can be purchased here.

Matilda features music and lyrics by Tim Minchin and a book by Dennis Kelly based on the Roald Dahl novel of the same name.

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