Review: Roald Dahl’s Matilda

Review: Roald Dahl’s Matilda | Candlelight | Johnstown, CO | Curtain Up! | Eric Fitzgerald

Candlelight’s staging of Roald Dahl’s Matilda is a buoyant, beautifully realized production, directed with crisp imagination by Steve Wilson and energized by Zerek Dodson’s vibrant musical direction and Carrie Colton’s playful, high‑spirited choreography. As always at Candlelight, the evening began with a well-prepared meal and continued with a decadent dessert at intermission, setting the tone for a performance led by an endearing ensemble of young artists — including the wonderfully poised Morrow Pavlik as Matilda Wormwood. From start to finish, this Matilda shines with charm, precision, and heart.

With music and lyrics by Tim Minchin, a book by Dennis Kelly, and orchestrations and additional music by Chris Nightingale, Matilda has become one of the most celebrated literary adaptations of the past decade. The musical premiered at the Royal Shakespeare Company in Stratford-upon-Avon in 2010 before transferring to London’s West End, where it quickly established itself as a runaway hit. Broadway followed in 2013, bringing the show’s mischievous wit and emotional clarity to American audiences and earning rapturous reviews for its inventiveness, intelligence, and sheer theatrical verve. Critics praised its bold storytelling, Minchin’s sharply clever score, and the way it honored Dahl’s spirit while carving out its own distinct theatrical identity — a reputation that has helped Matilda flourish in regional theaters ever since.

Matilda Wormwood’s (Morrow Pavlik) fierce intelligence and moral clarity place her at odds with her blustering parents, Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood (Stephen Charles Turner and Nikki Salinas), and her hapless brother Michael Wormwood (Grant Kinzie), all of whom contribute to the chaotic, self‑absorbed world she’s forced to navigate. At school, she faces the fearsome rule of Miss Agatha Trunchbull (Patric Case), whose authoritarian presence looms over every corner of Crunchem Hall. Only Miss Honey (Megan Schraeder) recognizes the child’s extraordinary gifts, forming a quiet, steady bond that anchors the story.

Threaded through Matilda’s journey is the tale of The Escapologist (Carter Edward Smith) and The Acrobat (Chloe Wheeler), a story‑within‑a‑story whose tragic arc mirrors Miss Honey’s past and gives Matilda a mythic vocabulary for bravery. As Matilda grows into her own power, she becomes a spark of resistance, inspiring her classmates (portrayed by the rotating ensemble of young performers) to challenge the tyranny around them—setting the stage for revelations and reckonings that unfold with a distinctly Dahl‑esque twist.

Though Matilda is often remembered for its wit and whimsy, the story carries a surprisingly shadowed undercurrent—Dahl’s trademark blend of mischief and menace that pushes the material far beyond a traditional musical comedy. Beneath the bright choreography and clever songs lie themes of neglect, cruelty, and emotional resilience, rendered with a depth that gives the production its distinctive edge. It’s a reminder that Dahl himself was no stranger to complexity; Broadway recently explored his inner life in a play starring John Lithgow, a portrait that underscored just how many contradictions and darker impulses shaped the author whose tales continue to enchant and unsettle in equal measure.

Making her Candlelight debut as Matilda, Morrow Pavlik delivers a performance of remarkable poise and emotional clarity. She moves through the role’s shifting moods with an instinctive sense of truth, landing each moment with intention and heart. Her singing voice adds another dimension—clear, confident, and rich in a way that feels unexpectedly seasoned for someone so young. It was a genuine pleasure to watch a young actor inhabit so many emotional colors so convincingly. The role of Matilda is shared with Khloe Trainor, who alternates performances throughout the run.

L to R: Morrow Pavlik as Matilda, Stephen Charles Turner as Mr. Wormwood | Photo credit: The Creative Agency

Patric Case brings remarkable versatility to Miss Agatha Trunchbull, a role that showcases yet another facet of an actor I’ve watched inhabit a wide range of characters in recent months. Each time, he approaches the work with a fresh angle, finding unexpected textures that keep his performances alive and surprising. As Trunchbull, he leans into both the character’s monstrous authority and her underlying fragility, creating a portrayal that is at once wickedly intimidating and quietly pitiable—a combination that makes his interpretation especially compelling.

Patric Case as Miss Agatha Trunchbull | Photo credit: The Creative Agency

Megan Schraeder offers a beautifully measured performance as Miss Honey, bringing warmth and quiet strength to every scene she inhabits. Stephen Charles Turner and Nikki Salinas, as Matilda’s woefully self‑absorbed parents, lean into their roles with broad comic flair, creating moments of levity while still highlighting the narrow, chaotic world Matilda must endure. Grant Kinzie, making his Candlelight debut as Michael Wormwood, adds a welcome spark to the family dynamic; he’s a fresh presence who handles each beat with easy precision, contributing to the production’s humor while subtly reinforcing Matilda’s isolation.

Carter Edward Smith and Chloe Wheeler, as The Escapologist and The Acrobat, provide essential narrative ballast to the production. Their scenes carry a different emotional temperature—part fable, part memory—which deepens the musical’s atmosphere and gives Matilda’s inner world a vivid, haunting dimension. Their performances are finely calibrated, offering just enough presence and poignancy to underscore how this story‑within‑a‑story shapes the musical’s larger arc.

The youth ensemble is a remarkably strong element of this production, demonstrating a level of focus and discipline that elevates every scene they touch. Each young performer contributes a distinct presence to the stage, shaping their roles with thoughtful detail and confidence that keeps the world of Matilda vivid and fully realized. Their collective work adds both texture and momentum, reinforcing just how essential they are to the musical’s overall impact.

The exuberant ensemble of Matilda | Photo credit: The Creative Agency

Under the guidance of director Steve Wilson, the production maintains a sharp balance between whimsy and unease, allowing the story’s darker currents to surface without overwhelming its sense of play. Zerek Dodson’s musical direction, along with the fabulous nine-piece orchestra, keeps the score crisp and emotionally attuned, giving the young cast a strong musical foundation. Carrie Colton’s choreography, fresh off her recent direction of Hello, Dolly! at Candlelight, adds precision and vitality, shaping the movement vocabulary in ways that amplify both the humor and the tension woven throughout the show.

Dialect coach Roxanne Wellington deserves special recognition for the clarity and consistency of the accents throughout the production. Her guidance gives the cast a unified vocal style that supports both character and storytelling, and at no point does the speech feel strained or difficult to follow. The result is a soundscape that enhances the world of Matilda without ever calling undue attention to itself.

Ranae Selmeyer’s set design provides a flexible visual framework for the production, shifting cleanly between the story’s grounded reality and its more imaginative corners. Charlotte Campbell’s costumes complement that world with thoughtful visual touches that help define character and mood throughout. Vance McKenzie’s lighting adds definition and atmosphere, guiding the audience’s focus while subtly shaping the emotional temperature of each scene. Joshua Moore’s sound design supports the storytelling with clarity and balance, ensuring both dialogue and music land with precision across the performance.

This Matilda is a standout achievement for Candlelight, with every creative element working in harmony to shape a production of real distinction. Steve Wilson’s direction, Zerek Dodson’s musical leadership, and Carrie Colton’s choreography give the show its drive, clarity, and emotional shape, but it’s the extraordinary discipline and commitment of the young performers that truly energize the evening. Their work is sharp, assured, and deeply engaging, a testament to the care and craft behind the production. Playing through August 30, this is a richly imagined, thoroughly satisfying piece of theatre—one that deserves to be experienced.

For Information and tickets: https://coloradocandlelight.com/show/roald-dahls-matilda-the-musical/