Review: Matilda the Musical at the Cambridge Theatre, London

Matilda the Musical is an extraordinary play about an extraordinary little girl.

The popular Roald Dahl children's book, full of magic, dark humour and larger-than-life characters, provides rich pickings for the theatre - and the multi-award winning stage adaptation does not disappoint.

Neglected and under-appreciated by her self-involved parents, the prodigious titular character finds comfort in the escapism of books.

It is not until she starts at Crunchem Hall school and meets the kind and equally downtrodden Miss Honey - who recognises her remarkable abilities - and the fabulously fearsome headmistress Miss Trunchbull, that her telekinetic abilities present themselves.

Much-loved scenes - the hair dye swap, Bruce Bogtrotter's cake punishment and Miss Trunchbull swinging Amanda Thripp by her pigtails - are all given due prominence.

Wild-haired Australian composer and comedian Tim Minchin provides music that perfectly accompanies both the feet-stomping action scenes and the spine-tingling emotional scenes.

The set, covered from floor to ceiling in hundreds of books, is cleverly designed. The classroom desks rise out of the stage, allowing seamless scene changes.

But the most captivating scene has to be the post-interval sequence involving the children soaring towards the audience on giant swings.

For a cast featuring mainly youngsters, the singing, dancing and acting is on point.

Young Emily-May Stephenson, who plays Matilda, is charming as the eponymous heroine.

Her saviour Miss Honey, played by Miria Parvin, has a beautiful voice that gave me goosebumps during her more melancholy solos.

Some of the best comedy performances are provided by Mr and Mrs Wormwood, the latter played by Olivier Award-nominee Rebecca Thornhill, from Dartford.

Self-centred but strangely likeable, they saunter around the stage in their garish outfits, constantly reminding their daughter what a disappointment she is in their cockney drawl.

But by far the most hilarious performance was provided by Craige Els as Miss Trunchbull.

Despite being the most fiendish, menacing and terrifying of baddies, The Trunch got the biggest applause of the night.

The only niggle is the lack of magic that featured so prominently in the book and 1996 film.

I expected an impressive spectacle of objects flying across the stage as Matilda wills them with her eyes, but aside from tipping over a jug of water and writing on a chalkboard, the extent of the girl's supernatural talents is largely left to the imagination.

Having said that, writer Dennis Kelly's adaptation moves at such a fast pace, there is more than enough to enthral the senses and keep audiences of all ages (super super) glued throughout.

Winner of more than 50 major international awards, including 13 for Best Musical, Matilda the Musical at London's Cambridge Theatre is not to be missed.

For more information and to buy tickets, which start at £47.50 for dress circle and stalls seats, visit the Matilda the Musical website.