Roald Dahl's Matilda is known and loved around the world. There have been successful interpretations of the whimsical children's story – from the 1996 film starring Danny DeVito to the recent Netflix production of its stage musical version.
Keen to take the story into an entirely new domain, Tim Minchin and Dennis Kelly teamed up to create a widely successful musical adaptation more than a decade ago.
But while these creative minds do the heavy lifting, it's up to the production to breathe new life into the story, relive the magic on stage and most of all deliver on the ambitious demands of the source material.
The show, which is currently on at the Dubai Opera, hits the sweet spot.
It follows the story of Matilda, a gifted girl with a vast imagination cultivated by her love of reading books. She is challenged by negligent parents and a tyrannical school headmistress.
Immediately, the stage catches the eye, with a bright and colourful set design. It looks like a scrabble board, with a jumble of wooden tiles of different sizes. The “chaos” of the blocks is a good prelude to the emotional roller coaster the audience is about to embark on.
Kelly's adaptation sticks closely to Dahl's narrative arc, but the stage version has added a depth that has turned it into a show that everyone can enjoy; not just little ones, but adults, too.
There's no better way to open the show than with Miracle, which introduces the audience to one of the more complex themes explored in the show: parenthood. Matthew Rowland and Emily Squibb, who play Matilda's repugnant parents, are a delight throughout, receiving some of the loudest cheers from the crowd.
As expected, the star of the show is Matilda, played by Yolani Balfour. The charm of the musical is the young cast, who effortlessly recite lines and perform choreographed routines. Even the need to take the stage night after night, and sometimes in daytime matinees, doesn't affect their energy.
Balfour's portrayal of the indomitable heroine is right on the money. The mixture of playfulness, strength and vulnerability is hard to pull off, but she does it with utmost professionalism. She particularly shines in Naughty and When I Grow Up, but struggles to hit some of the high notes in Quiet – forgivably so due to it's emotional context.
The best performance of the night is shared by Gemma Scholes's Miss Honey, the empathetic teacher with struggles of her own, and the villainous Miss Trunchbull, played by James Wolstenholme.
Both performers use ingenious interpretations of their characters, especially Wolstenholme, who gives the evil headmistress a spirited portrayal without being too much of a caricature. Her performance is not monotonous, with the subtle character journey smartly shown off in The Hammer in the first act, and The Smell of Rebellion in the second.
This dynamic performance is also present in Scholes's charming take on Miss Honey. Her nuances are compelling, from being timid and afraid during the first half of the show to mustering courage towards the end. Her voice is piercing with a technical grit most evident in My House.
Minchin's music and lyrics provide the perfect canvas for the performers. The group numbers, School Song, Bruce and Revolting Children, are incredibly satisfying to watch in the flesh – especially for fans of Netflix's film.
Other standout numbers include Loud by Mrs Wormwood and her comedic Italian dance partner Rudolpho and Telly by Mr Wormwood. They're songs that must be done right to provide insight into the story's parodical nature.
Matilda the Musical is truly one of the most shrewd shows in contemporary musical theatre, requiring plenty of technique and talent from its mostly young cast.
The musical adaptation captures both the whimsy and the solemnity of Matilda's journey. It maintains believability despite employing the most theatrical of devices (like singing while someone is being punished for eating a slice of chocolate cake).
Something about it feels raw and, despite the story being retold for decades, there is nothing revolting about it one bit.
Matilda the Musical is on at Dubai Opera until October 15. Tickets starting at Dh365 are available at dubaiopera.com
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
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UK's plans to cut net migration
Under the UK government’s proposals, migrants will have to spend 10 years in the UK before being able to apply for citizenship.
Skilled worker visas will require a university degree, and there will be tighter restrictions on recruitment for jobs with skills shortages.
But what are described as "high-contributing" individuals such as doctors and nurses could be fast-tracked through the system.
Language requirements will be increased for all immigration routes to ensure a higher level of English.
Rules will also be laid out for adult dependants, meaning they will have to demonstrate a basic understanding of the language.
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Favourite book: Men are from Mars Women are from Venus
Favourite travel destination: Ooty, a hill station in South India
Hobbies: Cooking. Biryani, pepper crab are her signature dishes
Favourite place in UAE: Marjan Island
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What is the Supreme Petroleum Council?
The Abu Dhabi Supreme Petroleum Council was established in 1988 and is the highest governing body in Abu Dhabi’s oil and gas industry. The council formulates, oversees and executes the emirate’s petroleum-related policies. It also approves the allocation of capital spending across state-owned Adnoc’s upstream, downstream and midstream operations and functions as the company’s board of directors. The SPC’s mandate is also required for auctioning oil and gas concessions in Abu Dhabi and for awarding blocks to international oil companies. The council is chaired by Sheikh Khalifa, the President and Ruler of Abu Dhabi while Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed, Abu Dhabi’s Crown Prince and Deputy Supreme Commander of the Armed Forces, is the vice chairman.
Company%20profile
Long read
Mageed Yahia, director of WFP in UAE: Coronavirus knows no borders, and neither should the response
Fund-raising tips for start-ups
Develop an innovative business concept
Have the ability to differentiate yourself from competitors
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Prepare for the worst-case scenario (further lockdowns, long wait for a vaccine, etc.)
Have enough cash to stay afloat for the next 12 to 18 months
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Be prepared to use Covid-19 as an opportunity for your business
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Hydrogen: Market potential
Hydrogen has an estimated $11 trillion market potential, according to Bank of America Securities and is expected to generate $2.5tn in direct revenues and $11tn of indirect infrastructure by 2050 as its production increases six-fold.
"We believe we are reaching the point of harnessing the element that comprises 90 per cent of the universe, effectively and economically,” the bank said in a recent report.
Falling costs of renewable energy and electrolysers used in green hydrogen production is one of the main catalysts for the increasingly bullish sentiment over the element.
The cost of electrolysers used in green hydrogen production has halved over the last five years and will fall to 60 to 90 per cent by the end of the decade, acceding to Haim Israel, equity strategist at Merrill Lynch. A global focus on decarbonisation and sustainability is also a big driver in its development.
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Kamindu Mendis bio
Full name: Pasqual Handi Kamindu Dilanka Mendis
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Major teams Sri Lanka's Under 19 team
Batting style: Left-hander
Bowling style: Right-arm off-spin and slow left-arm orthodox (that's right!)
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To be taxed:
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Not taxed
Freshly squeezed fruit juices, ground coffee beans, tea leaves and pre-prepared flavoured milkshakes do not come under the ‘sweetened drink’ band.
Products excluded from the ‘sweetened drink’ category would contain at least 75 per cent milk in a ready-to-drink form or as a milk substitute, baby formula, follow-up formula or baby food, beverages consumed for medicinal use and special dietary needs determined as per GCC Standardisation Organisation rules
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Where to submit a sample
Volunteers of all ages can submit DNA samples at centres across Abu Dhabi, including: Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre (Adnec), Biogenix Labs in Masdar City, NMC Royal Hospital in Khalifa City, NMC Royal Medical Centre, Abu Dhabi, NMC Royal Women's Hospital, Bareen International Hospital, Al Towayya in Al Ain, NMC Specialty Hospital, Al Ain
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Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Transmission: ten-speed
Power: 420bhp
Torque: 624Nm
Price: Dh325,125
On sale: Now
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RESULTS
Lightweight (female)
Sara El Bakkali bt Anisha Kadka
Bantamweight
Mohammed Adil Al Debi bt Moaz Abdelgawad
Welterweight
Amir Boureslan bt Mahmoud Zanouny
Featherweight
Mohammed Al Katheeri bt Abrorbek Madaminbekov
Super featherweight
Ibrahem Bilal bt Emad Arafa
Middleweight
Ahmed Abdolaziz bt Imad Essassi
Bantamweight (female)
Ilham Bourakkadi bt Milena Martinou
Welterweight
Mohamed Mardi bt Noureddine El Agouti
Middleweight
Nabil Ouach bt Ymad Atrous
Welterweight
Nouredine Samir bt Marlon Ribeiro
Super welterweight
Brad Stanton bt Mohamed El Boukhari
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This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
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THE BIO: Martin Van Almsick
Hometown: Cologne, Germany
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Key facilities
- Olympic-size swimming pool with a split bulkhead for multi-use configurations, including water polo and 50m/25m training lanes
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WHAT IS A BLACK HOLE?
1. Black holes are objects whose gravity is so strong not even light can escape their pull
2. They can be created when massive stars collapse under their own weight
3. Large black holes can also be formed when smaller ones collide and merge
4. The biggest black holes lurk at the centre of many galaxies, including our own
5. Astronomers believe that when the universe was very young, black holes affected how galaxies formed
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North Pole stats
Distance covered: 160km
Temperature: -40°C
Weight of equipment: 45kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 0
Terrain: Ice rock
South Pole stats
Distance covered: 130km
Temperature: -50°C
Weight of equipment: 50kg
Altitude (metres above sea level): 3,300
Terrain: Flat ice
MISSION: IMPOSSIBLE – FINAL RECKONING
Director: Christopher McQuarrie
Starring: Tom Cruise, Hayley Atwell, Simon Pegg
Rating: 4/5
Kareem Shaheen on Canada
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Tips for job-seekers
- Do not submit your application through the Easy Apply button on LinkedIn. Employers receive between 600 and 800 replies for each job advert on the platform. If you are the right fit for a job, connect to a relevant person in the company on LinkedIn and send them a direct message.
- Make sure you are an exact fit for the job advertised. If you are an HR manager with five years’ experience in retail and the job requires a similar candidate with five years’ experience in consumer, you should apply. But if you have no experience in HR, do not apply for the job.
David Mackenzie, founder of recruitment agency Mackenzie Jones Middle East
