英倫RPG

Cambridge Theatre
Seven Dials, 32-34 Earlham Street, London, WC2H 9HU
 

Matilda，原著是由英國著名童書作家Roald Dahl 所寫成，於1988年出版。
Roald Dahl 之所以成功且受到英國人的喜愛，在於他筆下的故事充滿想像力，
並且可以成功地把大人小孩的角色入木三分地描繪出來。
Charlie and chocolate factory, BFG都是他的名作，也都曾改編成電影或動畫。
這本Matilda也曾改拍成電影，2010年音樂劇成功演出。
目前在英國，美國，澳洲都有固定演出Matilda的劇院。
位於倫敦Seven Dials旁的Cambridge Theatre是Matilda的常駐劇院。
由於劇院座落在柯芬園(Covent Garden)附近，看劇前很值得在周圍逛逛。
購票的座位建議購買一樓前面接近中央走道的位置(stalls)，
能夠就近欣賞劇中的特效以及盪鞦韆橋段震撼的臨場感。
我們觀賞的場次是由Savannah Read出演的Matilda。

劍橋劇院(Cambridge Theatre)位在Seven Dials旁，相關位置地圖。

Matilda歌劇購票位置參考圖

劇院的外觀，充滿氣勢的Matilda啊！

Madilda的演出時刻表

周邊商品也是看劇必逛的亮點，至少節目手冊和音樂CD很值得收藏。

販賣的商品一覽

手冊內的劇照及參與人員一覽

舞台佈景充滿了奇幻的美麗

劇末散場的劍橋戲院與Seven Dials

Matilda的故事描述一個出生在重男輕女，怪奇家庭的小女孩。
她從小天賦異稟，喜歡閱讀，富有想像力。
但是必須面對父母的冷嘲熱諷，辱罵，以及父母對哥哥的偏愛。
父親是成功的二手車商，極度喜愛電視節目。
母親則是熱衷跳舞比賽，連自己是懷孕還是發福都分不清楚。
就是在這個意外的懷孕後，生下了Matilda。

Matilda就是在這個激烈的家庭環境中成長，
劇中的激烈對話張力，對於小小孩來說真的有點太激烈了。
連售票的時候，售票員也不建議給太小的小小孩觀看呢。
五六歲以上的小孩在心智接受力和判斷能力上應該比較適合。
隨著故事情節的演變，Matilda生活的環境從家裡走出，拓廣到佈滿知識海洋的圖書館，
並且與館員有不少對話和溫暖互動，更打開了深度閱讀的大門。
進入學校，則是Matilda人生新的挑戰，因為校長(Head mistress)：Ms Trunchbull， 
是惡名昭彰的教育者，視小孩為蛆蟲，野獸，以高壓體罰，恐怖統治手法來教育學校的學生。
幸好，Matilda遇到了慧眼獨具的老師miss Honey，知道她的天賦，
特別用心關懷照顧，最後以好的結局收場。
最後Matilda也因為使出小小超能力，把惡名昭彰的校長趕出校園，
讓學校真正成為歡樂學習的場所。

音樂劇中有不少甘草人物，包括：Mr and Mrs Wormwood。
也有類似校長這類顧人怨的恐怖反派角色。甜美路線的角色自然是Matilda以及miss Honey。
劇作要能成功，角色的平衡佔有一定的要素。
在陳述故事的同時又能以音樂及趣味性抓住觀眾的注意力。

這齣音樂劇最初令我驚艷的部分是有大量的孩童參與演出。
這些孩童可能是來自於倫敦的戲劇學校，從小秉持著興趣，
不斷進行團體練習，有朝一日終於能登上大舞台演出。
透過戲劇學校，也捧紅了許多小童星。
例如英國童星：Lara Wollington，2012-2013 飾演Matilda。
曾與Lucy-Mae Beacock，Hayley Canham，Chloe Hawthorn，
以及 Elise Blake，Cristina Fray，Chloe Hawthorn在不同時期同台演出。
在Youtube上就可以看到這些小童星過去的演出鏡頭，實在是很方便：

The Royal Variety Performance: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e0tRDhEmdO4
BBC Radio 2 Audience Award 2013: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oewVISY1Yhs 
Lara Wollington 大全集：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xPzvEwzIUck
Lara Wollington 演出Quiet： https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YQvUHBlUBQU 
Lara Wollington 演出Popular (Wiked  Witch)：
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=eQpRUX80ieA
Lara Wollington 演出 School song：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BA2FAOfRnEY

美國表演者就屬Oona Laurence，2013飾演Matilda最有名。
與她同期的演員包括：Bailey Ryon，Milly Shapiro，Sophia Gennusa。
Oona Laurence ：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=A06-8IWjFSE
Oona Laurence 演出 Naughty：https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=upP4wdrAKU0

Matilda 全劇音樂曲目：

1.Miracle                             -  Company and children
2.Naughty                           -  Matilda
3.School song                     -  Company and children
4.Pathetic                            -  Miss Honey
5.The Hammer                    -  Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and children
6.Loud                                 -  Mrs  Wormwood and Rudolpho
7.This Little Girl                   -  Miss Honey
8.Bruce                                -  Children
9.Telly                                  -  Mr Wormwood and Michael Wormwood
10.Entrácte                          -  Musicians
11.When I grow up              -   Children and Company
12.I'm Here                          -  Matilda and Escapologist
13.The Smell of Rebellion   -  Miss Trunchbull, Miss Honey and Children
14.Quiet                               -  Matilda
15.My House                       -   Miss Honey and Matilda
16.Revolting Children          -  Children and Company
17.When I Grow up              -  Children and Company                   

劇中經典歌曲naughty，歌詞的意境貫穿全劇。
雖然是經由小孩子口中唱出來，卻是充滿了力道。

Naughty :
Jack and Jill went up the hill
To fetch a pail of water , so they say.
The subsequent fall was inevitable,
They never stood a chance - 
They were written that way.
Innocent victims of their story.

Like Romeo and Juliet,
'Twas written in the stars before they even met,
That love and fate and a touch of stupidity
Would rob them of their hope of living happily.
The endings are often a little bit gory,
I wonder why they didn't just change their story?
We're told we have to do what we're told, but surely
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
Nothing will change.

Even if you're little you can do a lot, you 
Mustn't let a little thing like little stop you,
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Might as well being saying 
You think that it's ok
And that's not right!!

Cinderella, in the cellar,
Didn't have to do much as far as I could tell.
Her Godmother was two-thirds fairy,
Suddenly her lot was a lot let scary.
But what if you haven't got a fairy to fix it?
A little bit of mischief!

Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it. If
you always take it on the chin and wear it
Nothing will change.

Evan if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like little stop you, 
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Might as well being saying
You think that it's ok
And that's not right!
And if it's not right,
You have to put it right.

In a slip of a bolt
There's a tiny revolt.
The seed of a war
In the creak of a floorboard.
A storm can begin 
With the flap of a wing.
The tiniest mite packs the mightiest sting.
Every day
Starts with the tick of a clock.
All escapes
Start with the click of a lock.

If you're stuck in your story
And want to get out 
You don't have to cry,
You don't have to shout!

Coz if you're little you can do a lot, you
Mustn't let a little thing like little stop you,
If you sit around and let them get on top, you
Won't change a thing.
Just because you find that life's not fair, it
Doesn't mean that you just have to grin and bear it.
If you always take it on the chin and wear it
You might as well being saying
You think that it's ok and 
That's not right.
And if it's not right
You have to put it right.

Nobody but me is gonna put it right for me,
Nobody but me is gonna change my story.
Sometimes you have to be a little bit naughty.