Professional Documents
Culture Documents
MATILDA...OUR MUSICAL!
OPENING SCENE
STUDENT 1: Matilda is a little girl with astonishing wit, intelligence, and psychokinetic powers.
STUDENT 4: WHAT?!...
STUDENT 1: Will you two let me finish, please!... She's unloved by her cruel parents but impresses
her school teacher, the highly loveable Miss Honey.
STUDENT 2: Oh, she’s the best teacher ever...Over the course of her first term at school,
Matilda and Miss Honey have a profound effect on each other's lives, as Miss Honey begins not only
to recognize but also appreciate Matilda's extraordinary personality.
STUDENT 3: Yea but Matilda's school life isn't completely smooth sailing. The school's mean
headmistress, Miss Trunchbull, hates children and just loves thinking up new punishments for those
who don't abide by her rules.
*SONG
MIRACLE
My mommy says I'm a miracle.
My daddy says I'm his special little guy.
I am a princess,
And I am a prince.
Mom says I'm an angel sent down from the sky.
[Chorus:]
My mommy says I'm a miracle.
One look at my face, and it's plain to see.
Ever since the day doc chopped the umbilical cord,
It's been clear there's no peer for a miracle like me!
One can hardly move for beauty and brilliance these days.
It seems that there are millions of this one-in-a-million these days.
Special-ness seems de rigueur.
Above average is average - go figure.
Is it is some modern miracle of calculus,
That such frequent miracles don't render each one un-miraculous?
NARRATOR 1:
Everyone is born, but not everyone is born the same. Some will grow to be butchers, or bakers or
candlestick makers. Some will only be really good at making Jell-O salad. One way or another,
though, every human being is unique, for better or for worse. Most Parents believe their children
are the most beautiful creatures ever to grace the planet. Others take a less emotional approach.
NARRATOR 2: Harry and Zinnia Wormwood lived in a very nice neighborhood in a very nice house,
but they were not really very nice people. The Wormwoods were so wrapped up in their own silly
lives, that they barely noticed they had a daughter. Had they paid attention to her at all, they
would have realized she was a rather extraordinary child. They called their daughter Matilda.
3
NARRATOR 3: By the time she was four, Matilda had read every magazine in the house. One night
she got up her courage and asked her father for something she desperately wanted.
MATILDA: To read.
HARRY: To read? Why would you want to read when you got the television set sitting right in front
of you? There's nothing you can get from a book that you can't get from a television faster.
NARRATOR 1: Matilda already knew that she was somewhat different from her family. She saw
that whatever she needed in this world, she'd have to get herself.
SONG
SCHOOL SONG
Boy 1:
My mommy says I'm a miracle.
Boy 2:
My daddy says I'm his special little guy.
Girl 1:
I am a princess,
Boy 1:
And I am a prince.
Boy 1:
Why?
All:
Why?
Man:
Why? Why?! Did you hear what he said?
All:
Just you wait for phys. ed.!
Boy 2:
What's phys. ed.?
Man:
Physical education!
Girl1:
My mommy says I'm a miracle.
Boy 1:
My daddy said I would be the teacher's pet.
Girl 2:
School is really fun, according to my mom.
Boy 2:
Dad says I would learn the alphabet.
Man:
The alphabet? You'd better learn to listen, kid!
5
All:
So you think you're A-ble [able]
To survive this mess by B-ing [being]
A prince or a princess, you will soon C [see],
There's no escaping trage-D [tragedy].
And E-ven [even]
If you put in heaps of F-ort [effort],
You're just wasting ener-G [energy],
'Cause your life as you know it is H-ent [ancient] history.
I
Have suffered in this J-ail [jail].
I've been trapped inside this K-ge [cage] for ages,
This living h-L [hell],
But if I try I can rem-M-ber [remember],
Back before my life had N-ded [ended],
Before my happy days were O-ver [over],
Before I first heard the P-ling [pealing] of the bell...
Like you I was Q-rious [curious],
So innocent I R-sked [asked] a thousand questions,
But, unl-S [unless] you want to suffer,
Listen up and I will T-ch [teach] you a thing or two.
U [you], listen here, my dear,
You'll be punished so se-V-rely [severely] if you step out of line,
And if you cry it will be W [double, you] should stay out of trouble,
And remember to be X-tremely [extremely] careful.
Boy 2:
Y?
Man:
Why? Why?! Did you hear what he said?
All:
Just you wait for phys. ed.!
Just you wait for phy-Z!
A-B-C-D-E-F-G
H-I-J-K-L-M-N-O-P
Q-R-S-T-U-V-W-X
Boy 1:
Why?
All:
Just you wait for phy-Z!
6
NARRATOR ONE: Matilda had always wanted to go to school because she loved to learn. She tried
to imagine what her new school would be like. She pictured a lovely building surrounded by trees,
and flowers and swings. Well, there was a building….. And children, so regardless of what Crunchem
Hall looked like, she was happy to be there. After all, any school was better than no school at all,
isn't it?!?
T-BULL: You, detention. You're too small. Grow up quicker. Heads up. Shoulders back. Stomachs in.
Stand up straight.
LAVENDER: Hey!
MATILDA: Sorry.
LAVENDER: That's okay. It's much better than being out there.
LAVENDER: Lavender.
MATILDA: She doesn't really hit children with that riding crop, does she?
HORTENSIA: No. It's mostly for a scare. What she DOES is worse. Like yesterday, in the second
grade, the Trunchbull makes a weekly visit to every classroom, to show the teachers a thing or two
about handling kids.
SAMANTHA: Of course!
SAMANTHA: After being thrown across the room, of course, he wasn't okay. He lived if that's
what you mean.
7
LAVENDER: The Trunchbull used to be in the Olympics: Shot put, javelin, hammer throw. The
hammer throw was her specialty.
HORTENSIA: Yeah, “THE CHOKE”. It's a tall, narrow, hole in a wall behind a door. You have to
stand in the drippy pipes with jagged edges, and the walls have broken glasses with nails sticking
out.
HORTENSIA: I've been in there twice. Sometimes she leaves you in there all day.
HORTENSIA: They didn't believe me. I mean, would your parents believe it?!?
T-BULL: Sixty lines - "I must obey Miss Trunchbull." …. Out of my way!
T-BULL: Your mommy is a TWIT. You'll chop those off before school tomorrow or I'll….
HORTENSIA: Hammerthrow…..
LAVENDER: Definitely.
STUDENTS: Good loft. Excellent release. Think she's going to make it? It’s going to be a close one.
T-BULL: Quiet! Get to class before I throw you all in the Chokey.
SCENE 4: SCHOOL
NARRATOR 1: But Matilda's teacher, Miss Honey, was one of those remarkable people who
appreciate every single child for who he, she, they are.
HONEY: How lovely. Thank you, Amanda. Okay. Listen up, everyone. We have a new student with us
today. This is Matilda Wormwood. I'd like you to sit over here with Lavender. Now, you all
remember how scary your first days at school were, so I'd like you to be especially nice to Matilda
and make her feel welcome. Alex, could you get her workbook for her, please?
NARRATOR: Miss Honey was a wonderful teacher and a friend to everyone. But her life was not as
simple and beautiful as it seemed. Miss Honey had a deep, dark secret. And though it caused her
great pain, she didn't let it interfere with her teaching.
HONEY: Well, Matilda. You've come on a very good day because we're going to review everything
we've learned so far. Now, it's alright if you don't know to understand any of this because you're
brand new, but if you do know an answer, just raise your hand. Okay, now we've been working on our
two-times tables. Would anyone like to demonstrate? …. Okay. Let's do some together. Two times
four is .........? Two times six is …….? Two times nine is ….? Excellent. You've been practicing. Pretty
soon you'll be able to any multiplication, whether it's two times 7…. Very good. Or 13 times 379.
MATILDA: I think that's the answer. 13 times 379. Four nine two seven.
LAVENDER: WOW!
MATILDA: Everything. But lately, I've been reading Darles Chickens. …. (she and students giggle) I
mean Charles Dickens. I could read him every day.
HONEY: So could I. …. All right, everyone. Take out your workbooks. Let's start with section three,
writing assignment…”WHEN I GROW UP… I'll be back in a moment.
STUDENTS: When (look around, then back to the audience)... I GROW UP!!
*SONG
WHEN I GROW UP
(Children, Miss Honey, Matilda, Company)
And
When I grow up (x 3)...
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
That you have to fight beneath the bed
Each night to be a grown up.
(Ms. Honey:)
When I grow up,
I will be brave enough to fight the creatures
That you have to fight beneath the bed
Each night to be a grown up.
(Matilda:)
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.
Just because I find myself in this story,
It doesn't mean that everything is written for me.
If I think the ending is fixed already,
I might as well be saying I think that it's OK,
And that's not right!
11
MR. WORMWOOD: What’s she done now...Hey you two (fusing at Matilda and Mikey), go over
there, right now! Whatever it is, she’s your problem now!
MR. WORMWOOD: Then beat it!...we’re getting ready to watch some television.
MISS HONEY: MR WORMWOOD!...If you believe watching T.V. is more important than your
daughter maybe you shouldn’t be a parent.
MR. WORMWOOD: Alright, but Mrs. Wormwood is not going to like it.
MRS. WORMWOOD: What’s taking you so long the fight show is about to start!
MISS HONEY: I’m sure you know Matilda has a brilliant mind…
MISS HONEY: No...I believe with some private tutoring she’d be ready for college in a few short
years.
MRS WORMWOOD: Look, Ms. College, snit...a girl does not get anywhere by acting intelligent.
Look at you and look at me, you chose books and I chose looks. I have a nice house and a husband,
YOU are slaving away teaching snot-nosed kids.
MR. WORMWOOD: College...I didn't go to college...nothing but a bunch of hippies and cesspool
salesmen.
12
MISS HONEY: Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood don’t snare at educated people! If you become ill your
doctor will have gone to college, and you being a dealer of illegal car parts would want a lawyer…
MISS HONEY: OK...I see we aren’t going to make any progress, please tell Matilda, I’ll see her in
school tomorrow.
MISS HONEY: (whispers to Matild, showing her a book) Good-Bye, see you tomorrow!
MS. TRUNCHBULL: Come in Come in whoever you are!... ‘Almost got you… Good to see you, Jean,
it’s time for a one on one...heart to heart…
MISS HONEY: A what?!... Nevermind. Matilda Wormwood is a sweet girl and very bright.
MS. TRUNCHBULL: A bright child and you can’t handle her. Don’t worry I’ll come and show you
what to do.
MS. TRUNCHBULL: Good, you look like you enjoyed that Brucey, you must have some more!
MS. TRUNCHBULL: But you will hurt Cook's feelings. COOKIE, she made this cake just for you
with her sweat and blood. YOU WILL NOT LEAVE UNTIL YOU’VE CONSUMED THE ENTIRE
CONFECTION!
*SONG
BRUCE (BROOCE)
(Performers - Miss Trunchbull, Children)
[Interlude]
Consider a slice
Or even two, Bruce...
Might have been nice,
But even you, Bruce,
Have to admit
Between you and it
There's not a lot of difference in size.
[Choruses - overlapping:]
[Bridge 1:]
Bruce!
The time has come
To put that tumbly tum to use.
You produce, Bruce,
Fantastically enthusiastic gastric juice.
Ohh...
Eat it up. Lick it up. Suck it up.
Whatever you do, don’t chuck it up,
And muck it up!
[Bridge 2:]
Come on, Bruce, be our hero!
Cover yourself in chocolate glory!
Bruce!
[Chorus 1:]
You’ll never again be subject to abuse,
For your immense caboose!
We should call a truce, Bruce.
With every swallow you are tightening the noose.
We never thought it was possible,
But here it is coming true.
We can have our cake and eat it too!
15
[Bridge 3:]
Bruce!
The time has come
To put that tumbly tum to use.
There's no excuse, Bruce.
Let out your belt.
I think you'll want your trousers loose.
[Bridge 2:]
Come on, Bruce, be our hero.
Cover yourself in chocolate glory.
Ohh...
Bruce!
[Chorus 2:]
You’ll never again be subject to abuse,
For your immense caboose.
We should call a truce, Bruce.
Just one more bite and you’ll have
Completely cooked the goose.
We never thought it was possible,
But here it is coming true.
We can have our cake and eat it...
Aaah...
GO ON, BRUCIE!
NARRATOR 1: With the FBI watching her father and the Trunchbull terrorizing her school, it was
a rare and happy moment when Matilda could just play with her friends.
16
MATILDA: It's a newt. "Any of the small semi-aquatic salamanders from the Genus Triturus".
HONEY: Miss Trunchbull teaches our class today, Lavender. Please get a water pitcher.
HONEY: No, quickly. She'll be here any second. …. Oh, make sure the water's cold, Lavender. Vinny,
cover the fish. Put away the art project. Put away anything colorful. Charley, won't you get those
crayons for me?
NARRATOR 2: Most great ideas come from hard work and careful planning. Of course, once in a
while, they just jump out at you.
HONEY: Rayna. Rayna. Cover the birds and the beetles. Hurry! I hear her coming! Okay now. Last
time, some of you forgot yourselves. Don't speak unless you're spoken to. Don't laugh. Don't smile.
Don't even breathe loudly.
T-BULL: SIT!!!! ….. Shoo. I have never been able to understand why small children are so disgusting.
They're the bane of my life. They're like insects: they should be got rid of as early as possible. My
idea of a perfect school is one in which there are no children... at all. Do you agree, Miss Honey?
Now you, in front of the class! ---------------------------------------------
T-BULL: Next time I tell you to empty your pockets, you'll do it faster, won't you?!?
17
T-BULL: Miss Honey, this might be the most interesting thing you've ever done. Sit down, you
squirming worm of vomit. Get up!! Can you spell?
AMANDA: Miss Honey taught us how to spell a long word yesterday. We can spell "difficulty".
T-BULL: Why are these women married?!? Mrs. D. Mrs. I. You're supposed to be teaching spelling,
not poetry.
CHILDREN ARE GETTING ANNOYED WITH MISS TRUNCHBULL - AMANDA DROPS THE
CUP HOLDING THE CREATURE NEAR MISS TRUNCHBULL - CHILDREN LAUGH AS T-BULL
REACTS.
T-BULL: I cannot for the life of me understand why small children take so long to grow up. I think
they do it deliberately, just to annoy me. What's funny?!? Come on. Spit it out. Speak up. I like a
joke as well as the next fat person. It's a snake! It's a snake! It's a snake! One of you tried to
poison me! Who? Oh, Matilda. I knew it.
MATILDA: I just thought you'd like to know, it's not a snake. It's a newt.
T-BULL: Stand up, you villainous sack of goat slime! You did this!
*SONG
NAUGHTY/REVOLTING CHILDREN
Woah!
Never again will she get the best of me!
Never again will she take away my freedom.
And we won't forget the day we fought
For the right to be a little bit naughty!
Never again will The Chokey door slam!
Never again will I be bullied, and
Never again will I doubt it when
18
[Chorus:]
We are revolting children...
Living in revolting times...
We sing revolting songs
Using revolting rhymes.
We'll be revolting children,
'Til our revolting's done,
And we'll have the Trunchbull vaulting.
We're revolting!
[Repeat Chorus]
R-E-V-O-L-T-I-N
(Come on!)
We're S-I-N-G
U-S-I-N-G...
(Yeah...)
We'll be R-E-V-O-L-T-I-N-G.
(Oh...)
It is 2-L-8-4-U.
E-R-E-volting!
Woah!