Review: Musical 'Matilda' lacks clarity or magic

Roald Dahl's children's book Matilda is about a little girl with superpowers. That just about describes the winsome, hugely talented Mabel Tyler, who stars in the touring production currently at the Academy of Music. (Tyler is one of three girls who alternate in the role.) She delivers complicated lyrics and dialogue - some of it in Russian - and leads, with real stage presence, a cast of many children and quite a few adults.

The plot makes Annie's hard-knock life look like a walk in the park: Matilda is a brilliant little girl who is tormented by her awful parents (Cassie Silva and Quinn Mattfeld). They send her to a school ruled by the hideous Miss Trunchbull (Bryce Ryness), who tortures the kids mercilessly. A sweet but timid teacher, Miss Honey (Jennifer Blood), is no match for these three mean adults whose vices - stupidity, vulgarity, and cruelty - seem to dominate the production as well as Matilda's life. There is little joy to be found, even in the - wait for it, and wait, and wait - happy ending. The show arrives trailing clouds of critical glory from London; I am baffled.

Matilda's chief offense is that she likes stories and loves to read. There is a librarian (Ora Jones) who reacts to Matilda's storytelling as if she herself were a child, screaming and weeping. In these scenes, the set is especially hard to make sense of: Sometimes, actors appear, sometimes silhouettes appear behind a scrim. At one point, a bunch of shredded paper falls on us from above. None of this adds clarity or magic.

Much of the production's problem is caused by the acoustics. Between the English accents and the over-mic'd voices, it is almost impossible to understand what anybody is saying or singing. Overheard at intermission: "If they don't start speaking English, I'm leaving." And a text message from elsewhere in the theater is read aloud: "Maybe it'll get better in the second act."

The children, adorable and hardworking as they are, have been directed to mug it up, overacting and showing off in ways that are embarrassing to watch. The grown-up actors are, apparently, equally helpless under Matthew Warchus' direction.

Academy of Music, Broad & Locust Streets. Through Nov. 29. Tickets $80-250. Information: 215-893-1999 or www.kimmelcenter.org.