Charlotte Surak Photo by Dutch Doscher

Matilda exists somewhere between the outrageously absurd to the starkly realistic, and this production walks the fine line between the two without ever missing a step. The entire company is exceptional, with all the leads giving terrific performances. If there is one flaw in this production, it is that the intricate lyrics are not always easy to decipher, especially in the group numbers, though careful listeners should be okay.

One gets the sense that this production is going to work right from the raucous opening number, "Miracle," which brings on all of the young people in the show, as well as introducing the riotously despicable characters who are the parents of Matilda. As Matilda's mother, Mrs. Wormwood, Rachel MacIsaac Myers is a scream, and the excellent costume designer Lauren Nicole Sherwood has given her a strikingly garish selection of outfits. Christopher Hudson Myers as Mr. Wormwood is just as crazily funny, especially when his hair turns green early in the show. On the opposite side of the spectrum, there is the touching character Miss Honey (beautifully portrayed by Mary McNulty). McNulty especially shines in the song "My House" and she proves to be Matilda's chief savior among all the evil characters in the show.

Speaking of evil, the formidable Meghan Louis Taylor plays the teacher, Miss Agatha Trunchbull. Dressed in a wide shouldered suit and embodying a thoroughly frightening demeanor, Taylor is towering in this part and particularly striking and menacing in the songs "The Hammer" and "The Smell of Rebellion." Agatha Trunchbull is one of the creepiest characters found in any musical and the atmospheric lighting design by Kevin Gleason helps in making this character seem larger than life.

The children onstage (whom Agatha Trunchbull calls "maggots") are uniformly excellent, with Jack Ranieri standing out as the cake-loving student Bruce. Also making a strong impression is the warm and endearing Keisha T. Fraser as librarian Mrs. Phelps. Miguel-Andres Garcia and Hannah Risner are stupendous in all of the ariel work they do in the show, playing the Escapologist and the Acrobat, respectively.

And then there is Matilda herself, portrayed flawlessly by Charlotte Surak. Surak proves to be the perfect heroine of the show and is both sweet and charming, as well as (to quote one of her big numbers) a little bit naughty. Surak carries the show seemingly effortlessly and is completely winning. Her singing and dancing are first rate and the production would not begin to work as well without her strong onstage personality.

The choreography by Eric Stretch is a lot of fun, and the score sounds just glorious as played by the offstage orchestra led by music director Robert Head. Recommended for both children and adults, this production at Summer Theatre of New Canaan is nearly as powerful and moving as the original Broadway one. Come spend some time in the outlandish world of Matilda for a truly unforgettable evening of theatre.

Matilda runs through July 26, 2026, at Summer Theatre of New Canaan, 11 Farm Rd, New Canaan CT. For tickets and information, please visit www.stonc.org.