Matilda The Musical

Act 1: Matilda's Early Life and the Struggles with Her Family

Main Characters:

• Matilda Wormwood:

  • Initial Outfit:
    • Matilda wears a simple, schoolgirl-style outfit: A loose, oversized dress or jumper in muted colors like brown, gray, or pale blue, reflecting her underappreciated, neglected life at home.
    • Accessories: A school bag, sometimes a book, and flat shoes. Her hair is often untidy or in a simple braid to reflect her unkempt life at home.

• Miss Honey:

  • Outfit:
    • Miss Honey’s clothing is soft and pastel, reflecting her kind and nurturing personality. Her outfit often consists of simple dresses, blouses, and skirts in light pinks, blues, or lavender.
    • Accessories: Minimal jewelry, a soft cardigan, and a gentle, understated hairstyle.

• Mr. and Mrs. Wormwood:

  • Mr. Wormwood (Father):
    • A garish, flashy suit in bold patterns (stripes, checks, or bright colors) to reflect his vain, unscrupulous personality.
    • Accessories: A bow tie, brightly colored socks, and slicked-back hair.
  • Mrs. Wormwood (Mother):
    • A glamorous, over-the-top dress, often in vibrant colors like red, yellow, or leopard print. Her costume mirrors her superficiality and obsession with appearance.
    • Accessories: Heavy makeup, a big hairdo, and lots of jewelry. She may also carry a phone or other "glamorous" accessories to symbolize her vanity.

• The Trunchbull (Miss Trunchbull):

  • Outfit:
    • A dark, intimidating outfit: A suit that is too tight, with heavy padding to make her appear more menacing and exaggerated. The colors are dark and unflattering (black, brown, or gray), with a masculine cut to emphasize her authoritarian nature.
    • Accessories: A strong, angular haircut (wig or styled hair), a belt with a large buckle, and a grim, harsh facial expression. Sometimes a riding crop is used to reinforce her cruel character.

• The Other Children:

  • Outfit:
    • The other children at school wear typical school uniforms that are slightly mismatched or ill-fitting, reflecting their neglected and unkempt lives.
    • Accessories: School bags, hats, and other typical school accessories.

Ensemble (Matilda’s Schoolmates, Townspeople):

• Schoolmates:

  • The schoolchildren's costumes are similar to Matilda’s, often wearing simple, oversized school uniforms, with mismatched socks, shoes, and frayed hems to reflect the rough and neglected environment at school.
  • Accessories: Simple hats, scarves, or worn-out schoolbags to reflect their humble lives.

• Townspeople:

  • Costumes reflect the 1980s setting, with simple 1980s fashion in muted tones. Casual clothes for the townspeople, like jackets, sweaters, and pants, with an emphasis on practicality.

Act 2: Matilda's Triumph and Confrontation with the Trunchbull

Main Characters (Continued):

• Matilda Wormwood:

  • Costume Change:
    • As Matilda begins to gain confidence and embrace her powers, her costume may evolve into something slightly more sophisticated and less shabby. The colors may be brighter, and her outfit may appear more controlled or refined.
    • Accessories: Matilda may start to wear accessories that highlight her strength and independence, like a small pendant or a better-kept hairstyle.

• Miss Honey:

  • Costume Change:
    • As Miss Honey begins to fight back against the Trunchbull, her costume could reflect her growth into a stronger, more confident character. The pastels could become richer and more vibrant.
    • Accessories: More elegant jewelry, and her hair might become more styled or neat as she begins to stand up for Matilda.

• The Trunchbull:

  • Costume Change:
    • As the Trunchbull's power weakens, her costumes become more exaggerated to reflect her vulnerability. Her once sharp, masculine suit may become even more ridiculous or ill-fitting.
    • Accessories: Her face could have exaggerated makeup or wig to emphasize her ridiculousness, and her prop (like the riding crop) may grow more absurd.

• Matilda's Parents:

  • Mr. Wormwood (Father):
    • His costumes reflect his diminishing power as he loses control over Matilda and his family. He might wear his flashy suit but with even more garish details.
    • Mrs. Wormwood (Mother):
    • Her extravagant, dramatic costumes might reflect her superficiality, but as the family dynamic shifts, her costumes may become more ridiculous or overdone.

Ensemble (Schoolchildren, Other Adults):

• Schoolchildren:
  • The children’s costumes, while remaining uniform and simple, might show more individuality as they unite with Matilda. Their costumes reflect the changes in their school life and growth through the story.
• Townspeople:
  • Costumes stay in the realm of the 1980s, but now there may be a shift to brighter colors as Matilda takes control of her destiny.

Special Notes:

• Color Palette:

  • Act 1: Muted, darker tones for the characters (especially Matilda and the Wormwoods) to reflect their struggles and neglect.
  • Act 2: Brighter, more empowering colors as Matilda gains confidence and challenges the injustices in her life. Miss Honey’s clothes may start to reflect her own growth and the shift of power.

• Fabric Choices:

  • Act 1: Worn, practical fabrics like cotton, polyester, and wool for the children’s uniforms and the Wormwoods’ costumes.
  • Act 2: Lighter, fresher fabrics like cotton and silk for Matilda’s and Miss Honey’s costumes to reflect their growth. The Trunchbull’s costumes remain heavy and rigid to symbolize her power, even as it deteriorates.

Key Costume Elements:

• Matilda's Transformation: Her costumes symbolize her growth from a neglected girl to a powerful, independent child. The shift from muted, shabby clothes to brighter, more sophisticated outfits mirrors her internal transformation.
• The Trunchbull's Intimidation: The Trunchbull’s costumes are designed to be uncomfortable, oversized, and aggressive, emphasizing her cruel and intimidating personality.
• Miss Honey’s Softness: Miss Honey’s clothing evolves from simple, humble dresses to more empowered and vibrant pieces, reflecting her personal growth throughout the show.