TNS Beaconhouse initiated its first major theatrical production, Matilda, at the Ali Auditorium from October 24th to 26th. Based on Roald Dahl’s timeless classic, the TNS production was based on the musical that had been a hit in both the West End and on Broadway, and it was surely a hit in Lahore.
On stage, the performances were consistently good and no actor could be a considered a weak link from the most minor part to the lead actors. Lines were memorised and impeccably delivered. Movement was synchronized, and cues were picked effortlessly. Some young actors stood out as exceptional, such as Khakan Khan as Miss Trunchbull, who was recipient of standing ovations, and Matilda, played by Alizeh Arif and Minaal Ahmed.
The backstage teams should be credited to have done great work as well. The director, Shehzad Noor, and the school faculty and administration for making it all come together seamlessly. The curtain call revealed the team’s enjoyment, camaraderie, and most of all, the confidence and ease with which they took on this mammoth task.
It would be fair to say that this production was a cut above a standard school production. From acting, stage design, to music, props, costumes and make-up, it revealed nothing of the fumbles and foibles that adoring parents generally overlook in their child’s theatrical debut. Had it run for longer than its three days, the auditorium would easily be filled to capacity each night.