Show Plot Matilda

Author: Dennis Kelly (book) and Tim Minchin (music and lyrics) based on the book by Roald Dahl

Time Period: late 20th century

Setting: A small English village and the oppressive Crunchem Hall Primary School

Summary:  Five-year-old Matilda Wormwood is a precocious child genius who loves reading. Her shallow, abusive parents ignore and belittle her, preferring to watch television or run dodgy business schemes.  When she starts school at Crunchem Hall, she meets the cruel, child-hating headmistress Miss Trunchbull, but also finds a warm friend in the librarian Mrs. Phelps and a protector in her sweet, gentle teacher Miss Honey.  When pushed past her limit by the injustices around her, Matilda discovers she possesses psychokinetic (telekinetic) powers and uses her new magical abilities to overcome the cruel adults in her life and help her kind teacher.