Lighting director adds emotion to Tony-winning musical ‘MATILDA’ MAGIC

May 2, 2016 at 12:05a.m.

The idea of colors and lighting conveying emotions and moods makes sense. After all, it’s called “feeling blue” for a reason.

Still, the concept is somewhat abstract. Just ask lighting designer Hugh Vanstone, who won a Lighting Tony Award for “Matilda, the Musical.”

“I’m the first one to say lighting is a very strange craft,” said Vanstone, calling from London.

In an industry where everyone is seemingly mugging for the spotlight, Broadway and West End veteran Vanstone said his craft requires a polar objective.

“It’s completely true – good lighting 99 percent of the time will not be noticed,” Vanstone said. “You’re not trying to draw attention to yourself. You’re trying to support the story and support the actors and just be part of the fabric without being noticeable.

“If that’s the case, then I succeeded and I’m happy.”

Clearly, he succeeded with “Matilda,” which makes its Cleveland debut Tuesday through May 22 at Playhouse Square’s State Theatre, immediately followed by a stint at Benedum Center in Pittsburgh from May 31 to June 12.

As a child growing up in the United Kingdom, Vanstone was a huge fan of Roald Dahl (“Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” and “Fantastic Mr. Fox”); however, the esteemed lighting designer had no idea one day he would help bring one of the best-selling author’s books to life on the musical stage.

So when the opportunity presented itself in the late ’00s, Vanstone jumped at the chance to work with the Royal Shakespeare Company, as well as Tony Award-winning director and Tony Award-winning playwright Dennis Kelly.

“It was clearly going to be a huge amount of fun,” Vanstone said. “I know it sounds funny to talk about lighting. How can lighting be fun? But that’s how I approached it. The whole style of production takes you from the depths of despair to elation.”

“There’s a lot of color in the lighting in this show because that, to me, is an easy way to convey emotion from states of happiness. And Roald Dahl’s favorite color was yellow, so I actually use a lot of yellow in the lighting, which represents freedom and happiness.”

“Matilda,” which won 50 international awards, including four Tony Awards, tells the story of an imaginative and whip-smart little girl who dreams of a better life.

Some folks, especially those with kids, may be familiar with the 1996 feature film “Matilda,” which starred Mara Wilson and Danny Devito. Vanstone said there’s definitely a connection between the movie and “Matilda, the Musical.”

“Some of the movie departed from the book quite heavily,” Vanstone said. “The musical goes back to the book, and indeed it diverts in some places. There’s also another whole story line inserted into the show as a back story for Miss Honey that’s very different from the movie.

“The thing that’s great about the show, it can only be in a theater. The way it’s created and the way the story is told, it’s a huge part of the joy of it.”

The centerpiece of “Matilda, the Musical” is the uplifting song “When I Grow Up,” which speaks to the notion that even adults can feel as though they haven’t grown up yet. Invariably, considering his profession, Vanstone can relate to the theme.

“I’m afraid we all behaved like children on this show when we made it,” Vanstone said, laughing.