"Revolting Children" is a song from the 2010 musical ''

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''.

Synopsis

The children stand up and revolt against the cruel principal

Miss Trunchbull Miss Agatha Trunchbull (nicknamed The Trunchbull) is the fictional headmistress of Crunchem Hall Primary School (or Elementary School), and the main antagonist in Roald Dahl's 1988 novel ''Matilda'' and its adaptations: the 1996 film ''Matilda'' (p ...

. ''

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'' said "in atilda'sultimate uprising with chums at school,

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re-define what it means to be called “revolting children” by Trunchbull". ''The New York Times'' explains:

Composition

"Revolting Children" is a disco-inspired composition that relies on a lyrical double entendre regarding the word "revolting", which can mean either disgusting or revolutionary. The song also mentions within the lyrics '' Revolting Rhymes, ''which is a nod to the

Roald Dahl Roald Dahl (13 September 1916 – 23 November 1990) was a British author of popular children's literature and short stories, a poet, screenwriter and a wartime Flying ace, fighter ace. His books have sold more than 300 million copies ...

collection of poems with the same name.''

Critical reception

The ''

School Library Journal ''School Library Journal'' (''SLJ'') is an American monthly magazine containing reviews and other articles for school librarians, media specialists, and public librarians who work with young people. Articles cover a wide variety of topics, wi ...

'' wrote "You can’t help but love songs with double meanings like the oh-so appropriately named 'Revolting Children'". ''

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'' deemed it a "rousing final number" and "an anthem of liberation", suggesting "which Mr. Darling has choreographed with a wink at Bill T. Jones’s work on “Spring Awakening”". '' Time Out'' wrote, "The final number, 'Revolting Children,' plays on the notion that minors can be both repugnant and a source of social upheaval: 'Revolting children / Living in revolting times / We sing revolting songs / Using revolting rhymes.' There’s a lesson for you tweens: You’ve inherited a lousy culture, so why not make a song and dance about it?". ''The British Theatre Guide'' deemed the song "memorable", while Chortle called it "triumphant". ''

The Hollywood Reporter ''The Hollywood Reporter'' (''THR'') is an American digital and print magazine which focuses on the Cinema of the United States, Hollywood film industry, film, television, and entertainment industries. It was founded in 1930 as a daily trade pap ...

'' wrote the students "reclaim Trunchbull's scorn as an anthem of rebellion". Entertainment Weekly argued there was slowing down in momentum in the second act "between that growing-up song and the anarchic, Spring Awakening-like final number, ''Revolting Children''". Echoing what many reviewers said about Minchin's witty lyrics being lost due to lack of diction, it said of Revolting Children: "that song is one of several whose tongue-twisting lyrics seem like a mouthful for very young performers less trained in enunciation." Matt Patches of ''

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'' named the

film adaptation A film adaptation transfers the details or story of an existing source text, such as a novel, into a feature film. This transfer can involve adapting most details of the source text closely, including characters or plot points, or the original sou ...

's rendition of the song and its musical sequence as one of the best movie scenes of 2022.

Parodies and covers

In the 2014 version of the theatre spoof ''

Forbidden Broadway ''Forbidden Broadway'' is an off-Broadway revue parodying musical theatre, particularly Broadway musicals. Conceived, written, and directed by Gerard Alessandrini, the show has been updated many times to parody new musicals and productions. The r ...

'', a cast member playing director Matthew Warchus and dressed as Miss Trunchbull sings 'I love exploiting children/I love exploiting shows/I whip their little asses and line them up in rows' to the tune of "Revolting Children".

References

External links

Dance workshop for Revolting Children
{{Tim Minchin 2010 songs Songs from musicals Songs written by Tim Minchin