Rebecca the musical
Rebecca The Musical a new musical version of Daphne du Maurier’s classic Rebecca is to replace Flashdance at the Shaftesbury Theatre next Spring. The show was first produced in Vienna’s Raimund Theater in September 2006 and has been a huge hit in several European versions already.
The Story of Rebecca
Last night I dreamt I went to Manderley again………
If you haven’t read du Maurier’s original novel then you have almost certainly seen Alfred Hitchcock’s 1940 film (which won an Oscar for Best Picture.) The film has been endlessly replayed on television and is a total classic.
Rebecca is the story of Maxim de Winter and his young, second wife. It is also the story of Manderley, the magnificent house, that forms the setting for most of the action. The new Mrs de Winter is so shy and innocent she seems almost childlike. If the production sticks to the book and film we never learn the second Mrs de Winter’s first name. Out of her depth and out of her class the young woman tries to befriend the only people around her, the servants.
She soon discovers that her predecessor, Rebecca, was very different. The housekeeper, Mrs Danvers, makes it clear that really there could only ever be one Mrs de Winter and that she can never match up. Maxim, interesting and attentive before they arrived at Manderley, seems cold and distant. And so the scene is set for a production with not only great music but a cracking plot.
Speculation about the casting of Rebecca
There have been no official casting announcements. There is a rumour and let’s be clear it is just a rumour – that Sierra Boggess might play Mrs de Winter. Sierra workshopped the role in the second UK workshop of Rebecca in October 2010 but this may mean nothing. The musical score is varied, ranging from chorale to ballads and would be perfect for her much acclaimed soprano voice. Sierra might enjoy the challenge of playing the timid, quiet Mrs de Winter. She is currently starring as Christine in Love Never Dies at the Adelphi Theatre but her contract is set to end on March 12th 2011.
In some ways more interesting will be who gets the role of Mrs Danvers. It will need to be someone with a fine voice and the ability to lend just the right amount of menace to the role.
The Music of Rebecca
There are several video extracts of the European productions that give a strong flavour of the show.
Or this one:
There’s no date been announced yet for when Rebecca The Musical will open in London but we’re really looking forward to seeing the new show as soon as possible next year.
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