Synopsis

Wealthy Maxim de Winter brings his naïve new wife home to his Cornish estate, Manderley, where the manipulative housekeeper, Mrs. Danvers, resents the new wife’s intrusion. She persuades her that she is an unworthy replacement for the first Mrs de Winter, the glamorous and mysterious Rebecca, who perished in a drowning accident…

Richard Carson, Lauren Jones and Kara Lane head the cast for the eagerly anticipated English language premiere of the critically acclaimed musical Rebecca.

Based on Daphne Du Maurier’s 1938 novel, Rebecca has already captivated more than two million people worldwide in hugely successful productions in 12 countries and eight languages.

With an orchestra of 18, Rebecca is directed by Alejandro Bonatto, with a new English translation by Christopher Hampton and Michael Kunze.

Featuring 22 original songs, Rebecca is a gripping thriller full of intrigue and surprises that sticks closely to the original novel.

Review

Rebecca is one of my favourite books – a haunting, gothic tale that explores love, obsession, and betrayal. Set in an old house in Cornwall, the atmosphere is bleak and claustrophobic with a sense of foreboding.

The musical manages to capture some of these feelings, with a strong contrast between the earlier scenes in Monte Carlo and those in the rugged cliffs of Cornwall. However, it doesn’t quite do the story justice.

Sylvester Levay’s score is stunning, haunting and melodic, whilst some of Michael Kunze’s lyrics are quite powerful. The opening number Last Night I Dreamt of Manderley is very sweet and gives a false hope of brilliance; sadly it is not until the powerful song Rebecca that we feel that they have understood the story. Favell’s song I’ll Scratch Your Back lowers the tone of what is a serious story and feels misplaced. There are also a few odd changes to the story which make little sense, although Mrs de Winter’s character arc does work well.

The cast is made up of an exceptionally talented group of actors, with outstanding performances from Lauren Jones (the second Mrs de Winter), Richard Carson (Maxim) and Kara Lane (Mrs Danvers). It’s a fairly young cast, but the chemistry between Carson and Jones is sweet and credible, and Lane provides a new interpretation of the sinister Mrs Danvers without losing the obsessive love for Rebecca that we feel in the book. The ensemble work well together and mix up the tone with a good balance of humour and curiosity.

The set leaves a lot to be desired, failing to show an opulent gothic manor, which is a shame. The smoke machine is overused in several scenes; rather than adding a sense of fear and foreboding, it feels a bit unnecessary and gimmicky.

It’s not a bad show, but it is disappointing and there feels a disconnect between the strength of the actors and the material they are given.

Thanks to Kevin Wilson PR for the ticket. Opinions my own.