REBECCA opens in Stuttgart

If anyone was curious what Rebecca will look it (largely the same as previous versions), this highlights video from the Stuttgart production featuring direction by Francesca Zambello (whose co-directing on Broadway) and the same design cast.

The production also cut the ridiculously bad song "We Are British," which was I guess you could say commented on British society at the time.

Pia Douwes sounds great by the way, as does Thomas Borchert. None of the "I"s sound alike, so I'm sure Sierra will bring something much new to the piece as well.
Rebecca Stuttgart Preview

I'm happy to see they have kept the vogue-ing chamber maids and I dig Mrs. Danvers new hairstyle homage to Gary Oldman's beehive in Dracula! Super camp!

so do I. Really looking forward to this opening in New York, Although I fear it will not run that long.

I too imagine the critics will have a field day with this one. I'm willing to bet at least one review opens with "Bonnie and Clyde, come back - all is forgiven..."

But to flop connoisseurs, it looks irresistible. We haven't had a piece of such large-scale, unabashed tomfoolery on Broadway since, maybe DANCE OF THE VAMPIRES.

You look at a show like this now, months ahead of the sets and costumes having been built, the cast rehearsed, the publicity begun and have to wonder why on earth are they actually going to go through with it.

But for people who can appreciate shows like CARRIE and ROCKABYE HAMLET, this is going to be one of the most fun and entertaining evenings of the Broadway season.

Maybe it's just wishful thinking on my part, but I think this show does have some decent potential on Broadway. It may not be a hit, but I don't think it's going to be so quick to close as others may assume. At least, I hope so. If I have to miss Bonnie & Clyde, I hope I get to see Rebecca.

It's hard not to invoke Dance of the Vampires when discussing another Austrian import, but DOTV was so far removed from Tanz der Vampire that it's really not fair. I loved Tanz der Vampire in Berlin. LOVED. IT. And it was a tragedy to see what Broadway did to that show. The worst revisions since Jekyll & Hyde.

philly03 - I agree about the orchestrations which will be key in the Broadway production as well as the English translation of the lyrics.

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The biggest design change is the staircase, which will not spiral in and out of the stage. Instead, all three levels are exposed at all times. As you can see, the entire thing will still light on fire!

Tanz never succeeding on Broadway just means I need to move to Europe ASAP. I suppose I am just not built for American theater?

That being said, Rebecca on Broadway is simply a treat I cannot afford to miss, whatever may become of it after it opens. Perhaps I should break my rule and just go see it in previews.

Looking at those clips, I'm still not sure I can wrap my head around Thomas Borchert as Maxim...

I also prefer the big European musicals such as Tanz Der Vampire, Elizabeth, Wildhorn's european work, and especially this show! Sadly I agree it won't last long here. Routing for it!

Not to my taste at all, but it reminds me of PHANTOM in scope and schmaltz, so it may play to busloads of tourists for years.

As a fan of Eurodisco--which condemns me to many already--Sylvester Levay and Kunze were basically famous for imitating the superior Giorgio Moroder/Cerrone style of European synth producer driven disco. Afer Moroder deservedly (scoff if you want :P ) won awards for Midnight Express, American Gigolo and Cat People, Levay basically got derivative b-movies. Not that I think Moroder could do a decent musical (though apparently he's been trying for years), but that combination of talent always seems so bizarre for a musical based on Rebecca (or their myriad other projects--though I suppose none have featured Fly Robin Fly yet).

But I actually like some parts of Rebecca, and I love the design. I wish it just dramatically could be the true EuroPop cheese fest it seems to want to be--I found huge chunks of it either so wrong headed they were almost, but not quite, camp, or dull. If there's a last gasp attempt for this style of musical on Broadway though, this is it--one point in its favour is they didn't ask the useless Kretzmer to do the new lyrics.

Whoa, daddy! A musical created with Ken Mandelbaum in mind. Just visited the show website and heard "She's Invincible." After I got over the initial shock, it sounded like it should have been used as the theme song for the Sarah Palin infomercial released into film flopdom months ago. This one sounds and looks like this generation's ANYA. Blakemore's involvement gives me a some ray of hope, but ultimately this show is what it is, and he can only do so much. Can't wait for the threads this one will generate next year.

Updated On: 12/20/11 at 04:54 PM

DeNada, I think that is more Pia's specific acting types, as I didn't pick up on the "bug eyes." Susan was phenomenal though, especially with her power house voice. While Karen Mason has a fantastic voice, I don't think we'll be getting the same power as that.

I really don't think this show is as campy as people are saying - It has been pretty successful where ever it has played in the world, but I really do think the orchestrations will pose an immediate problem.