REBECCA: THE MUSICAL will have English language production in London

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:11am

Following 12 successful foreign language productions, critically acclaimed musical Rebecca by Michael Kunze and Sylvester Levay will get its English language premiere in a new production at London's Charing Cross Theatre in an English translation by Christopher Hampton.

The musical production by the Austrian musical producer VBW (Vereinigte Bühnen Wien) based on Daphne Du Maurier's 1938 novel 'Rebecca' is coming to London's Charing Cross Theatre next year. Performances will run 4 September - 18 November, 2023.

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:21am

I'm so frickin' excited but also confused lol. For anyone who doesn't know the Charing Cross Theatre, this would be like New World Stages putting up "Sunset Boulevard" in their smallest theater. 

[ACL2006]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:30am

Pre-Broadway transfer!! Gonna take the Booth Theater in 2024!!

 

Joking, but will this show never die?

[TotallyEffed]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:31am

Give it up, Kwang.

[ggersten]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:31am

We saw Titanic in that theatre and it was wonderful. So, this could work?  But, it's a loooooong way off. 

I'm confused by the "new" translation reference. Didn't Hampton do the prior English translation? It was over a decade ago, so it could be revised 

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:38am

I’ve enjoyed everything I’ve seen there. Last week O saw the revival of “From Here To Eternity” and LOVED IT. I knew nothing about the show going in and adored the score. So I have no doubt they’ll make it work, it’s just an odd choice of theaters for a show like this. 

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 12:07pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I'm so frickin' excited but also confused lol. For anyone who doesn't know the Charing Cross Theatre, this would be like New World Stages putting up "Sunset Boulevard" in their smallest theater."

I don't get it either, wasn't the appeal its massive production?

This sounds more like The Woman in White revival that played there.

[chrishuyen]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 12:21pm

I was also curious about the choice of theater.  I've only seen Zorro in there and it was configured to be somewhat in the round (or at least audience on two sides with the stage in between), was that a special configuration or is it more of a black box that they can do whatever they want with it?

[Jordan Catalano]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 12:24pm

They’re using the same configuration for “From Here To Eternity”, now. I think more often than not they have it set up like that. 

[RippedMan]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 1:37pm

I think they were the same company that did the Sunset revival where it was just like a bunch of carpets and that's it. Sounds like they focus on the material, not the production. I've liked the music I've heard from Rebecca, so this might be really cool. 

[HogansHero]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 1:40pm

ggersten said: "We saw Titanic in that theatre and it was wonderful. So, this could work? But, it's a loooooong way off.

I'm confused by the "new" translation reference. Didn't Hampton do the prior English translation? It was over a decade ago, so it could be revised"

What I am seeing says new production with Hampton's translation (which has never been produced beyond workshops, going back 11 years). I did not see "new" modifying the translation but maybe you saw it elsewhere. (If so it was probably wrong.) 

This is being produced by Steven Levy who coincidentally is the Managing Director and a part owner of the Charing Cross Theatre which would explain the choice. (He's a well known face on and off-b and once owned several off-B commercial spaces some/many will remember like Actors Playhouse and the Gramercy.)

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 1:44pm

There's apparently going to be a new cast album for From Here to Eternity. Wouldn't mind an English language cast album of Rebecca finally.

[Plannietink08]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 1:53pm

Jordan Catalano said: "I'm so frickin' excited but also confused lol. For anyone who doesn't know the Charing Cross Theatre, this would be like New World Stages putting up "Sunset Boulevard" in their smallest theater."

There was a very successful production of Sunset Boulevard that played in the Watermill Theatre in Newbury which is a similar theatre to The Charing Cross, so stranger things have happened. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 4:15pm

Will it have the same set that’s currently in the German REBECCA production in Vienna?

[Impeach2017]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 4:23pm

Sounds intriguing, but I cannot imagine that story placed into a musical.

[blaxx]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 4:39pm

Wick3 said: "Will it have the same set that’s currently in the German REBECCA production in Vienna?"

As per above, unless the set is in miniature, then no. Theater is tiny.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 8:48pm

Impeach2017 said: "Sounds intriguing, but I cannot imagine that story placed into a musical."

Try imagining it in German. It's easy.

[BroadwayNYC2]

Posted: 12/12/22 at 9:52pm

“Sounds intriguing, but I cannot imagine that story placed into a musical.”


you must be new here. 

[Wick3]

Posted: 12/13/22 at 12:23am

I know this is not the same production but if you want to learn more about the cancelled Broadway production of Rebecca almost a decade ago, here's a good doc on youtube: 

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 12/14/22 at 8:50am

I'm assuming this means no flaming staircase.

[jacobsnchz14]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 9:47am

First performance is tonight! 

[uncageg]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 9:58am

A friend of mine saw the original production in Vienna while there for a conference. As a gift he gave me the beautiful program from the show. 

I am hoping we see this in the US at some point.

[g.d.e.l.g.i.]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 6:51pm

The early report says that the visuals are a total letdown, albeit not surprising considering the space in which the show is performed...

 

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Reportedly, the fire is a couple of red lights and a smoke machine, which sounds sad considering other productions have also dispensed with realistic fire. It's nothing that can't be fixed, though; for example, throwing in a few ensemble members doing some interpretive dance with orange and red scarves behind a scrim (as other productions have done) could jazz up the rest of what is described.

...but the 18-piece orchestra, to which most of the budget seems to have gone, is fabulous, and Michael Kunze, hard done by as English-speaking adaptations go, seems happy with it. Maybe it will have time to grow into its skin.

[BETTY22]

Posted: 9/4/23 at 8:00pm

Wishing it the best. This show has a long and painful journey.

 

[Lot666]

Posted: 9/5/23 at 9:03am

g.d.e.l.g.i. said: "The early report says that the visuals are a total letdown, albeit not surprising considering the space in which the show is performed..."

Sadly, that's what I was expecting. If this was running in NY, I'd have no problem flying up for it, but the slog to London is just too long and costly for a watered down production.