Review - REBECCA: enchanting music and compelling character arcs

REBECCA is a musical based on the eponymous book written by Daphne du Maurier. Since the musical premiered in 2006 in Vienna, the production has been staged in multiple countries. Since 2022, REBECCA is once again being performed in Vienna, at the Raimund Theater, produced by Vereinigte Bühnen Wien. MusicalSpot attended the German musical and would love to tell you all about it.

The plot

REBECCA tells the story of Maxim de Winter, who finds a new love (“Ich”) after his previous wife, Rebecca de Winter, has passed away. Upon returning to his estate Manderley with his new wife after their marriage, the new Mrs. De Winter (“Ich”) encounters the housekeeper Mrs. Danvers. Mrs. Danvers had a close bond with Rebecca and struggles to accept her death. She makes it very clear to “Ich” that she cannot live up to the previous Mrs. De Winter, making “Ich” face the challenge of dealing with this strict woman who makes her life quite difficult.

When a boat washes ashore with the drowned body of Rebecca, Maxim is forced to explain himself. How is it possible that he previously identified a different body as that of his wife, Rebecca? Does he have something to do with her death?

Double show, double fun!

As you might know, there are many Dutch musical performers appearing in REBECCA. Nienke Latten portrays the role of “Ich”, and until recently, Willemijn Verkaik was on stage as Mrs. Danvers. After Willemijn left the company, Annemieke van Dam took over this role, with Marcella Adema as her alternate. To see as many fellow Dutchies shining on stage as possible, MusicalSpot attended two shows of REBECCA. And we can already reveal: that turned out to be a very good idea!

REBECCA has everything a musical lover could wish for

REBECCA has all the ingredients for a captivating story. It combines romance and thriller elements, with the unraveling of dark secrets as a central theme. Each character undergoes a significant arc, and these developments are skillfully presented throughout the entire show. As the story unfolds, all the pieces of the puzzle slowly fall into place, making it a fascinating spectacle to watch.

The stage of the Raimund Theater is larger than the average Dutch theater, and it quickly becomes evident why. The set design constantly amazes you. From the artistic way of visualizing a lift in the Grand Hotel of Monte Carlo to the spectacular finale where the Manderley estate goes up in flames, including the gigantic wooden staircase. A notable moment in which the mysteriousness of the story is emphasized by the decor is when Mrs. Danvers magically opens the curtains of Rebecca’s bedroom. These examples make it clear that a tremendous amount of effort went into designing the set to enhance the fascinating narrative.

Nienke Latten: does it all!

Nienke Latten has been portraying the role of “Ich” for over a year now, and we were truly impressed by her performance! The role of “Ich” demands a lot; embodying a significant character development, challenging songs, numerous quick changes, and all that in German. Nienke excels in every aspect!

Her portrayal of the character arc is very convincing. In her entire attitude, facial expressions, and use of voice, you can sense the transformation from an insecure girl to a confident Mrs. de Winter. The climax of this newly found confidence shines through beautifully during the song “Mrs. Winter bin Ich,” where she puts Mrs. Danvers in her place.

Vocally, Nienke is powerful and incredibly stable from the first note to the very last. That allows you to sit back and enjoy the show from the start! She effortlessly sings through the dynamic songs in varying singing styles. Both in solo songs and in duets with characters like Maxim and Mrs. Danvers, she manages to captivate the audience and evoke emotions.

A different perspective

The role of Mrs. Danvers is quite complex. Her actual relationship with Rebecca remains elusive, but you can sense that she was profoundly attached to this woman. Consequently, playing this role involves a great deal of emotion. It was fascinating to see how Annemieke van Dam and Marcella Adema approached it from different perspectives.

Annemieke emphasized the grief and despair that Mrs. Danvers feels after Rebecca’s death. You can feel how much Rebecca meant to her, and this emotion is clearly conveyed in her performance. These emotions make her attitude towards “Ich” quite understandable. Vocally, she also gave us chills on multiple occasions.

On the other hand, Marcella demonstrates her vocal skills as well. She has a very pleasant, warm voice that contrasts nicely with the stern character she portrays. In Marcella’s rendition of Mrs. Danvers, there’s a bit more resentment, making the tension between her and “Ich” even more palpable.

We were definitely impressed by both women. And of course, there’s a bit of extra pride knowing they are both originally from the Netherlands.

A very in sync company

The musical has been running at the Raimund Theater for a while, and you can tell how well this cast has become attuned to each other. The ensemble numbers are powerful, and the lead actors seamlessly complement each other.

We’ve had the pleasure of seeing both Mark Seibert and Philipp Dietrich in the role of Maxim de Winter. Nienke has great chemistry with both men, which is crucial for the credibility of the story. “Ich” falls for Maxim immediately, and with both Mark and Philipp, we understand why. They both possess a good amount of charisma and a beautiful voice.

James Park, who plays Frank, Maxim’s best friend, also quickly wins your heart. He may be the most sincere character in the story, and James portrays this beautifully and convincingly. Speaking of conviction, we also want to give an extra round of applause to Aris Sas. Aris takes on the role of Ben, a mentally challenged character, which we assume is quite a challenging role, especially when alternating with various ensemble roles. However, for Aris, this is no problem at all, and he portrays a very compelling Ben.

Wonderful music

In addition to the fantastic cast and impressive set, the music of REBECCA is truly beautiful. It is composed by Sylvester Levay, who also wrote music for, among others, Elisabeth and Mozart!. It is evident that this man possesses a considerable amount of musicality.

Moreover, the lyrics are magnificently written. They contain many metaphors, allowing the text to spark your imagination. Don’t speak German? They’ve taken the international audience into account at the Raimund Theater. In the auditorium, there are several screens where English subtitles are projected. The visibility of these subtitles depends on your seat, but if you can read them, it’s a very helpful aid for fully understanding the story.

Visit REBECCA in Vienna while you still can

REBECCA das musical in Vienna is a true delight for every musical enthusiast. The music is enchantingly beautiful, the character arcs are captivating, and the set is immensely spectacular. Add to this the talented (partly Dutch) cast and the live orchestra, and all your musical wishes are granted!

The musical REBECCA in Vienna is only playing until January 7, 2024. And believe us, you don’t want to miss it! Tickets are available at musicalvienna.at.

If you’re still not entirely convinced, we highly recommend checking out the enthusiastic backstage vlogs of Nienke Latten!