Review: Rebecca

Rebecca’s Long Shadow



Daphne Du Maurier’s novel Rebecca was published in 1938. Two years later, Alfred Hitchcock made a film about it. Both were mega successes.

The musical performed at the Raimund Theater in Vienna, which will be performed at the Helsinki City Theatre as a Nordic premiere, has achieved similar popularity.

Rebecca has all the elements of a big story. It is a love story, a Cinderella story and a suspense play in which love, passion, betrayal, madness and misunderstanding are swirling.

The title character, Rebecca , has died. The story centers on Maxim De Winter (Kari Arffman), his new spouse (Sanna Majuri), and Mrs. Danvers, the housekeeper of Manderley Manor, owned by De Winter, who worships the memory of the dead Rebecca in a spine-chilling way. He is the most memorable character in the novel and also in the musical. The role is played by the astonishing and charismatic Sari Ann Moilanen.

Rebecca’s music is strong and nuanced, its central melody is guaranteed to stay in your mind for a long time.