Mrs Henderson Presents (musical)

The musical is based on the 2005 film Mrs Henderson Presents.[1] The film was based on the true story of London's Windmill Theatre[2] and its owner Laura Henderson, who transformed the theatre and produced Revudeville shows featuring static naked tableaux girls, exploiting a loophole in the Lord Chamberlain's Lord Cromer censorship laws.[3][4]

In June 2014, it was first revealed by producer John Reid that an adaption was in the works,[5] with a workshop taking place the same year.[6] On 16 October 2014, the musical was officially confirmed and it was announced that the show would receive its world premiere in summer 2015, with a view to a West End transfer.[7] The musical is directed by and has a book by Terry Johnson,[8] based on an original screenplay by Martin Sherman,[9] with choreography by Andrew Wright,[10] set design by Tim Shortall,[10] costume design by Paul Wills,[10] lighting by Ben Ormerod[10] and magic consultancy by Scott Penrose.[11]

The show's premiere production began previews at the Theatre Royal in Bath, on 15 August 2015, with its official opening night coming on 26 August, for a limited run until 25 September 2015.[12] Rehearsals began on 7 July 2015.[13] On 6 March 2015, initial casting was announced with the news that Janie Dee would play the role of Laura Henderson with Emma Williams playing Maureen.[14] Further notable casting included Ian Bartholomew as Vivian Van Damm and Mark Hadfield as Arthur.[15] On 7 July 2015, it was revealed that Janie Dee had withdrawn from the production prior to rehearsals due to personal reasons and that Tracie Bennett would replace her in the role of Laura Henderson.[16]

Following completion of the musicals tryout in Bath, it was announced that the show would transfer to the Noël Coward Theatre in London's West End,[17] with an official opening night of 16 February 2016, following previews from 9 February.[18] The majority of the cast reprised their roles with the exceptions of Mark Hadfield, who was replaced in the role of Arthur by former EastEnders actor Jamie Foreman,[19] Graham Hoadly who (owing to a prior contractual commitment) was replaced in the role of Lord Cromer by Robert Hands and Jane Milligan who was replaced in the role of Lady Conway by Liz Ewing.[20]

The West End show garnered mixed reviews and closed after its initial four-month run. No official reason was given for the close although it is not believed to have been a financial success. In her 2 star review for the Evening Standard, Fiona Mountford stated that the musical "shares with the film a desperate lack of momentum", and of the songs, "none are memorable".[21] In his 4 star review for The Stage, Mark Shenton stated that the show "doesn't shy from occasional hard edges. Instead, by concentrating on the backstage lives of the dancers and management of the Windmill, there's more of a jaunty, frequently patriotic, flavour to it – that both sings and occasionally stings.[22]

On March 15, 2017, the production opened at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto, Canada where it played a limited engagement until April 23, 2017. The show was essentially recast although Tracie Bennett reprised the role of Mrs Henderson, with the cast also including Peter Polycarpou and Evelyn Hoskins as Maureen.[23]

The musical features an original score composed by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain,[24] with lyrics by Don Black,[25][26] orchestrations by Larry Blank,[27] sound design by Gareth Owen[28] and musical direction and vocal arrangements by Mike Dixon.[29]

• Official website