![](https://www.sardinesmagazine.co.uk/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/Henrietta-Poster-480-x-240.jpg)
Show: Henrietta
Society: National Youth Music Theatre (NYMT)
Venue: The MCT at Alleyn's. Townley Road, London SE22 8SU
Credits: Music by Alex Parker. Book & Lyrics by Katie Lam. Director: Kate Golledge. Musical Director: Charlie Ingles
Type: Sardines
Author: Susan Elkin
Performance Date: 19/08/2021
Henrietta
Susan Elkin | 20 Aug 2021 12:37pm
We’re in Anne Frank territory. It’s Amsterdam in 1944. Some Jews are in hiding, some people are trying to help them while others – we’re in the heart of the community with people who’ve known each other all their lives – agree with occupying Nazi policy or seem to. And at the centre of all this is a sparky child (role shared between Charlie Herlihy and Ellie Jones across different performances) whose origins suddenly turn out to be not quite what she has been brought up to believe.
There’s plenty of warmth, a lot of drama and if the story telling is disjointedly unclear at the beginning before the piece gradually slides into focus then it doesn’t matter much. The early scenes actually seem hideously topical as we watch people fleeing from danger in a week when we’re all thinking about the situation in Afghanistan.
Commissioned from Alex Parker and Katie Lam by NYMT for last year but, perforce, postponed until now Henrietta is a good piece for a youth organisation. Because NYMT works with young people from age 10-23 there are children to play the juvenile roles along with competent performers in their early 20s able to play adults in their thirties with conviction. In fact Reuben Browne, 22, plays an older teacher (he has taught Henrietta’s mother) and it works – he also sings with panache especially in the lilting 3|4 number in which he tells Henrietta a story about his own son which then morphs (tempo and key change) into an impassioned lament and declaration of pride.
Izzie Mackie is strong as teacher Miss Van de Berg who hides behind a stereotype in Act 1 before revealing herself ( eventually reaching a fabulous full belt) as something quite different in Act 2. Sydney Richards is moving as Rachel who leaves Amsterdam (and a lot more besides) with her husband to live elsewhere in safety.
Skilfully directed by Kate Colledge, the talents of everyone in this accomplished casa of 32 are exploited and I really love Lucinda Lawrence’s choreography which takes every opportunity to present children as children – dancing and playing with glee despite the horrors going on around them. Set changes are neatly choreographed in too so the whole thing is seamless.
And joy of joy – this is what gets Henrietta its fourth star – is the live youth band, who, tucked away out of sight, produce great richness and sound very professional. I was delighted to see them all brought on stage at the end for their own curtain call.
- : admin
- : 19/08/2021