Norway Theater Reviews

Review: RAIN MAN At Christiania Theater
by Christian Ranke - January 31, 2024

Seldom does a theatrical production completely immerse its audience in a cocoon of emotions, distancing them from the complexities of their own lives for a captivating two and a half hours, as Rain Man achieved at Christiania Teater. The exceptional cast deservedly received one of the quickest stand...

Review: K FOR KONGSVIK at Latter
by Christian Ranke - January 26, 2024

Lene Kongsvik is back with her new solo show 'K for Kongsvik' where the talented comedian/actress has used her own written encyclopedia from elementary school as a basis to show a wide range of both new mixed with well-known characters that define both the extreme and diverse types of personalites....

Review: ANNIE at Folketeatret
by Christian Ranke - November 24, 2023

The iconic red curls and indomitable spirit of little orphan Annie once again graced the Norwegian stage in a heart-warming production that captured the essence of optimism and resilience. The latest rendition of 'Annie' at the Folketeatret proved to be a delightful and nostalgic journey for both lo...

Review: MOULIN ROUGE at Chateau Neuf
by Christian Ranke - November 17, 2023

For those who revel in the nightlife, take note that the Chateau Neuf has undergone a lavish transformation into a pleasure palace where indulgence reigns without the consequences of hangovers. It is within this opulent setting that the exhilarating 'Moulin Rouge! The Musical' premiered on the 30th ...

Review: A DOLL'S HOUSE, PART 2 at Christiania Theater
by Christian Ranke - November 01, 2023

When it was announced that the next big production at Christiania theater would be a play with the nifty title 'Et dukkehjem 2 (A Doll's House, Part 2)' I didn't know what to think. I had next to no knowledge of the piece, other than it was a Broadway play which ran during the 2017 season. Was it a ...

Review: MISS SAIGON at Folketeatret
by Christian Ranke - September 02, 2023

For many years, Miss Saigon was celebrated as a masterful work of musical theater. However, it has faced its fair share of criticism for its alleged 'political incorrectness' issues since its revival in the West End and on Broadway a few years ago. Terms like 'problematic' and 'racially stereotypica...

Review: WE WILL ROCK YOU at Oslo Spektrum
by Christian Ranke - March 20, 2023

What did our critic think of WE WILL ROCK YOU at Oslo Spektrum?...

Review: ET GLASS TIL Opens at Christiania Theater
by Christian Ranke - January 16, 2023

Read BroadwayWorld's review of 'Et glass til', the theatrical adaptation of Oscar-winning Danish film 'Druk' at Christiania Teater....

Review: SISTER ACT at Chateau Neuf, Oslo
by Christian Ranke - September 18, 2022

'Sister Act - The Musical' based on the 1992 movie has landed in Oslo. 'Sister Act,' which opened last night. While the original creatives is only partly successful in adapting the 1992 movie to the stage, it is a feel-good crowd-pleaser worth seeing....

Review: MATILDA at Folketeateret
by Christian Ranke - September 10, 2022

'Matilda - the musical' has wit, intelligence, heart and soul. To see this again in its Norwegian incarnation is, as the opening song says 'A miracle'. Many young stars were born yesterday at Folketeatret in Oslo....

Review: KRISTIN LAVRANSDATTER at Akershus Festning / Karpedammen
by Christian Ranke - August 23, 2022

There is much to love about this show. While this is an epic set in 14th century Norway, a lot of what is depicted rings just as true today. Choosing who to love, the bonds family holds, love, hope and despair. It's all there. While this musical is far from perfect, it has beautiful melodies and lyr...

Review: FANNY UND ALEXANDER – Original Cast Recording – Haunting Adaptation of Bergman's Classic Movie!
by Christian Ranke - June 14, 2022

Fanny & Alexander was originally slated to open a few years ago, but then the pandemic happened and put all plans on hold, but it finally opened earlier this year. I had the pleasure of witnessing a workshop in Norway back in 2018, so I was eagerly awaiting listening to the end result and it did not...

BWW Review: INTO THE WOODS at Det Norske Teatret – Not Totally Happily Ever After
by Christian Ranke - April 05, 2022

Heidi Gjermundsen Brock gives a smashing performance as the witch in Stephen Sondheim's 'Into the Woods'. While the production is musically impressive this production is sadly underwhelming....

BWW Review: THE FULL MONTY at Sarpborg Scene – 'Bares' it All and Suceeds
by Christian Ranke - March 17, 2022

The Full Monty is curious musical. While being essentially a raunchy comedy about six guys who decides to become strippers to escape unemployment and economical despair, it also have the potential to be deeply moving. When done right! And this new production presented in Sarpsborg has done just that...

BWW Review: SKATTEN PÅ SJØRØVERØYA at Chateu Neuf, Oslo
by Christian Ranke - March 10, 2022

Swaggering pirates, X marks the spot, a chattering parrot, 'Yo-ho-ho and a bottle of rum'? All present in this fun but uneven production. This production of Treasure Island is funny, if not yet quite quick, clear or sufficiently frightening. This adaptation premiered last year at Kulturværste in Sta...

BWW Review: SPELET OM TRONA, SESONG 3 by Overspillteatret - Even More Deliciously Dumb!
by Christian Ranke - March 02, 2022

Season two of 'Spelet om trona' came and went last year, so fast that BroadwayWorld never got to see it. But here we are in the same venue almost two years after we saw the first season which we deemed ' Deliciously Dumb'. Well, this is just as dumb and just as delicious....

BWW Review: DOLLY OG MEG at Christiania Teater – Hanne Sørvaag Gives a Truly Impressive Power Belting Love Letter to Dolly Parton
by Christian Ranke - February 14, 2022

Dolly Parton's huge catalogue of music, and her larger than life personality got to shine on the stage at Christiania theatre last Thursday. But it was presented not by Dolly, but by one of Norway true talents. Hanne Sørvaag....

BWW Review: JERSEY BOYS at Chateau Neuf - Oh, What A Night! Jersey Boys Delivers, Firing on All Cylinders
by Christian Ranke - January 31, 2022

I fell in love with Jersey Boys when I discovered the cast recording back in 2006. That recording turned me into a fan of the group The Four Seasons which I honestly didn't know before this. Granted I knew some of the songs, but I found it fascinating that also 'my elders' didn't really know the gro...

BWW Review: HANNE KROGH IN 'LYKKEN ER Å LA DET SWINGE' – She's Still Got It After Fifty Years!
by Christian Ranke - September 10, 2021

Hanne Krogh is one of Norway's living treasures, and whatever your opinion of her music may be you can't help but become happy when she enters the stage with that big beautiful smile of hers. That smile is contagious!...

BWW Review: MAMMA MIA! at Folketeatret – The Ultimate Feel-Good Show Still Shines!
by Christian Ranke - August 27, 2021

Mamma Mia is the ultimate feel-good-show! it's best to leave your cynicism at the door, forget your worries for an hour or two, and just have a great time. If you're an ABBA fan, that is. If you are not then there is little I can write to persuade you. Read no further!...

BWW Review (amateur production): BILLY ELLIOT at Lillestrøm Kultursenter – Billy is Flying High!
by Christian Ranke - August 26, 2021

The first Norwegian non-professional production of Billy Elliot is a solid piece of entertainment, and deserves to be seen by the local community. I urge parents to ask their kids to put down the smartphones, iPads and gaming devices for a few hours and go experience Billy Elliot's journey of self-d...

BWW Review: FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, Flateby Samfunnshus - Fiddler in the Woods
by Christian Ranke - August 17, 2021

There is nothing amateurish about Enebakk Musikkteater's open-air production of 'Fiddler on the Roof' by Jerry Bock and Sheldon Harnick. While some may lack experience in performing, as an ensemble they present a wholesome end-result, with a scenery that is to die for. This review is based on last y...

BWW Review: STARDUST at Chat Noir - Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen Gives Star Power on Every Level
by Christian Ranke - July 04, 2021

Seeing Hilde Louise Asbjørnsen on stage is a good lesson in star power. It feels like she doesn't have to try - she just does, and she does it magnificently. Commanding the audience’s attention, never losing it during those ninety minutes of splendor....