Music
Heidi’s musical for children: moving, hilarious & always in fashion
The new children’s musical “Heidi” from Brigitt Maag and Paul Weilenmann came to the Volkshaus this weekend. For seventy minutes the actors touched the hearts of the Zurich crowd in a sold out theater. Both parents and children enjoyed the show, which started with a Premiere on November 19th at the Casinotheater in Winterthur and will end there on April 1st.
The story of Heidi written by Swiss writer Johanna Spyri in 1880-81 does not seem to be outdated despite its 130 years! It never cease to move dearly those who read, watch or listen to the story.
Heidi Keyvisual - copyright Heidi Musical
Heidi (Christina Benz) was left without parents at an early age, raised by her aunt, Tante Dete (Charlotte Heinimann), in Maienfeld in what is known today as Heidiland, 1 hour from Zurich. When her aunt went to find work in Frankfurt she left Heidi to her grandfather (Matthias Schuppli), living in a cabin in the Swiss Alps. It was love at first sight for Heidi. She fell in love with the mountains and her grandfather. Her aunt came to pick her up when she was eight years old and brought her to the rich and educated family Sesemann in Frankfurt. There she became the friend of the handicap girl Clara (Andrea Adamina), sitting in a rolling chair. Although Clara and Heidi had three years difference the two girls loved each other’s company and Clara stopped being bored. Heidi had to get used to classic education and learning. But Heidi had to return home when home sickness was too strong and she became sick. Only at home she found happiness again.
More than 50 Millions books were sold since the first Heidi book came out. Many cartoons, tv series, films and a few musicals were made throughout the world.
The story is moving and the songs written by the most well-known children’s Swiss song writer, Andrew Bond, are beautiful. His first CD dates now from 1998 and he was rewarded with numerous platinum and gold awards. That’s why one can understand why it can be hard to forget the rhythm of the last song “Heidi wo bist du di Hei?” (Heidi where are you at home?)
The decor brings the spectator right away into the mountains. One feels right there outside the log cabin of Heidi’s grandfather overlooking a glacier, when Tante Dete tries crossing a river, Heidi eats her piece of Chäs (cheese) in the outdoors or when she enjoys the evening sunset with the goat-keeper Peter (Dominik Huber). You can almost smell the clean air Heidi talks about. When Heidi leaves Zurich for Frankfurt by train, here again the decor is so well done. It is as if we were traveling with her.
Heidi - Ms Rottenmeyer, Sebastien and Heidi - Copyright Bernhard Fuchs
And the sounds of the goats bells, the Alphorn and alpine music make the story so realistic.
The scenes in Frankfurt are so hilarious. Heidi has to learn how to eat an apple with a fork and knife. The character of Fraulein Rottenmeyer (Charlotte Heinimann), usually a strict housekeeper and teacher, turns into a funny lady. Children and parents laugh at her jokes. It is Ms Rottenmeyer, who interacts with the public when she wants to see if Zurich children have clean hands!
Christina Benz plays Heidi in the German musical. Within minutes, you feel how good Heidi is: friendly, generous, considerate for others and animals. You understand and feel her love for the mountains. You can feel her joy and start smiling with her when she says to her grand father “Da hast du es schön da oben” (There you have a nice place up there), or “Jetzt sind wir zwei oben” (Now we are two up here).
Funny and charming is Sebastien (Dominik Huber), the valet, especially during the episode with the goats or when he starts communicating to Heidi for the first time in a broken German. Swiss German is something new to the Sesemann household.
Heidi - copyright Bernhard Fuchs
Heidi’s musical for children ought not to be missed. The musical will tour Switzerland until April 1st. One of the shows was in Landquart not too far from Maienfield, where the Swiss version of Heidi from Luigi Comencini was filmed sixty years ago this year in 1952.
If you missed it in Zurich, it will be back in the region in Winterthur on January 21st, February 2d, March 4th and April 1st each time with two shows at 11:00 a.m. and 2:00 p.m.
The only regret about the musical is it was a bit short. Maybe there will be a follow up!
Do you want to go?Please click here for more info.
