THE BELOVED WINTER TALE HAS BEEN TURNED INTO A MUSICAL IN THIS WORLD-PREMIERE ADAPTATION OF TOVE JANSSON’S WORK

By Madeleine Anderson ⭐⭐⭐ | Press Invite

Moominvalley in November was Tove Jansson’s final Moomin novel. First published in 1970, it tells the story of six-visitors waiting for the return of the Moomin family and the relationships that develop whilst they wait. It is a slow, gentle and hopeful tale that includes Jansson’s signature combination of comfort, comedy and a bit of glibness too.

The story has been reimaged for stage for the first time, in the musical Moominvalley in November with script, music, and lyrics by Hans Jacob Hoeglund.

Many of the songs sounded similar. Instead of bringing coherency to the (at times meandering) plot, the repeated notes became grating over time, meaning that the stronger and more stirring sounds and lyrics lost their initial impact throughout the performance.

That being said, the actors were strongest when singing and moving together. Here the energetic ensemble of Mymble, Toft, Hemulen, Snufkin and Fillyjonk combined voices in charming group performances which made strong-use of the range of quality singing voices that each of the actors clearly had.

The stand-out song from the show was the final ‘I Can see Them’ sung by Toft, played by Izzie Winter. The power of Winter’s belting voice in this final track provided an impressive end to a show that promised so much but fell short at various points throughout the story.

Whilst the actors made full-use of the small but well-designed stage space, the transitions between scenes (or when actors were coming on and off stage) could have been smoother. Where some of the performers kept in character as they left the stage, others walked off in more of a hurry, a small detail which undermined the audience’s freedom to immerse themselves in the story.

Not perfect, Moominvalley In November is still well-worth a watch for fans of Jansson’s work. The set design especially is a real treat, with thoughtful lighting and prop-use that capture the essence of Moominvalley.

Moominvalley in November is running at Upstairs at the Gatehouse until Sunday 16 November.

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