Review: MISS SAIGON at Göteborgs Operan
by Christian Ranke - October 21, 2025
For decades, Miss Saigon has occupied contested terrain within the musical theater canon—championed by some as an essential work, scrutinized by others for perpetuating orientalist narratives and reductive stereotypes....
Review: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC at Nationaltheatret
by Christian Ranke - September 11, 2025
Staging A Little Night Music is always an ambitious undertaking. Stephen Sondheim’s musical is a delicate blend of wit, melancholy, romance, and irony, requiring both vocal sophistication and razor-sharp acting. This new production embraces the challenge with admirable flair, even if its reach occas...
Review: THE BOOK OF MORMON at Folketeateret
by Christian Ranke - September 05, 2025
Now, eight years later, the musical returns to the capital in a daring new production that could easily have felt redundant — but instead bursts with fresh energy and precision....
Review: DIRTY DANCING at Chateau Neuf
by Christian Ranke - September 04, 2025
Dirty Dancing has finally arrived at Chateau Neuf, promising fans a chance to relive one of cinema’s most iconic love stories....
Review: NEXT TO NORMAL at Nye Hjorten Teater
by Christian Ranke - September 01, 2025
Some musicals want to sweep you away. Next to Normal wants to hold you still and make you feel. It doesn’t rely on spectacle or offer neat resolutions—it digs into grief, love, and mental illness with raw honesty, and still leaves room for hope. That’s why this Pulitzer- and Tony-winning rock musica...
Review: PETER PAN GOES WRONG at Chateau Neuf
by Christian Ranke - February 03, 2025
What did our critic think of PETER PAN GOES WRONG at Chateau Neuf?If you’ve ever witnessed a school play (or YouTube-clips) that was teetering on the brink of disaster, with forgotten lines, collapsing props, and one unfortunate child stuck in a tree costume, Peter Pan Goes Wrong is essentially that...
Review: LES MISÉRABLES - ARENA WORLD TOUR at Oslo Spektrum
by Christian Ranke - December 06, 2024
The Arena World Tour of Les Misérables delivers an experience that is as powerful as it is visually arresting, showcasing a stellar cast, impressive set design, and evocative lighting. While there are some challenges in terms of the performance format and staging, the level of talent on display is u...
Review: YOU RAISE ME UP at Lillestrøm Kultursenter
by Christian Ranke - September 14, 2024
This jukebox musical strikes a delicate balance between humor, drama, and emotion, making effective use of Rolf Løvland’s music to support its themes. The combination of Løvland’s stirring compositions and the show’s engaging characters ensures that the audience leaves with both laughter and tears....