Review: ELVIRA MADIGAN at Parkteatern

Elvira Madigan, at the open air theatre in Rålambshovparken, Stockholm

Summer, Musical and the open air theater "Parkteatern" are a wonderful combination. This year's musical is Elvira Madigan as I see this delightful June evening in Rålambshovsparken. The green trees and the clear blue sky reinforce the colorful musical we are invited to. This year Parkteatern hasn´t saved on the color splendor when we visit Circus Madigan, each costum created by Annsofi Nyberg is more colorful than the other. One of the most beautiful moments is when Elvira folds out red long fabric pieces that form a gigantic skirt as she stands on a bridge over the stage, holding three big red balloons in her hand.

The musical is based on the tragic love story of the funambulist Elvira Madigan and Count Sixten Sparre who fall in love with each other. An impossible love story that ends with a suicide. A suicide set in a beautiful way in order to be a work of art, a love story that should never be forgotten. Ellen Lindbland plays Elvira and shows that she can really dance and sing, she has an incredible body control. Sixten Sparre is played by Robert Noack who also is a great singer. The story takes place in the circus world and there is a lot of acrobatics, volts etc. by Nilas Kronlind and Oscar Karlsson as the love story evolves. Something happens in the background on the stage all the time so you really need to keep your eyes out for the action. The director and choreographer Anna Ståhl have made an incredible work. Even the orchestra lead by the incomparable Carina E Nilsson are dressed as circus artists and become part of the circus where they play in a circus cart. Smart and neatly done.

Elvira Madigan is one of all the 63 different shows which is part of Parkteaterns summer program. I can really recommend that you check it out as you most likely will find something you like to see. And spending a beautiful evening in one of the parks in Stockholm area is a summer tradition you should not miss. Bring your friends, some food and drinks and you will have a memory for life. And the best of all, it is for free so you do not need a ticket, just show up in time in order to get a seat. It is very popular!

https://kulturhusetstadsteatern.se/Documents/Parkteatern/Parkteater%202019_uppdate_rgb.pdf