Mrs Henderson Presents

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Introduction to "Mrs Henderson Presents"

"Mrs Henderson Presents" premiered in London’s West End at the Noël Coward Theatre on February 16, 2016, following previews from February 9, and ran for 132 performances until June 18, 2016. With music by George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain, lyrics by Don Black, and a book by Terry Johnson, this musical comedy adapts the 2005 film, itself based on the real-life story of Laura Henderson and the Windmill Theatre. Directed by Johnson, it starred Tracie Bennett as Laura Henderson, Ian Bartholomew as Vivian Van Damm, and Emma Williams as Maureen. After a successful premiere at Theatre Royal Bath in 2015, its West End transfer showcased wartime pluck and nude tableaux, earning four Olivier nominations, including Best New Musical. Though its run was brief, a 2017 Toronto staging and its spirited score like "Living in a Dream World" keep its tale of resilience alive.

The Creative Team Behind the Show

George Fenton and Simon Chamberlain composed the evocative score, with Don Black’s lyrics adding wit and warmth, while Terry Johnson wrote the book and directed, drawing from Martin Sherman’s screenplay. Andrew Wright’s choreography, an Olivier nominee, brought period bounce, paired with Tim Shortall’s backstage sets and Paul Wills’ wartime costumes. Tracie Bennett’s commanding Laura Henderson, Ian Bartholomew’s feisty Van Damm, and Emma Williams’ heartfelt Maureen led the cast, with Jamie Foreman as Arthur and Robert Hands as Lord Cromer. Producers John Reid, Michael Harrison, and Norma Heyman bankrolled the £3 million venture, with orchestrations by Larry Blank amplifying its patriotic pulse. This team, blending film roots with theatrical flair, crafted a British gem that stumbled commercially but shone with heart.

A Windmill’s Wartime Triumph

In 1937 London, newly widowed Laura Henderson buys the faltering Windmill Theatre, hiring Vivian Van Damm to stage variety acts. As war looms, ticket sales slump, prompting Laura’s bold idea: nude tableaux of "Windmill Girls" posing as art to skirt censorship ("If These Walls Could Speak"). The gimmick packs the house, with Maureen shining among the troupe, though her romance with soldier Eddie ends tragically in the Blitz. Songs like "Whatever Time I Have" and "Mrs Henderson Presents" frame their defiance as bombs fall the theatre’s “We Never Close” ethos a beacon for troops. Facing closure threats, Laura’s plea for soldiers’ morale wins out, but victory bitters with loss, ending with her legacy secure as Van Damm inherits the stage a spirited salute to grit and girl power.

Performance and Reception

Opening after Bath’s acclaim, "Mrs Henderson Presents" ran 132 shows, drawing over 100,000 despite closing early from a planned June 2016 extension. The Times hailed its “joyous” fun, with Bennett’s “unmatchable” Laura and Wright’s dance earning cheers, though The Guardian’s Michael Billington found it “dramatically inert.” Four 2016 Olivier nods Best Musical, Actress (Bennett), Supporting Actor (Bartholomew), Choreography yielded no wins, but a cast recording captured its charm. Critics split: The Stage gave four stars for “jaunty” patriotism, while the Evening Standard’s two-star “lack of momentum” jab stung. Audiences loved the Blitz spirit and nudity’s cheek, yet it faltered against flashier hits like "Kinky Boots," its heart eclipsed by West End’s glitzier tide.

Legacy in West End Theatre

"Mrs Henderson Presents"’ 132-show run and four Olivier nominations mark it a modest West End player beside "Mamma Mia!"’s thousands, yet its Bath-to-London arc and 2017 Toronto premiere with Bennett reprising Laura signal resilience. Born from a $27 million-grossing film, its North American debut at Royal Alexandra Theatre ran 43 shows, while amateur stagings via Concord Theatricals keep it alive. The cast album and Bath’s five-star buzz endure, though it lacks "Les Mis"’s heft. Johnson’s direction and Black’s lyrics nod to British pluck, influencing niche works like "Made in Dagenham." A wartime curio, it’s less a Theatreland titan than a spirited footnote its Windmill legacy and nude defiance a quirky echo in London’s musical tapestry.