Photo and © Mats Bäcker
Between September 10, 2023 and May 19, 2024, Helen played the role of Rut Flogfält in the musical Änglagård (House of Angels) at the Oscar Theater in Stockholm.The musical, based on Colin Nutley’s movie of the same name from 1992, is written by Edward af Sillén and Daniel Réhn with music by Fredrik Kempe.
Other roles:
- Axel Flogfält – Fredrik Lycke
- Fanny Zander – Tuva B Larsen
- Zac Paulin – Lindy Larsson
- Gottfrid Pettersson – Tommy Körberg
- Ivar Pettersson – Gustav Levin
- Mårten Flogfält – Martin Stokke Mathiesen
- Eva Ågren – Sofia Pekkari
- Pastor Henning Collmer – Per Svensson
- Lawyer Ragnar Zetterberg, US Zac Paulin – Denny Lekström
Story
Yxared 1971: Rut Flogfält, married to the rich farmer Axel Flogfält, finds out in a letter addressed to her husband that he is the father of an illegitimate child, five-year-old Fanny. Before the girl’s birth, Fanny’s mother Alice left Yxared and settled in Berlin. Rut decides not to say anything and to take the letter and its secret to the grave with her.
20 years later, the elderly Erik Zander dies, apparently without heirs. Axel Flogfält makes plans to buy the deceased’s grand mansion House of Angels when it goes up for auction but gets a shock when it turns out that Erik has a granddaughter, Fanny, who wants to inherit the estate and also find out who her real father is. When Fanny and her gay friend Zac settle at House of Angels, a culture clash occurs and the only people who appreciate their arrival are Axel and Rut’s son Mårten, the elderly brothers Ivar and Gottfrid and the local priest Henning.
Reviews
“She makes the angry but unhappy Rut absolutely brilliant, just as finely nuanced as Viveka Seldahl’s portrayal of her in the movie. Sjöholm has received the most songs in her lot and performs them with intense presence and a maturely powerful voice – it’s actually she who carries the performance”.
Bo Löfvendahl, Svenska Dagbladet
“And really it’s Rut – a brilliantly strong Helen Sjöholm – who largely carries this story. She who hid the secret from her husband Axel (Fredrik Lycke) since 1971 and now faces the consequences”.
Johanna Paulsson, Dagens Nyheter
“Helen Sjöholm’s Rut is the nerve of the musical in a series of moving song numbers. She has an enormous voice, presses with surprising power and yet you hear every word. When Rut goes on a furious attack on Fanny and when she has a showdown duet with Axel (Fredrik Lykke ), then it takes hold”.
Anders Björkman, Expressen
“It’s Rut – not Fanny – who takes the biggest place in the musical. An unexpected but welcome change. Helen Sjöholm gives everything in her magnificent solo numbers such as Min plats i solen (My place in the sun), as well as the strong duet Moln av vita lögner (Clouds of white lies) with Fredrik Lycke, but is also funny in ensemble numbers such as Sticka, sticka (Knit, knit). Her clear, natural voice and strong empathy show once again that she is natural on the musical throne”.
Elin Thornberg, Borås Tidning
In May 2024, the music was released on record.
163 performances of House of Angels were played during the year Helen participated and they were watched by more than 150,000 people. In autumn 2024, Sanna Nielsen took over the role of Rut Flogfält.
Photo and © Mats Bäcker