Postkort fra Lillebjørn* (Postcards from Lillebjørn)

Postkort fra Lillebjørn* (Postcards from Lillebjørn) by Oslo Nye Teater contained the following songs, in whole or as excerpts (all titles are given in Norwegian, as they were all performed in Norwegian, though some of the songs also exist in English-language versions):

Act one:
Vinterbror (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen
Inni mitt hode (from Hilsen Nilsen,1985), performed by the cast
Blues når du var 15 (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen, Marius Graff, the cast
1000 søte damer! (from Nære Nilsen, 1993), performed by Håkon Sigernes, the cast
Elisabeth (from Tilbake, 1971), performed by Biniam Yhidego, Håkon Moe
Hei lille svarttrost (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by Henriette Faye-Schjøll, Ola G. Furuseth
Ild og vann i fjerde (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Helle Haugen, Hans Rønningen
Bysommer (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen, the cast
Paris (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by Håkon Sigernes, the cast
Gutten med lutten (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Ola G. Furuseth, the cast
Angelikas kaker. Postkort (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by Håkon Moe, the cast
Sangen om Danmark (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Henriette Faye-Schjøll
Blå odyssé (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Marvin Amoroso
Lisbet Trutas avskjedsvise (from Live at Sioux Falls, 1980), performed by Bibi Nerheim
Hei New York (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Ola G. Furuseth
Alexander Kiellands plass (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen
Stilleste gutt på sovesal 1 (from Oslo 3, 1979), performed by the guitar boy, Ola G. Furuseth, Elisabeth Carew, Håkon Moe, Marvin Amoroso

Act two:
Vidvinkel stev (from Nære Nilsen, 1993), performed by Ola G. Furuseth
Klappdans (from Hei fara! Norske folkeviser, 1976), performed by the cast
Valle auto og bensin (from Hei fara! Norske folkeviser, 1976), performed by Marius Graff, Håkon Sigernes, the cast
Eg vil aldri burt meg binda (from Hei fara! Norske folkeviser, 1976), performed by Ola G. Furuseth
Crescendo i gågata (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Marvin Amoroso, the cast
Fin frokost (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen, the cast
Ola Tveiten (from Portrett, 1973), performed by the cast
Nattestemning fra en by (from Tilbake, 1971), performed by Helle Haugen
Danse ikke gråte nå (from Byen med det store hjertet, 1975), performed by the cast
Langt langt borte (from Hilsen Nilsen, 1985), performed by Elisabeth Carew
Se alltid lyst på livet (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Henriette Faye-Schjøll, Bibi Nerheim, Hans Rønningen
Så nære vi var (from Nære Nilsen, 1993), performed by Biniam Yhidego
Kjærlighet og karlsonslim (from Sanger, 1988), performed by Henriette Faye-Schjøll
Fisketur i øsende regn (from Typisk Norsk, Gitarkameratene 1990), performed by Bentine Holm, the cast
Anna på Gran Canaria (from Typisk Norsk, Gitarkameratene 1990), performed by Ola G. Furuseth, the cast
Regnet er en venn (from Portrett, 1973), performed by Elisabeth Carew, Hans Rønningen, the cast
God natt Oslo (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Unni Wilhelmsen, Elisabeth Carew, Henriette Faye-Schjøll, Bibi Nerheim, Helle Haugen, Bentine Holm
Far har fortalt (from Tilbake, 1971), performed by the guitar boy, the cast
Tanta til Beate (from Original Nilsen, 1982), performed by Hans Rønningen, Bentine Holm, the cast

As is clear from the list of songs, Postkort fra Lillebjørn was an ensemble piece, in which the performers had roles of more or less equal importance. The role that is referred to as the guitar boy was filled by the child performers Mikael Aksnes-Pehrson, Iver Christopher Cardas and Sivert Sivertsen, who alternated, all playing the guitar and singing.

Postkort fra Lillebjørn became an audience success for Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), and the performance run was prolonged. A total of 67 performances were close to sold out, and the production had been seen by a total of 34030 spectators, when it had to close for practical reasons the summer of 2012.

Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) directs thanks to Lillebjørn Nilsen for his great generosity and valuable advice.

Sources:

Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), list of the involved Postkort fra Lillebjørn, http://oslonye.no/postkort-fra-lillebjorn-rolleliste/

Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre), list of songs Postkort fra Lillebjørn, http://oslonye.no/postkort-fra-lillebjorn-sangnumre/

Annual report Oslo Nye Teater (Oslo New Theatre) 2012, via Scenestatistikk.no, www.scenestatistikk.no/?z=onYcVOyqEzFXI-LYADmfMLZXPw6YBQDkyfs9ksRwjItv0KCeMOqo3yA.

*Not yet translated into the English. The title within parentheses is the Norwegian title's literal meaning.

Lillian Bikset, Musikalske bybilder (literally: Musical city images), Dagbladet, March 8 2012:

"A traditional musical this is not. Postkort fra Lillebjørn* (Postcards from Lillebjørn) contains no dialogue, only lyrics. The action is not coherent. But still, this is far more than an animated theatre concert. We may call it a series of mini dramas, and mini comedies, or perhaps more precise, mini musicals, compiled around a theme: Belonging, whether it is in a city, with other people or simply within one's own skin (alternatively, with a record by Django Reinhardt). (...) The musical and the performing highlights aren't always the same. But there are plenty of highlights. (...) Besides the performance is rich in visual surprises. It bubbles with charm, and Helle Haugen - for the occasion entirely without restrictions and with particular costume privileges – is the one who bubbles the very most. Ola G. Furuseth, Hans Rønningen and the very young guitar boy Sivert Sivertsen also deserve particular praise."