Last summer, I had the good fortune of seeing the Pageant of the Masters at Laguna Beach, and I learned that the idea of tableau vivants first started in Vaudeville to get away with nudity on stage. Therefore, I go to Mrs. Henderson Presents with great interest because of that subject, and the film surprises me.
Newly widowed, Laura Henderson (Dench) inherits a lot of money but also a lot of free time on her hands. She is bored by the usual pastimes until she finds a little rundown theater in the West End of London. She impulsively buys the place and reopens it as the Windmill, a Vaudeville-like variety show theater. She hires an old pro, Vivian Van Damm (Hoskins), as the general manager. Their colorful, hot-headed personalities immediately clash, but their mutual respect keeps them together.
When the theater fails to attract audiences, Mrs. Henderson has a peculiar idea of including nudity in the show. She consults Lord Cromer (Guest), who insists that nudity is against the law, unless it’s done in an artistic format and if the “models” do not move. That gives Mrs. Henderson a grand idea of creating nude, artistic tableaus on stage. At first, the cautious Van Damm objects to the idea, thinking it’s too risky. But when he finds his muse in the beautiful and feisty Maureen (Reilly), he’s sold. The theater becomes a hit, then later becomes a staple in war-torn London, until tragedy strikes…
Dench (Pride & Prejudice) is delicious as the outspoken, lively Mrs. Henderson, worthy of her Oscar nomination (Best Actress). Her brassy yet nuanced performance reminds us of the reason why she is one of the best actor’s actors in the world. She brings the ever-optimistic, take-no-prisoner Mrs. Henderson to life and earns our sympathy and care. Behind that strong outer shell is a warm and vulnerable woman, and Dench does a remarkable job making us believe. Hoskins (Son of the Mask) is also remarkable as Van Damm, the equally bossy but soft counterpart to Mrs. Henderson. Hoskins, ever the quintessential character actor, doesn’t get a lot of chance playing leads, but here, he more than holds his own opposite Dench.
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