Hjälp sökes = Help Wanted

Benny and Björn's musical Hjälp sökes was shown in its entirety on Swedish TV in January 2014.

Synopsis

Hjälp sökes tells the story of two brothers, Axel and Engelbrekt, who have inherited their parents’ farm.

They are struggling in desolation with existential questions as well as with the household duties. They constantly live in the shadow of their parents’ legacy and behave as two orphaned sons. They need help and therefore put an advert in the local newspaper. The ad begins with: “Help wanted for small farm…”

In response to the advert, a mother, her daughter Hillevi and the goat Kalleman appear at the farm. The daughter works as an interpreter for her mother. She explains: “My mother is not deaf. But she has decided not to listen. My mother is not dumb. But has made her life a silent one. And the goat? Well, Kalleman is the boss, you could say.”The mother is an expert in communicating with animals. One day after the arrival of the mother and daughter, the brothers see their old horse performing the finest circus acts. The animals are dancing, not working, which frightens the brothers. What is happening to their family farm? Why did they write that ad? Will nothing be the same again?

Engelbrekt and Hillevi start a midnight conversation and connect to each other in a way that makes Axel jealous. He acts against the mother and her strange goat and wallows in his misery. But the presence of Hillevi, her mother and Kalleman changes the way the brothers see life. Suddenly they can hear the nightingale sing. They start to enjoy having their new friends at the farm and stage a cabaret with the animals to keep the odd trio from leaving.

Having accomplished their goal of giving hope and spirit to the brother, Hillevi, the mother and the goat leave the farm. What remains are two brothers who have witnessed incredible things and had amazing life experiences and now see the farm in a new light, glowing in the morning sun.

Hjälp sökes - icethesite.com
Hjälp sökes, Stockholm - Press Preview (Benny), 2013;
Hjälp sökes, Stockholm - Première (Benny & Björn), 2013;
Hjälp sökes, Stockholm (No ABBA members), 2013;
Hjælp søges, Copenhagn - Promotion (Benny), 2015;
Hjælp søges, Copenhagn - Rehearsals (Benny), 2015;

Thanks to Ice at icethesite.com
YouTube link c/o Steve Layton