Stephen Sondheim
’s “A Little Night Music” opened at the Mountain View Center of
Performing Arts with a superbly directed TheatreWorks production of
the adult fairy tale adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s 1956 film,
“Smiles of a Summer Night.”
Stephen Sondheim’s “A Little Night Music” opened at the Mountain View Center of Performing Arts with a superbly directed TheatreWorks production of the adult fairy tale adapted from Ingmar Bergman’s 1956 film, “Smiles of a Summer Night.”
The story takes place in Sweden at the turn of the century, where a group of upper-class misfits, some not invited, swoop down on a country house and create a vortex of requited and unrequited love.
Originally produced at the Shubert Theatre in New York in 1973, “A Little Night Music” won Tony Awards for Best Musical, Best Music and Lyrics, Best Book, Best Actress in a Musical and Best Supporting Actress in a Musical. A film adaptation was offered in 1978.
This production is blessed with an exceptional cast.
Allen Fitzpatrick, plays Fredrik to the ultimate and delightful perfection. Charlotte Cornwell – who was magnificent in the TheatreWorks production of Master Class as Desiree – gives the character a believable charm and vulnerability, which is at times difficult to pull off in this sort of farce.
Cornwell is not a singer in the true sense of the word but she carries off the show’s best known song, “Bring in the Clowns” with a poignancy that brings a new meaning to the lyrics we have all heard so many times before.
Carmichael Blankenship shows the egotistical insensitive Count Malcolm in good form.
The surprising show stealer came from Angela Bunting, the understudy for Margaret Nichols. Playing Petra, a lusty house maid, she renders the rousing “The Miller’s Son” number with gusto. Norma Hughes holds the plot together as Madame Armfeldt – in a part that calls for her to be in a wheelchair throughout the performance. She makes her presence felt with a sharp and witty presentation.
The real star of the show is Robert Kelly’s sensitive direction.
“A Little Night Music” can be a little slow in spots but his attention to detail and placement of his characters brings out the best as he pulls off the “Weekend in The Country” number with panache and smoothness that shows his creative capabilities.
Musical Director William Liberatore and his fine orchestra turn in their usual flawless performance. “A Little Night Music” is well worth the trip Mountain View or San Francisco. Go, enjoy.
