A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC'S reopening tonight...(review updates here) — Page 3

Her second act, save for the opening scene, was much better. She forgot a whole series of lines. Her final scenes were much better. The audience and cast were extremely supportive and I'm sure in time she'll get there. She'll be great in no time. She appeared overwhelmed at the curtain call at the outpouring of support. I think she'll be outstanding in a few weeks.

Peters, as others mentioned, was outstanding. Beautiful performance.

Bernadette was sensational. Wiped clean all my unpleasant memories of her predecessor and delivered the most achingly beautiful "Send in the Clowns" I've heard in some time.

Elaine, as mentioned, is not quite there yet--she missed lines, was off-tempo, etc--but she actually was much better than I had imagined she would be. She--unlike AL, in my opinion--seems to really understand the character, bringing a mournful quality to Madame Armfeldt but also capturing the humor.

The ensemble, as always, ranges from very good to amateur.

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I wasn't sad to miss this revival - the clips I've seen just look . . . well, ugly. And the previous performers didn't capture anything for me (from what I saw.)

But Bernadette as Desiree . . .

Now I'm sad.

Don't be sad.



That's what fairies can fly.

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I concur with what others are saying. Stritch's last scene was gorgeous. She's acting the hell out of the role, and while she had very real trouble with lines, I have no doubt that she'll be delivering an expert performance in no time.

This was my first time seeing the production, which I did have some issues with (i.e., why'd they stage it on the leftover set from The Seagull?). But man, Bernadette was triumphant--funny and sexy, determined yet fragile. There was such a lovely sense of innocence and optimism that didn't diminish the character's worldliness. And as has been noted, her "Send in the Clowns" was exquisite.

I also loved Leigh Ann Larkin and Alexander Hanson who I'm sure everyone else already has firm opinions about. Larkin really just bit into "The Miller's Son." And HAnson was exquisite.

edit: Just wanted to add a note that my love of Bernadette is probably apparent from my avatar and may make me love everything she touches. :)

Updated On: 7/13/10 at 11:09 PM

Hopefully someone will PM me a link.

I'm just sayin'...

Ok, I'm home and able to actually write some thoughts.

Bernadette was absolute perfection. Just the right blend of humor and longing in her Desiree. She doesn't ham it up like CZJ (who I thought was absolutely lovely, but too hammy) and plays her very sincere. Like someone said, her "Clowns" was heartbreakingly beautiful. Just... stunning.

Elaine did forget quite a bit, but not nearly as much as I thought she would. Once she nails down the lyrics of "Liaisons", the tempo will pick up. As it was tonight, it was a funeral dirge. She also really mis-stepped on her section of "Glamorous Life". But there was an absolutely exceptional performance there. It all came together in her wooden ring speech (which she NAILED, line for line). Her Madame Armfeldt is very clearly a woman who knows she is dying. She's heartbreaking. She's also uproariously funny. Once she gets the lines down, she will be perfection.

The rest of the cast were, for the most part, on their A-game. Ramona Mallory and Hunter Ryan Herdlicka have become less of a caricature and have actually formed characters. Leigh Ann Larkin is wonderful. Alexander Hanson is excellent. Erin Davie and Aaron Lazar are dead on. The Quintet, however, felt off this evening. There were two understudies on (Karen Murphy and Erin Stewart). The dynamic just felt off amongst those five.

As I said, the curtain call was very touching. Elaine was overwhelmed by the audience's support. Bernadette was beaming. The entire cast looked like it was opening night for them all over again. All in all, just a wonderful evening. One I'll certainly never forget.

Who were Karen and Erin on for? Hopefully Sara Jean Ford didn't miss her first performance as Mrs. Anderssen.

Also, for those wondering....Stritch doesn't do the opening speech. Some man reads it, and it's the same one Lansbury did.

The biggest misstep Stritch had (aside from an all over the place Liaisons) was at the beginning of act 2, and it was particularly unfortunate because she missed two of my favorite lines in the entire show- she dropped "Good god you're right!" and "...before they see us squatting on the lawn like Bohemians!"

As for the rest of them, Hanson is still magnificent, and the fact that Chad Kimball received a Tony nomination over him is appalling. Herdlicka is less screechy, but still struggles with the higher notes. Mallory is more annoying than ever. Lazar remains hilarious. I still don't think Erin Davie understands that her character is supposed to be funny.

Sidenote...two female Liebs were out tonight, which meant that Karen Murphy had to go on as a Lieb. This sort of threw the balance, given how much older she is than the others. Also, they gave her some bizarre outfits. She wears this jacket that is a cross between a lab coat and something a magician's assistant would wear. Then she wears this old lady blouse with a brooch that makes her look like a matron. Very odd.

*cough* Check "the site".

Thanks!

Updated On: 7/14/10 at 12:08 AM

"the site"?

Please fill me in too!