A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC

Posted: 8/23/03 at 11:39pm

After seeing the touring production of COMPANY, I bought A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC immediately after the cast album became available. I knew nothing about the show except what I heard and read in the liner notes. What a glorious score. The photos made it look equisite. I played that album constantly. The intricateness of the score, vocally and melodicly, still captures my attention. Within a year's time I moved to Manhattan and the first musical I saw on Broadway was A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC. Front row of the Mezzanine on a Tuesday night in mid-summer. It was a glorious and thrilling as I had imagined it would be. Glynis Johns was still starring. Her "Send In The Clowns" remains the version because of the breathless, etheral quality she imbued. I'd be pleased to hear from others who also have thoughts to share about NIGHT MUSIC.

Yours for a Broadway full of smiles of a summer night! Updated On: 8/23/03 at 11:39 PM

[Copeman63]

Posted: 8/23/03 at 11:46pm

I've always admired Judy Dench, and her version of "Send In The Clowns" was breathtaking on Cameron Mackintosh's salute to himself.

[kec]

Posted: 8/23/03 at 11:52pm

Sadly, I've never seen the show (and I understand the film version was just horrible). The play came out while I was in high school, and a friend constantly raved about it. I have vague memories of listening to the soundtrack, but the only song I remember well is Send in The Clowns. A wonderful song.

Hopefully I'll get to see it one of these days.

Posted: 8/23/03 at 11:59pm

The NY City Opera has an excellent production in its repertoire and it is also on video. Rent the vid and you'll find it quite satisfying.

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:10am

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC was one of those unexpected, special experiences for me. A friend and I went to see a version by the University of Texas opera department about 8 years ago--we thought the students would not be that great, but that their efforts would be cute and enjoyable to watch. I knew little about the score beyond "Send In The Clowns." Well, these students put on one of the most enchanting nights I've ever spent at the theatre. The voices were glorious, the comic timing impeccable. Song after song after song was a joy. My friend and I still remember it as one of the best things we've ever seen. I saw the Kennedy Center production last year (loved Randy Graff, thought Blair Brown was less-than-adequate), but I still remember the student production most fondly.

Updated On: 8/24/03 at 12:10 AM

[ChrisLovesShows]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:11am

PS. I also think that Judy Collins' recording of "Send In The Clowns" is one of the most beautiful popular recordings of a show tune ever put to vinyl. Collins calls the song her "lifelong companion."

Updated On: 8/24/03 at 12:11 AM

[kec]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 12:11am

I'll see if I can find it, thanks!

[DofB5]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 4:58pm

Well I did learn something. I never knew that "Send In The Clowns" came from this play. What other songs are part of it? I read TOT's reply as to what the play was about but I didn't get a sense of if it was a comedy or drama? I will also look for the vid you mentioned, BullDog.

D

Posted: 8/24/03 at 10:23pm

"Send In The Clowns" is the only song from the score of NIGHT MUSIC to have a life outside of the show. The score however has many gloriious melodies and sharp sophisticated lyrics and rhyme schemes. To those of you haven't experienced NIGHT MUSIC, I highly recommend it.

Yours for a Broadway filled with smiles of a summer night!

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:17pm

A Few Years Back Bravo Profiles did an hour documentary on the brilliant Judi Dench. At the very end they showed the whole scene from the National Theater's production of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC that begins with his speech and ends with SEND IN THE CLOWNS. I remeber just sitting there mesmerized with tears down my face. As probably one of my all time favorite shows, I was so blown away by her performance. I only wish they could have recorded the whole show. Or if they did... sell it. Sondheim does not seem to mind having his shows recorded. Also, I wish the NY Opera would release their version that aired on PBS a dozen years back or so.

[tpdc]

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:24pm

I love this show and have seen several productions of it (though sadly not the original). And I've never seen a production that nails all of the show. But it still can be wonderful even in an uneven production. I love Dench's version of Send in the Clowns both on the Cameron Mackintosh tribute and the Bravo documentary. There is also a wonderful scene in the documentary that shows Dench and Laurence Guittard rehearsing You Must Meet My Wife. Aside from being a fascinating peek as these actors find their characters, the scene and the song, it is the best version I've yet seen of that moment. I would have loved to have seen the Dench production.

Posted: 8/24/03 at 11:25pm

I saw a very good production in Sacramento years ago that I felt was very good. Judy McLane was in it....and I thought it was a nice prodcution.

[jo]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 12:24am

Thanks for starting this thread, BB.

And thanks,too, to all who shared their experience of seeing this show on stage. Have there been any talks of a revival at all?

I had brought up the subject on another thread, and having been able to listen only to the CD of the show ( which I liked very much), I had asked about the movie version ( as that would be my only chance to see it performed, albeit in a movie). Is it really all that bad?

This is the only Sondheim ( apart from where he was a lyricist) musical that has been transformed into a movie. Maybe, I might still give it a chance, if it's ever released on DVD.

jo Updated On: 8/25/03 at 12:24 AM

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 1:02am

Jo, yes, the movie is that bad, but it's better than nothing and is certainly better than the film version of FORUM! Yikes!

[nyctopone]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 8:30am

I also wish that NYC Opera would release their version on video tape. It was a wonderful production and the cast was excellent. There is probably too much red tape with the unions to ever have this happen.

As for Judy Collins version of Send In the Clows, I think its hideous. She takes one of the great songs from musical theatre and with her whiny, grating voice turns it into garbage.

Updated On: 8/25/03 at 08:30 AM

[Gothampc]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 9:38am

I remember when the Judi Dench version came out on cd. There was a limited amount imported to the U.S. and I had to race all over NYC looking for a copy. I finally grabbed the last copy that the 86th Street HMV had.

The NY City Opera production was good and I'm so glad that I taped it. I remember one critic saying that Regina Resnik's diction was so good on "Liaisons" that it was the first time he had understood all the words. But I wish they would release the show for sale as I taped it in my pre-cable days and the reception is fuzzy.

[QueenS]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 10:10am

DofB, the musical is actually very funny and yet also very heartwrenching. Though not of the same "pop culture" status of Send in the Clowns, you may have also heard the song The Miller's Song. Arguably, one of Sondheim's best.

SS himself was pained over Judy Collins' version of "Clowns." The song, he has said, is not a ballad and comes from a very angry place in the heroine. He was never satisifed with Glynis John's version, either, but was apparently thrilled with the NYC Opera's version.

I am surprised that said production not out on video, so many of the live performances from PBS are now. It was quite beautifully done.

[sabrelady]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 10:26am

I have heard both "A Weekend in the Country", "You Must Meet My Wife" & "The Glamourous Life" done as concert excerpts. Were they released as singles with other "covers" ? No. But" Send in the Clowns" is hardly the only song with a life beyond the show. Updated On: 8/26/03 at 10:26 AM

[DofB5]

Posted: 8/25/03 at 7:24pm

Thanks for info, QueenS. Never to old to learn!

D

[alterego]

Posted: 8/26/03 at 3:04am

When very young (!) I saw the Australian production. This was a reproduction of the original Broadway version (in the mid 70's). Desiree was played by Swedish MGM musical star Taina Elg (who was the mother in the original production of Nine incidently) and Madame Armfeldt was played by Anna Russell (does anyone remember her?).

A Little Night Music is still my favorite Stephen Sondheim musical. Updated On: 8/26/03 at 03:04 AM

Posted: 8/26/03 at 12:11pm

I felt that A Weekend in the County is amazing. I liked it when they did it on the Sondheim Celebration at Carnegie Hall.

Posted: 8/26/03 at 10:18pm

I do indeed remember Taina (LES GIRLS)Elg and Anna Russell. I went to Anna Russell concert in London in 1976 and because I knew so little about Wagner and opera, in general, at the time was incredibly bored. Today, I could kick myself for being so uneducated at the time because now I love Wagner! Talk about musical theatre...that guy could right music and no scenic effect was impossible for him.

Yours for nigh music on Broadway!

[alterego]

Posted: 8/27/03 at 9:39am

I'm glad you remember them both. I was pretty young at the time and it was a few years after I saw Night Music that I came across an album of Anna Russell's. Very funny. She is long gone now, but I think Taina Elg is still around. I recall reading somewhere that it was out of Taina and Glynis Johns for the original production which would make sense being that she (Taina) is Swedish. Updated On: 8/27/03 at 09:39 AM