Anyone going to the first preview of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC tonight? — Page 6

Wow. Those of you who saw Natasha in the benefit were truly very lucky. It's such a shame that she did not get to do this part. After seeing Zeta-Jones do it I know I saw a professional performance, but I also know I saw something that was far from special or moving.

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Okay. If Hiram has a good time, I'll go.

I remember those $2 balcony tickets. Hal Prince and Ruthie Mitchell prided themselves on selling those last two rows in the balcony for $2 for Company, Follies and Night Music.

By the time they got around to Pacific Overtures, their other partners would no longer allow that.

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A subway token was 30 cents.

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God, I had such high hopes for this.

I know, I know. Previews, early in the run. Don't judge until you've seen it. But, I agree with the sentiment that if this had been a production on par with the South Pacific revival audiences might have flocked to it. Even before the first preview I started to get worried about this production. When the artwork (tacky, insipid community theatre worthy) from the poster was released I wondered that if this was the kind of artwork the producers and creative team deemed acceptable to promote the show what other compromises would they find acceptable? And then the low-rent amateurish website launched and only a short while before the show opened. It all feels rushed and half-assed. I sincerely hope this is just applicable to the lackluster marketing campaign and not to the production itself.

An eight piece orchestra? EIGHT? For this score? On Broadway? This is deemed acceptable? Sondheim can't get any respect on Broadway. When will we be done with these miniature British imports? Oh if only Lincoln Center had handled this revival. At least John Doyle didn't get his paws on this one. I'm now, more than ever, so grateful that I caught that magical LA Opera production of Night Music with the perfect cast -- Victor Garber, Judith Ivy, Laura Benanti, Zoe Caldwell, Michelle Pawk, Mark Kudish -- and that glorious 40+ piece orchestra.

I know this isn't the opera world, in which the music always comes first, but I think it's so sad that a new generation of theatregoers will be hearing this glorious score with an 8 piece band. I'm still going. I'm still thrilled that I get to see Lansbury do Sondheim in my lifetime and I'm still excited about seeing Mrs. Michael Douglas. I just wish this were a "full" revival.

Updated On: 11/27/09 at 05:51 AM

Anyone know how many strings there were in the original production? I can still remember how lush that felt.

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No matter how good, bad or even indifferent it may turn out to be, this production is in the untenable position of having to measure up to the cherished memories of the original and the impossibly high expectations of those who think they know it from the fantasies they've created listening to recordings, viewing you tube clips and perhaps having perused the script. There is no way it can compete with any of that and be evaluated for its true worth. At least not here, there are too many personal agendas at work. And that is what is, at this point, the only truly unfortunate thing about the production.

Having seen it in London last spring, I do believe that Nunn has a vision for the piece that supports the material and works on its own terms if not on the preconceived notions about it, and I am looking forward to seeing it again here in New York with an arguably superior, definitely higher star-wattage cast.

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D2, I completely agree with every word of that.

JV92. Can't wait wait for your thoughts!

Here is the lovely Ms. Johns "through the ages":








Here she is 5 years ago at the premiere of MARY POPPINS. Even into her eighties--and using a wheelchair--there is an apparent ageless, ethereal quality to her that defies earthly limitations. (Hmmm. Do ya think I like Glynis Johns a little?)

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<------------ so beautiful

Updated On: 11/27/09 at 02:05 PM

I forgot she was in WHILE YOU WERE SLEEPING. Thank you for reminding me.

Now I feel like seeing every movie she ever made!

Fortunately, I did get to see her in the play THE CIRCLE in 1989 with Rex Harrison and Stewart Granger. She played an extremely flirtatious senior citizen who never quite stopped enchanting men no matter how old she--or they--got!

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omg - I went to her imdb page, and discovered she played 'Lady Penelope Peasoup' on the Batman tv series! I think I MUST find a way to see those.

Glynis Johns (and Rudy Vallee) on BATMAN:

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Another gift for Q: The BATMAN episode with Ms. Johns. (I do believe I saw Tina Louise in there, as an added bonus!)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K7VTRZ6liKk

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