Little Night Music Benefit
Little Night Music Benefit
hsrdmd
Swing Joined: 4/19/06
#1Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/12/09 at 11:13pmJust got back to the hotel. WOW!!! What an amazing experience - the show, the audience - all of it made for a perfect evening. I'll organize my thoughts tonight and try to be coherent. Only 2 real flubs that were noticeable. Christine and Vanessa were brilliant.
#2re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:12am
Theater magic, sheer theater magic, from start to finish.
First of all, Natasha Richardson. She WAS Desiree, SO Desiree. It was uncanny. She did what Glynis Johns did: She was a delicious confection, filled with longing and rue, she was tart in her clever quips and she broke our hearts in "Send in the Clowns."
She must play this part in a full production. She MUST.
Victor Garber is a musical-theater treasure--it is so much fun to watch him act and sing. When he smiles, he makes me happy, and I love to watch him think. He was a perfect Frederik.
Christine Baranski COMPLETELY redeemed herself for her missteps in Follies (and Mame, WAT, yes, Mame too). Her every note was perfect, her every punch line landed--and created a brilliant characterization. And she also broke our hearts--twice! Once in "Everyday a Little Death" and again, in her final scene.
After the comments some posters here made about her, Jill Paice surprised me. She was delightful in Ann's flitting about, and "Soon" sounded beautiful in her voice. She was fun to watch the whole night.
Steven Paquale was appealing as Henrik, but he lacked the exciting high notes in "Later," on "How can I wait around for later, I'll be 90 on my death bed, and the late or rather later Henrik Egerman."
Kendra Kassebaum was very good as Petra, but her "Miller's Son" didn't soar as much as I thought it would. She hit all the notes, but she didn't hit them out of the park, and that song is meant to be a knockout. (Sorry to mix metaphors.)
And Marc Kudisch has played Count Malcolm before, but his every word and note were perfect. In many ways he was the comic backbone of the evening. I really wish someone would write a really good original starring part. He really IS that good.
Props to Alexandra Socha from Spring Awakening. She played Petra and she held her own with the whole cast, including the actress who played her grandmother...
Vanessa Redgrave. Wow. A thrill to see her perform--anything! Let alone Sondheim. Let alone "Liaisons." But somehow, she didn't connect, either with the reading format or with the character. And I found myself wondering during her song, "Too bad they didn't get Maggie Smith..." (I know. That's terrible of me.)
And Paul Gemignani conducting 27 pieces of strings and woodwinds. Just gorgeous. Those melodies! Those Jonathan Tunick orchestrations!
And at the curtain call, Natasha brought Sondheim out and he silenced the applause and asked us all to give a hand for the late Hugh Wheeler.
What a great evening.
#2re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:20amOver at ATC, Someone said Todd Haimes wants to bring it to Broadway. Anyone else hear this? That would be amazing.
#3re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:25amI would absolutely DIE to see this cast in a revival. Good lord.
Dein Herr
Stand-by Joined: 11/24/08
#4re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:28amGlad to hear great reports. I know TheActr97J was there as well, so I hope he'll give us his review too. I'd step directly on at least half a dozen assorted puppies and kittens if it meant bringing A Little Night Music back to Broadway, so... yay for rumors!
#5re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:34am
It's time. With Natasha, Victor, Marc and Jill!
The music is so gorgeous and the book is perfect. It really is a perfect show.
zooxanthellae
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/07
#6re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:38am
I would love to see this cast in a full staging! Much more so than the rumored transfer of Trevor Nunn's production.
I'm so glad Natasha hit the nail on the head with Desiree; I would love to see her back on Broadway!
Updated On: 1/13/09 at 12:38 AM
#7re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:43am
She more than hit the nail on the head. She made this old-school Sondheim purist, who always whines "Yeahhhhh, but it's not as good as the ORIGINAL...," forget about Glynis Johns.
Well, at least until I look at this again.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=OAl-EawVobY
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#8re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:46amI'm so glad to hear that Natasha was divine. I think it's the perfect role for her.
zooxanthellae
Broadway Star Joined: 6/2/07
#9re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:47amI'm so glad! I really hope this manages to get to Broadway; I know I missed on a real gem of a concert!
#10re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 12:55amI'm so glad it was great. Forget Todd Haimes, though. I'd rather Lincoln Center revive this piece. Give it the luscious production it deserves.
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#11re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 2:23am
The music is so gorgeous and the book is perfect. It really is a perfect show.
The music is gorgeous, but the book is not perfect. Steve, Hugh and Hal created problems that were never resolved. The show has two openings, Overture and "Night Waltz." Please pick one. There is no reason for Madame Armfeldt to die. There are no lines about her being ill. In Smiles of a Summer Night, she lives. I think Steve, Hugh and Hal wanted to be different.
The major problem with the show is Mrs. Anderseen, Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom, Mr. Lindquist and Mr. Erlanson. Yes, they have wonderful music to sing. WHO ARE THEY? Are they neighbors, gods, people who wandered in from another show, ghosts, the chorus? I know Steve said he needed them musically, but Hugh and/or Hal never gave them an identity.
Yes, revive the show, but keep Todd Haimes far far away. When will people wake-up and realize he's a fund raiser; not an artistic director.
#12re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 2:28am^ You really do not like ANYTHING do you?
#13re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 3:19am
Thats absolutely fantastic!
This is my favorite musical of all musicals (well... its really a 3-way tie, but thats for another time)
Too bad I had a tech rehearsal tonight otherwise i would have been there...
to have this revived would be an absolute thrill... i would love to see this happen... please Roundabout please :)
A Director
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/18/07
#14re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 4:24am
^ You really do not like ANYTHING do you?
ljay889 - I was expressing my opinion, based on working on a production, that A Little Night Music that it is not a perfect show. I like Sondheim and my favorite shows are: Sunday in the Park with George, Into The Woods, and Passion. There are many things I like about his other shows.
I know you weren't asking, but my favorite composers are George Gershwin and Harold Arlen.
#15re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 4:46am
And many would argue that the books for Sunday and Passion are more flawed than that of Night Music. Just saying...
Updated On: 1/13/09 at 04:46 AM
#16re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 5:08am
I just got in from my bus back to Boston. It's very, very late, so I will try to post my full thoughts when I'm not half asleep.
I will say though that the entire evening was utterly thrilling. My favorite performance was Christine Baranski as Charlotte; she was hysterical and completely heart-breaking at the same time. As has already been said, Natasha was pitch-perfect in a pefectly-cast role. And what it treat it was to see Vanessa Redgrave onstage! I thought her "Liasons" was divine. And, oh, that 27-piece orchestra under Paul Gemignani's baton! It doesn't get much better than that.
As far as guests in attendance, I saw Liam Neeson (I shook his hand 
), Barbara Cook, Nathan Lane, Andrea Martin, Debra Monk, Bernadette Peters, Mario Cantone, Alexander Gemignani, and Alec Baldwin, who introduced the show.
After the show, people were waiting out front and at the stage door. I stood out front and got Marc Kudisch, Christine Baranski, and Natasha Richardson to sign my Playbill. Vanessa Redgrave wouldn't sign anything, but was elegant and gracious as she made her way to her car.
-best12bars
"Sorry I am a Theatre major not a English Major"
-skibumb5290
#17re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 5:16amPal Joey, I always read your posts with pleasure. I know you are hard to please, so I was impressed with your all out rave. I have never seen you so enthusiastic. You made me wish I had been there. I am awaiting my ordered CD of the OBCR, having only the London cast recording of the only production I have seen and enjoyed, back in 1975.
#18re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 6:42am
"I'm so glad it was great. Forget Todd Haimes, though. I'd rather Lincoln Center revive this piece. Give it the luscious production it deserves."
It sounds marvelous, but Todd Haimes needs to be kept away from this. Can he be banned from the theatre after this year's attrocious revival of Pal Joey?
Even though South Pacific is going to run another 30 years, Lincoln Center should think about putting Night Music on somewhere.
#19re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 8:03am
I was expressing my opinion, based on working on a production, that A Little Night Music that it is not a perfect show.
Then maybe there was something WROOOOOOOOOOONG with your production, Mishter Schmekter Duh-WRECK-ter.
The. Show. Is. Perfect. A confection. A confection of perfection.
#20re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 9:16am
The major problem with the show is Mrs. Anderseen, Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom, Mr. Lindquist and Mr. Erlanson. Yes, they have wonderful music to sing. WHO ARE THEY? Are they neighbors, gods, people who wandered in from another show, ghosts, the chorus? I know Steve said he needed them musically, but Hugh and/or Hal never gave them an identity.
they're people who aren't wasting their time. everyone else in the show is wasting time, but not these people.
#21re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 9:20am
"Over at ATC, Someone said Todd Haimes wants to bring it to Broadway. Anyone else hear this? That would be amazing."
Wow, I pretty much started hyperventilating when I read that. Exciting!!
"I think it's appropriate: iSondheim - a Sondheim for the new generation! (wailing guitar riff) Get your kids hooked early on Sondheim, so they'll grow up to be just as emotionally stilted and self-conscious as we are! - BustopherPhantom
Phyllis Rogers Stone
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/16/07
#22re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 9:48am
The music is so gorgeous and the book is perfect. It really is a perfect show.
The music is gorgeous, but the book is not perfect
Heh?
#23re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 9:54amWhat an amazing experience last night! I adored everyone's performance especially Victor Garber, Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Redgrave. Concerning Christine, I was a little surprised that her last line got a laugh. It's hopelessly tragic to me...
#24re: Little Night Music Benefit
Posted: 1/13/09 at 10:00am
I think when an audience gets used to someone who's such a clown, sometimes they laugh reflexively.
But she didn't play that last scene for laughs. I actually found that the depth to which she debased herself made me a little uncomfortable. (In the right way.)
She really is an extraordinary actress/comedienne/performer. When I see her do something like this so letter-perfect, I forgive her failures. That's part of the extent to which big talents reach: sometimes they fail.
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