Nunn-directed NIGHT MUSIC revival to open in December- Page 2

[D2]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 1:55pm

But Phyllis, the story is set 100 years ago. And a 35 year old can't have a 13 year old daughter?

Having seen the production, let me just say that it works beautifully. Everyone is cast just a tad younger than usual (with the exception of Henrik and Anne, whose ages are stated in the script: he's 21, she's 1 and it all made sense. And it was very, very sexy.

ETA: The Frederick is older - mid-forties. And Ray, Glynis Johns was 50 when she played the part. Which apparently started a trend. Having done the show (Henrik, 25 years ago) there is no mention in the script of anyone's exact age except for Henrik, Anne and Petra.

Updated On: 4/28/09 at 01:55 PM

[ray-andallthatjazz86]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 1:58pm

Speaking of Anne, Josefina Scaglione would make a wonderful Anne, though I doubt Equity would let her.

[Phyllis Rogers Stone]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 1:59pm

It just seems weird to me is all.

And sure, she can have a fifteen year old daughter, but it also seems to kind of throw the story out of whack that she had that kid when she was so young.

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:01pm

"Will he cast it with all Swedes?"
That works for me.

The design looks very similar to the original Broadway.

[givesmevoice]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:08pm

maybe this is just me, but I was always under the impression that Desiree was a slightly more established actress than most 20 year olds when she and Fredrik were involved.

I do think most productions tend to cast older than Desiree should be, but I definitely imagine she's at least 40 or so.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:30pm

Thank God the Roundabout didn't get its paws on this one -- now we stand a chance of seeing a decent production.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:33pm

Well, with Trevor Nunn at the helm, there's no guarantee of it being particularly decent. That horrifying OKLAHOMA and his excruciating production of Stoppard's ROCK AND ROLL aren't making me optimistic about this.

A shame. I'd love to see a good production of this someday.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:43pm

I'm not gung-ho on Nunn either, but ANYTHING would be better than the Roundabout.

[musikman]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:45pm

PLEASE tell me there will be more than 5 instrumentalists in the pit!

I can't stand seeing and listening to one more revival of a Sondheim show where the music is completely butchered.

[Kad]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 2:57pm

Yes, but, Ed_Mottershead... tell us how you REALLY feel about Roundabout.

[WOSQ]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 3:05pm

I hope Trevor Nunn remembers this is a comedy.

[Roscoe]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 3:10pm

Yeah, Trevor Nunn has such a sure light touch with musical comedy, doesn't he? That's what made CATS such a delight for so many years.

[Ed_Mottershead]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 3:27pm

I would be perfectly happy to answer that question. But if I answered it truthfully, I would be banned from this board forever.

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 3:32pm

Yay! I generally like Trevor Nunn, so I'm pretty happy with this news. But I'm mostly thrilled it's not another Doylesical. As for comedy, I remember he received rather glowing reviews for his 2002 revival of Anything Goes with John Barrowman, many of which preferred it to the 1989 revival with Elaine Paige. Looks like his production of Night Music received mostly positive reviews. A friend of mine saw the production and really enjoyed it, though he said "Maureen Lipman was...Maureen Lipman".

Night Music Review Round-Up

Updated On: 4/28/09 at 03:32 PM

[TheBoyDownstairs]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 3:39pm

I'm really looking forward to the idea of this...I've been dying for a revival of ALNM, but don't want to get my hopes up. Nothing worse than looking forward to a revival and then it not living up to what you thought it could be (like the Doyle Company was for me, I just loathed that production)

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:34pm

This was the transfer Natasha Richardson and Vanessa Regrave were going to star in.

I wonder if Redgrave will still do it?

[musicalfandukie]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:39pm

I also hope they have a full Orchestra for this. I'm tired of shows with beautiful scores being simplified.

[ljay889]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 4:47pm

It will probably transfer with the 6 piece orchestration from the London production, unless Sondheim demands that it should be beefed up.

I REALLY wish they would use the Tunick orchestrations.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:00pm

This will be on Broadway at the same time Leslie Caron is Madame Armfeldt in an English spoken version of ALNM in Paris, which I'm guessing will be more traditionally staged.

[GYPSY1527]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:00pm

Oh man, Natasha you are sorely missed.

This is great news though for fans of ALNM, including myself.

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:04pm

UGH. Saw this in London back when it was at the Menier. Went in with such high expectations (it had gotten glowing reviews in London) and alas, was completely let down. So dark and brooding. There was no comedy in the production until Act 2, and even then, not entirely. Everyone seemed to play the production so depressing, and everyone was dressed in black (until Act 2 when they were all in white). Frank Rich best described it when he said that London is still mystified by the American musical, so many of their revivals get great reviews, and so few are ever worth while.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:16pm

They have a casting notice up on actorsequity.com. Do you think I'll have a chance of getting seen as a non-member? I'm dying to play Henrik...

[wickedfan]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:39pm

Do you play the cello? In this production, Henrik actually plays the cello.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:55pm

Nope. but I can learn

[CurtainPullDowner]

Posted: 4/28/09 at 5:57pm

This is NOT the Richardson/Redgrave version, that was Roundabout, who I think were wise to scrap that with the loss of Natasha.