Thoughts on "A Little Night Music"
Thoughts on "A Little Night Music"
#0Thoughts on "A Little Night Music"
Posted: 4/16/05 at 5:07pm
I'm in the process of converting my video tape collection to DVD and recently finished up the transfer of the 1990 PBS broadcast of the N.Y. City Opera performing "A Little Night Music" which I hadn't viewed again in close to fifteen years. At one point during acts, the commentator makes a statement as to how well the show has held up since premiering in 1973. I couldn't help but smile knowing it is now over thirty years since its' debut yet the show remains as fresh and charming as ever.What I found most interesting about it is that even though there's a great deal of spoken dialogue in the show, it has been so well crafted that it comes off like a Viennese operetta. If someone had asked me earlier what I considered to be Sondheim's masterpiece, I would have quickly replied with "Sweeney Todd" (with "Follies" coming in as a close second) but now I've come to the realization that they're all wonderful theater works in their own right. Just wanted to take a moment to thank Mr. Sondheim for all the joy he has given me over oh so many years. I look particularly forward to a long overdue revival of ALNM and hope it receives the type of production it so rightfully deserves.
Updated On: 4/16/05 at 05:07 PM
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#1re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/16/05 at 6:06pmThe thing I wonder about with a Broadway revival is what kind of orchestra they'll use. When it was done in LA last summer, they used the full LA Opera orchestra - and hearing that score with a full string section was perfection. It would diminish it somewhat, for me anyway, if they didn't give it the fullness it deserves.
Jon
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/20/04
#2re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/16/05 at 7:29pmWhile I love the music, I find the script a little overwritten and wordy. Some judicious cutting would be helpful. I'm not talking about cuting entire scenes - I'm talking about tightening the dialogue.
#4re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/16/05 at 10:37pmI agree that the show could use some tightening. I would love to see the part of Mme. Armfeldt(sp?), the Hermoine Gingold part, played by Carol Channing. This show is not for everyone's tastes, being very operatic and Vienesse, but has some smashing work. There is of course Send In The Clowns and A Weekend In The Country. My favorite song in the score is the delightful comedy duet, You Must Meet My Wife (I hope I got the title right.) :)
#5re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/16/05 at 10:41pm
MY DREAM CAST
Desiree-Michele Pawk
Frederik-John Dossett
Mme. Armfeldt-Angela Lansbury
Anne-Daisy Eagan
Carl Magnus-Marc Kudisch
Charlotte-Melissa Errico
Petra-Kerry Butler
Fredrika-Anna Kendrick
Henrik-Neil Patrick Harris
#6re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/16/05 at 10:42pm
who couldn't love a score made up entirely of waltzes?! 
#7re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:18pm
cturtle, lots of folks wouldn't. 
then again, many would:)
wildcat
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/4/04
#8re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:21pm
Depends on the score. I could live without ever hearing THE GREAT WALTZ again...
I wonder if Maggie Smith will ever play Mme. Armfeldt. She's sung in several revues.
#9re: Thoughts on 'A Little Night Music'
Posted: 4/17/05 at 12:54pm
Not to be bitchy. But A Little Night Music is not the slightest bit "Operatic" and not very "Vienesse"-assuming IWISHIHADATONY meant Viennesse...meaning being of Vienna...um... A Little Night Music is based on a Swedish Film, is set in Sweden, and all the characters have Swedish names... they like their waltzs in Vienna but the like them in Sweden as well.
KC
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