Waddingham to Star in Nunn's West End NIGHT MUSIC

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 4:44pm

"Hannah Waddingham will star as Desiree in the revival of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music at London's Menier Chocolate Factory. The production, directed by Trevor Nunn, begins performances on November 22.

Waddingham earned an Olivier Award nomination for her performance of The Lady of the Lake in the West End production of Spamalot. She later made her Broadway debut in the role, and won a Broadway.com Audience Award for Favorite Replacement. Her other West End credits include Chesty Prospects in Saucy Jack and the Space Vixens, Suzanne Valadon in Lautrec, Rizzo in Grease and Satan in Tonight’s the Night.

Joining Waddingham in the cast of A Little Night Music will be Alexander Hanson as Fredrik, Jessie Buckley as Anne, Maureen Lipman as Mme. Armfeldt, Alistair Robins as The Count, Gabriel Vick as Henrik, Kaisa Hammarlund as Petra, Grace Link as Fredrika, and Andy Morton as Frid..."

http://www.broadway.com/Hannah-Waddingham-to-Star-in-London-Revival-of-A-Little-Night-Music/broadway_news/5012648

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 4:56pm

Isn't she a little young? I thought she was around 30 and Desiree has to be at least 40.

[Amalia Balash]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 4:58pm

I think Hannah will be a very different Desiree than Glynis Johns not only because of the age difference but because their voice types are so very different. Given the way the economy's going, I doubt I'll be able to London to see this, so I hope it eventually makes its way to this side of the pond.

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 5:04pm

Yeah, I hope this production (and Waddingham) transfer, too. And if they cast all of the roles young (or young-looking) I'd LOVE to play Henrik (as I'm sure would virtually every singing actor around my age).

[somethingwicked]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 9:05pm

bwaylvsong, Waddingham is 34.

Updated On: 10/9/08 at 09:05 PM

[wonderfulwizard11]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 9:41pm

I can see Maureen Lipman being excellent as Madame Armfeldt.

[B3TA07]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 10:12pm

I thought Emma Thompson was gonna be in that?

[bwaylvsong]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 11:40pm

Okay, then she's only six years too young

[TheActr97J]

Posted: 10/9/08 at 11:53pm

Yeah, what happened to the Emma Thompson rumors... ?

*sniffle*

[nobodyhome]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:07am

Much as I think that a number of the actresses who've played Desiree have been too old, Waddingham does seem too young. She's a good age for Desiree in Smiles of a Summer Night, but not for Desiree in A Little Night Music.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:11am

I wonder if they've cast a younger child as Frederika -

[Salene]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:27am

Shouldn't think so, as children's roles are usually double or triple-cast in the UK. Since only one actress is named for the part I'd guess she's at least 16 (but looks younger, of course).

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:36am

Good eye Salene...

Just doing a brief search on some of the actors, a lot, to my eye, do seem to be very in the vein of the original SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT cast - so I wonder if Nunn is going back to that film as inspiration.

No mention of a Charlotte. I wonder if they are still casting or if she was left off the release...

[jellybean928]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 4:16am

I'm so happy about this..love Hannah! Although, it's not like I can fly to London to see it.

[jagfkb]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 5:59am

Oh god, this better transfer! It's my absolute favorite Sondheim show!

[Salene]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 11:34am

More cast members mentioned here:
http://www.officiallondontheatre.co.uk/news/latest/view/item102427/Lipman-and-Waddingham-sing-A-Little-Night-Music-/

If only the run had started 17-21 days earlier ...

[ljay889]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:00pm

I think it's funny how many times NIGHT MUSIC gets revived in London. And we haven't had one revival yet. But hopefully if this is good enough, it will transfer.

BUT, will this production probably have a 5 piece orchestra too (like Sunday)? I know the Chocolate Factory is a VERY small space. If it does transfer, I hope Sondheim makes sure they beef up the orchestra. That was a problem he admitted with the SUNDAY revival.
Updated On: 10/10/08 at 12:00 PM

[Mister Matt]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 12:01pm

Loved her in The Beautiful Game. She stopped the show.

[Michael Bennett]

Posted: 10/10/08 at 1:06pm

Given Nunn's recent track record, it is way pre-mature to even mention a New York transfer...

[Scripps2]

Posted: 10/11/08 at 9:36am

"Given Nunn's recent track record, it is way pre-mature to even mention a New York transfer"

Indeed it is. I've got my ticket booked but I'm dreading it - as I've already said on the West End board, I can just imagine a Nunnish Porgy/Les Mis combo with Madame Armfeldt getting out of her wheelchair to lead the cast in a march-to-the-footlights during A Weekend in the Country.

Most of the cast are talented, but whether they're appropriate is another matter.

At least if Emma Thompson does choose to do the role sometime, there is now a chance that Kenneth Branagh will be opposite her as Frederic(k).

[jaqs]

Posted: 10/12/08 at 3:05am

After Gone with the wind am dreading it too.
Not too keen on Lipman.

Be nice if it works and transfers to a west end house, transfers of budget shows may be the best/safest option for the current climate.