Elaine Stritch and Bernadette Peters succeed Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta-Jones in Trevor Nunn’s revival of 'A Little Night Music.'
A Tom Viertel, Steven Baruch, Marc Routh, Richard Frankel, Menier Chocolate Factory, Roger Berlind, David Babani, Sonia Friedman Prods., Andrew Fell, Daryl Roth/Jane Bergere, Weinstein Co./Raise the Roof 3, Beverly Bartner/Dancap Prods., Nica Burns/Max Weitzenhoffer, Eric Falkenstein/Anna Czekaj, Jerry Frankel/Ronald Frankel, James D. Stern/Douglas L. Meyer presentation of a musical in two acts with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, suggested by the Ingmar Bergman film "Smiles of a Summer Night." Directed by Trevor Nunn. Music direction, Rob Bowman. Choreography, Lynne Page.
Henrik Egerman - Hunter Ryan Herdlicka
Fredrika Egerman - Katherine McNamara/Keaton Whittaker
Madame Armfeldt - Elaine Stritch
Anne Egerman - Ramona Mallory
Frederik Egerman - Alexander Hanson
Petra - Leigh Ann Larkin
Desiree Armfeldt - Bernadette Peters
Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm - Aaron Lazar
Countess Charlotte Malcolm - Erin Davie
What a difference a diva makes. Bernadette Peters steps into the six-month-old revival of "A Little Night Music" with a transfixing performance, playing it as if she realizes her character's onstage billing -- "the one and only Desiree Armfeldt" -- is cliched hyperbole. By figuratively rolling her eyes at the hype, Peters gives us a rich, warm and comedically human Desiree, which reaches full impact when she pierces the facade with a nakedly honest, tears-on-cheek "Send in the Clowns."
Trevor Nunn's cut-down production of the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler classic -- conceived for the 160-seat Menier Chocolate Factory in London -- encountered some critical reservations when it opened in the fall. But it proved box office gold thanks to the draw of Catherine Zeta-Jones playing Desiree, accompanied by Angela Lansbury as her ex-courtesan mother, and the show grossed more than $24 million in 30 weeks.
Now, with Peters and Elaine Stritch in the cast, this new edition of "Night Music" transforms a lackluster revival with an alchemy similar to Reba McEntire's reinvigoration of the 1999 "Annie Get Your Gun" -- ironically, originally starring Peters.
Stritch wields a sharp comedic scalpel. During the first of three critics' performances, she showed evidence of her widely reported memory lapses in her one solo, "Liaisons," a five-minute tune that appeared tortuous to her, though expert musical director Rob Bowman managed to keep the band treading music until Stritch found her way. But the rest of her performance is sparklingly, devilishly good.
Whether due to six months of playing or keyed-up intensity from the presence of the new stars, the continuing cast shows a marked improvement. Alexander Hanson, as poor old Frederik the lawyer, is now a first-class leading man; instead of gamely supporting Zeta-Jones, he is now engaged in a delicious battle of acting chops. Aaron Lazar and Erin Davie, as Carl-Magnus and Charlotte, respectively, have grown from sturdy to delicious. Leigh Ann Larkin's vulgar delivery of "The Miller's Son," though, remains out of place in an otherwise fine production on all levels.
Sets and costumes, David Farley; lighting, Hartley T A Kemp; sound, Dan Moses Schreier, Gareth Owen; music supervision, Caroline Humphris; orchestrations, Jason Carr; wigs and hair, Paul Huntley; associate producers, Broadway Across America, Dan Frishwasser, Jam Theatricals, Richard Winkler; production stage manager, Ira Mont. Opened Dec. 13, 2009. Re-reviewed July 29. Running time: 3 HOURS.
With: Stephen R. Buntrock, Bradley Dean, Sara Jean Ford, Betsy Morgan, Jayne Paterson, Kevin David Thomas.
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Date in print: Tue., Aug. 3, 2010