A Little Night Music

This musical by Stephen Sondheim with book by Hugh Wheeler, has complex characters, explores interweaving relationships, but has no real tragedies and many light-hearted moments, and of course the challenging music, the best known of which is ‘Send in the Clowns’.  Originally set in 1900, director Caroline Young had decided to bring it up to date; by doing this she was able to keep many of the costumes very simple.

I really liked the set, which comprised a collection of white boxes and three white, triangular structures, which could be rotated or opened out as required and were decorated with simplistic black drawings to represent different locations.  Items of furniture were brought onto the stage, but for the most part the boxes were moved and stacked in different ways to become the furniture.  There were the onstage performers and a group of singers off stage.  The onstage ‘family’ were dressed mostly in white, with the offstage singers in black; although there were some colourful costumes such as the red of Desiree Armfeldt, the overall impression was mainly black and white.  The lighting had been well designed and with absence of a more structured set had helped create the right ambience for the various scenes.  All the scene changes were carried out efficiently.

The music composed entirely in waltz time, was handled well by Musical Director Sue Black, she was in total control of her musicians and singers at all times.  The music did not overpower the singers but there were times particularly when more than one person was singing when diction was a little poor and on occasion the singing seemed to lose energy.  Solos and duets were interpreted well and sung with conviction especially ‘Send in the Clowns’.

Director Caroline Young had some innovative ideas, with a combination of simplicity as with the bed, and by updating the show, was able to make use of modern technology.  She had obviously spent much time in helping the cast understand their characters and situations, so that they were confident in their roles and brought out the humour.  There were some lovely cameo performances from the servants.  The developing relationship between and Anne her stepson was sensitively portrayed and we had some wonderfully ‘naughty’ moments from lady’s maid Petra.  Carl-Magnus Malcolm was larger than life, his wife Charlotte became beautifully inebriated and Fredrik Egerman’s scene in his underwear was hilarious.  But the three who stood out for me were the three generations of the Armfeldt family, Grandmother Madame Armfeldt telling us of her colourful past from her wheelchair, her daughter, glamorous actress Desiree, with her beautiful voice and clear diction, and young Fredrika Armfeldt who gave such a mature performance.  The audience clearly enjoyed the show and several agreed with me that the highlight of the evening was ‘Send in the Clowns’.  Thank you for an enjoyable evening.

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