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Cygnet Theatre revisits the piece \u2014 which was first presented a decade ago to inaugurate its tenure in the Old Town location \u2014 through April 22.<\/p>\n
Inspired by Ingmar Bergman\u2019s film \u201cSmiles of a Summer Night,\u201d Sondheim explores love in several of its iterations: wished-for, disappointed, withheld, taken for granted and offered without reservation.<\/p>\n
The show offers a large cast including a fine quintet as Greek chorus, commenting frequently but noted mostly for musical comments about \u201cThe Glamorous Life\u201d and several iterations of the nostalgic song \u201cRemember.\u201d<\/p>\n
Age is the unsung villain here. Middle-aged Fredrik Egerman, played by Cygnet\u2019s artistic director Sean Murray, is not aging gracefully. He has taken a trophy wife, 18-year-old Anne (Katie Sapper), who is a year younger than his son, the tortured seminarian Henrik (an adorable Nick Eiter), who feels less than holy stirrings he can\u2019t quite handle.<\/p>\n There\u2019s also Countess Charlotte Malcolm (played with great charm by Sandy Campbell), married to Count Carl-Magnus \u2014 both dragoon and buffoon \u2014 who is hilariously played by David S. Humphrey.<\/p>\n Much of the desired romantic action swirls around actress Desir\u00e9e Armfeldt, now reduced to playing tours but still much desired for reasons unrelated to acting talent by the men in the show (notably Fredrik and Carl-Magnus). Karole Foreman handles the role wonderfully.<\/p>\n Desir\u00e9e\u2019s mother, Madame Armfeldt, seems to play mother frequently (if not especially willingly) to Desir\u00e9e\u2019s daughter Fredrika when the actress is on tour.<\/p>\n The excellent quintet consists of Christine Hewitt, Joseph Grienenberger, Cody Ingram, Catie Marron and Debra Wanger.<\/p>\n Megan Carmitchel does an excellent turn as the perky maid Petra (and does the song \u201cThe Miller\u2019s Son\u201d proud). Jake Rosko is also funny as the butler Frid.<\/p>\n Live music is provided by Music Director Terry O\u2019Donnell and his five-member ensemble, mighty though invisible.<\/p>\n \u201cA Little Night Music\u201d suffers from too many characters who are difficult to care about, too many patter songs and too few melodies. (However, that\u2019s always my complaint about Sondheim, so take it for what it\u2019s worth.)<\/p>\n Nonetheless, Cygnet has a hit on its hands.<\/p>\n![\"A](\"https:\/\/sduptownnews.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2018\/03\/little-night-of-music-2.jpg\")
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This is a sumptuous production, with beautiful costumes by Jeanne Reith, fine choreography by David Brannen, lovely lighting by Chris Rynne, and a remarkable set by Sean Fanning, which features a rolling birch forest.<\/p>\n