A Lot of love for A Little Night Music

Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:07pm

I misplaced the CD and haven't listened to it in a year at least. As I worked on some work stuff on a chilly Friday night I saw it and popped it on-- Is this musical quite possibly perfect?

I haven't even gotten to "Liasons" and I'm in serious lust for a flawless revival. I know I know-- anyone got any new dirt or dream casts? I still get goosebumps imagining Angela Lansbury as Madame Armfeldt. Every time Hermoine Gingold snaps "Mine TOURS!" on the OBC I have to back it up and hear her again.

[keatonbynumbers]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 9:14pm

God. From the moment it starts, it's absolutely brilliant. "Now as the sweet imbecilities tumble so lavishly onto her lap, now, there are two possibilities: A) I could ravish her, B) I could nap."

I have a theory wherein "Remember?" is one of the easiest songs to get stuck in a person's head in all of musical theatre. Seriously.

And I wish I could've seen Patti LuPone as Desiree at the Ravinia festival because I still maintain she would make an absolutely amazing Desiree.

[C is for Company]

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:29pm

Good, its about time for this goodness to be recognized in its own love thread lol. Send in the Clowns gives me shivers sometimes just as the overture of Piazza can do without explanation. This has the best lyrics to actually propel the storyline and give characterization that I can think of off the top of my head. It is one of the more impressive scores and one of Sondheims best.

Updated On: 2/25/06 at 11:29 PM

Posted: 2/24/06 at 11:49pm

My favorite Sondheim musical. Magic. "A Weekend in the Country" is my favorite Sondheim song - It gives me goosebumps.

[gettinhep]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 12:03am

"Are you corrupting the child? Don't!"

This is such a fun show. I would love to see a revival.

"Our inventions were unique. I was limping for a week, you caught the flu..."

A musical with mature thoughts and silly suggestions - a wonderful combination.

Posted: 2/25/06 at 8:06am

A musical gem that increases in value over the years.

One of my favorites, and my first Broadway experience in the summer of '74.

Most definitely smiles of a summer's night everytime I listen.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 8:57am

My personal favorite Broadway show. I melt every time I hear the score.

[kgee30]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:08am

Ah. My favorite, too, and my very first Sondheim show. When that music started, and the curtain opened on those couples waltzing in the dark, I fell in love immediately. Glynis Johns' version of "Send in the Clowns" is the only one I can bear to listen to -- sheer perfection. Everybody else tries too hard to ACT it and they miss the simplicity and heart that an almost-beautiful voice naturally lends it.

keatonbynumbers: I saw the Ravinia version, too -- it was lovely, but seemed the most "scattered" of the four Sondheim productions I've seen there. God knows I love the Patti, but the role didn't seem to suit her (at least not this particular interpretation of it), and she was not helped at all by the Dolly Parton wig they dropped on her head. That said, I'd be more than eager to see her play it again, someday.

[Tir Na Nog]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:39am

Whatever happened to the Glenn Close revival that was being planned? I have heard nothing about it since last year. Would love to see Lansbury come back and win a 5th Tony (and she would win) playing Armdfelt.

[SueleenGay]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 11:26am

A musical gem that increases in value over the years.

That is so true. I have loved this show since I first heard it way back when. But it's powerful message becomes clearer with each passing year. Brilliant.

Posted: 2/25/06 at 6:07pm

As I listened to it (Twice) I wondered if the success of "Send in the Clowns" might have hurt it? That song has been SO well known it pops out at you like a milk dud in a box of peanuts-- nto to say that it's better than the rest of the score (That score is wall to wall GOLDEN) but it's taken on a life of it's own....

[popcultureboy]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 6:11pm

The Miller's Son is possibly one of the best musical theatre songs ever written.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 6:16pm

The revival is still happening, but Glenn Close is no longer attached, thank God.

[BobbyBubby]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 6:17pm

Amen to that. Close is all wrong for the role. I adore this show, and hope it is given a stunning revival.

[melissa errico fan]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 6:25pm

I'd love to see Victoria Clark as Desiree. Michele Pawk would also be great.

[FoscasBohemianDream]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 9:47pm

I insist Bernadette Peters and Victoria Clark are the best choices for this role. They are one of the few actresses on Broadway that are able to provide a role with the perfect mixture of comedy and drama which is exactly what is required of Desiree.

[hushpuppy]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:05pm

'Every Day A Little Death' is so achingly poignant. Add me to the list of people who think this is a near-perfect show.

I remember reading that Gynnis Johns was hospitalized due to exhaustion shortly before the opening in New York. The creators were having a meeting at the Shubert, trying to decide if they should replace her, when the door to the theatre flew open and Glynnis stormed down the aisle, bellowing ‘Nobody else is going to sing MY songs’. Needless to say, nobody else did.

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:48pm

The original cast LP came with a booklet of complete lyrics almost the size of the LP cover itself. I remember living in Florida and the hours upon hours that I spent listening to the recording, and following along with the lyrics as I held that pale blue booklet in my hands. The booklets that come with today's CDs just aren't the same, and only rarely are the lyrics of today's musical in the class of A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC.

I was most fortunate to see the original production twice. Once early in the summer that I arrived in NYC, and lastly at the final performance. I had never experienced anything quite like that last performance, nor have I since.

A memorable and magical show that was Champagne then, and is now Vintage.

[Sister Rose]

Posted: 2/25/06 at 10:50pm

Ah, I dream of Bernadette playing Desiree and Angela playing Madame Armfeldt. The problem is that Desiree is a small singing part, but still it would be perfection. I would love to see John Dossett or Greg Edelmann as Fredrick. Victoria Clark would be a very interesting Charlotte. Have any of you heard Angela's "Send in the Clowns" from the 1983 Sondheim Evening? Sondheim accompanies her on piano and it is almost as great as Glynis Johns' version which is simple and perfect. If you ever get a chance to see a tape of the NY City Opera production from a few years ago, notice how wonderful Maureen Moore was as Charlotte. Brilliant.
A Sondheim Evening