A Little Night Music Part 01/17

[fairyandasandwich]

i dont like these orchestrations

or vocal arrangements

[immelio]

I ENVY THAT HIGH E WITH A PASSION.

[rhiready]

Yup, that's Soundheim!

[emmyaward7]

Thank you for posting!

"It isn't gloomy - it's profound" I love that line.

Is Fredricka (I think that's her name) being played by Little Red from Into the Woods or is that my Sondheim-loving mind running amok?

[happykitty11]

@emmyaward7 no, you're correct! she was also in sunday in the park with george, if i'm not mistaken.

[pudgeuncle]

@emmyaward7 Yes, that is the very talented Danielle Ferlind.

[immelio]

@emmyaward7 Indeed it is. Danielle Ferlind. You'll find that many actors and actresses in Sondheim musicals are in many other Sondheim musicals. Jack's Mother from Into the Woods is also in Sunday In The Park With George, as is Bernadette Peters, and I believe Cinderella's prince. Don't quote me on the last one, though.

[kwmv]

I have never understood why they never released this on VHS. But, it is not lost. The LOC has three copies of it: [VBH 0761-0763]

[immelio]

RED!! I LOVE YOU RED!!!!!

[QueenBoadicea]

I was listening to a record of "Brigadoon" this morning (the recording of the 1966 television version) and I saw the name Sally Ann Howes in the role of Fiona. I kept thinking "Where have I seen that name before now?" and now I remember!

[Kristenbasore]

I'm currently in this show (Mrs. Nordstrom) and we open this Thursday!!! :)

SO excited! My first Sondheim!

[kanwi]

OBC Little Red!! <3

[Richiesutherland]

@sweeney60, I would like to think that your idea is what was intended. However, it destroys all musical balance in the piece. I've never heard a performance in which whole musical lines were covered, and that certainly isn't the way it is written in the vocal score, and I can't imagine Sondheim being at all happy about losing half of the melodic line for an upstaging gag. Maybe I'm wrong. But it is, musically, the worst version of this piece I've ever heard.

[CoolMintMakeup]

Oh my goodness. I couldn't find this video immediately when I searched for it and I nearly cried. Maybe I'm a little too obsessed... Nah.

[90lysander]

The Quintet sings very nicely. Regina Resnik is brilliant. But Danielle Ferland is super annoying, and about as expressive as ... I don't know. Something VERY inexpressive! Is she this way in Into the Woods too? Ugh.

[sweeney60]

@90lysander

i think this was a straight up type cast for Danielle, but considering her age that wasn't uncommon. She is much more fun and sarcastic in Into the Woods and has a great moment during, "no one is alone" where she completely breaks down and cries. This wasnt the best part for her, fredrieka just gets tossed around and confused the whole play, and she never comes to any sort of realization herself.

[Kristenbasore]

Thank you so much for posting this! I've just been cast in this show and loved being able to watch it!! It's my first Sondheim production! :)

[rwdust]

thank you for posting. i saw this production and loved it.

[Richiesutherland]

Dreadful. Typical opera singers (I am one), they refuse to believe that they are not the melody at all times. Both men overpower the women and sing too loudly at all times, obsuring the women's lines which are often the melody. And the balance between the women is terrible too. I blame the Musical Director for not telling them to shut up.

[sweeney60]

@Richiesutherland

i thought they were purposely trying to out do each other, hence why they are slightly off, it makes a funny bit, but also sets up the action of the play since the characters are all trying to outsmart each other.

[broadwayloverny10]

This is awesome. the woman in the green dress wasn't she in into the woods also or am I just just seeing things?

[ohdarling95]

@broadwayloverny10 she does look a lot like the woman who played Jack's mother but the woman in the green dress is Susanne Marsee who is mainly an operatic singer

[broadwayloverny10]

@ohdarling95 Thanks for the clear up. She and all of the women who are the narrators really are insanely awesome!

[MzCharmedFan0214]

do they use the same script for all versions of the show?

[TheSondheimFan]

@MzCharmedFan0214 Actually, I beleive they do. With the exception of Remember being split differently in this production, they seem to follow the original script word for word, which I would think would be the same in other productions.

A miracle when you think of what's happened to Follies over the years...

[sweeney60]

@TheSondheimFan

im not even that familiar with follies, but if you go outside sondheim, now adays no two productions of Cabaret are the same.

[DannyHiggs]

@TheSondheimFan Yes, but Night Music is perfection and Follies--as much as I love the show--is far from it.

[TheSondheimFan]

@DannyHiggs I would argue that the original show, with the original cast and crew, was perfection. The other productions...not so much. Directors just don't seem to know when to leave well enough alone...

[DannyHiggs]

@TheSondheimFan Opinions of productions aside, I still believe the libretto and score to Night Music are as close to perfection as any musical's going to get. I was referring, in my comment, to the fact that Night Music has never gone through the major revisions (save for the film adaptation which was misguided at best) the way Follies has.

[TheSondheimFan]

@DannyHiggs Sorry, in my comment, I was referring specifically to Follies- the original book and production are, in my mind, as close to perfection as you can get. The later productions, with all their tinkering and song-replacing and axing and the like, just mar the original and with each tweak pull it further and further from perfection. Ugh.

[DannyHiggs]

@TheSondheimFan Ah, I see. I have to disagree, though. While I don't think any of the revisions have really helped the piece (except perhaps the writing of "Ah, But Underneath," which on some days I prefer to "Lucy and Jesse") I still think the original is flawed. I love it, but can't consider it perfection. Night Music, on the other hand, is absolutely perfect.

[TheSondheimFan]

@LaCageAuxGypsy Ah, I see. I personally don't mind "Soon" being in the overture, but I absolutely love "The Glamorous Life" as it sounds in the overture, so it all evens out for me.

[sweeney60]

@TheSondheimFan

next to "Send in the Clowns" Glamorous life has to be my favorite. Sondheim isn't known for big ensemble showstoppers as much as he is for his ballads and witty laments, but Glamorous life is a great one.

[TheSondheimFan]

@LaCageAuxGypsy Not really sure what you mean by that- the Quintet has sung "Soon" during the overture since the original Broadway production.

[sweeney60]

@TheSondheimFan

thats what I thought as well.

[clartzy05]

they're DRESSES! ah. I love =] the woman hitting the high note and then realizing she was the only one singing.. yep. that would be me if I performed this.. haha

[QueenBoadicea]

Henrik reminds me of a conversation I had with my mother when I was listening to the soundtrack of Twin Peaks. She wanted to know how I could listen to it; the music was sooo depressing. I replied that it wasn't depressing--it was MOODY. Heh. Fun times.

[demonchild101]

Hey! Danielle Ferland! I liked her in into the woods!

[rootbeeronbroadway]

I feel stupid, but sondheim is very complex and there us yet i have to understand about this brilliant work, what was the significance of the singing chorus? Aret hey like a greek chorus?

[threescoreandten]

@rootbeeronbroadway -- they don't *quite* act as a Greek chorus -- they don't forward the plot or tell us about any off-screen story -- but they do comment on the action, making us think about it from the outside a little more. Usually they're commenting on the nature of love, sex, and romance; in Remember, they seem to fondly recall romantic memories, yet get confused as to who they shared them with, making us wonder if the incidents involved real love or just self-centered enjoyment...

[threescoreandten]

@rootbeeronbroadway -- ...and also suggesting that perhaps, in all of this hunting for love, everyone is still seeking, unfulfilled; the use of the word 'darling' becomes almost ironic, as no one is sure who their 'darling' is any more. In the Sun songs that come later, they point out that continual anticipation is unsatisfying, and that maybe resolution is preferable to the emotional/sexual/spiritual/wha­tever hunting and waiting that all the characters are engaged in...

[threescoreandten]

@rootbeeronbroadway -- ...During The Glamorous Life, they point out the contrast between the ideal and the reality of being a theater star, and show us how Desiree's life isn't really a fulfilling one. So, usually, they're there to point out the truth behind the characters' actions, since all of the characters are to some extent deluding themselves.

At the beginning, they're "playing" the overture; instead of just an orchestra playing the songs, we hear snippets of them being sung.

[QueenBoadicea]

@threescoreandten I like your analysis of the Quartet; they're very apt observations.

[threescoreandten]

@QueenBoadicea -- thank you very much. I only recently heard this musical for the first time, but I'm afraid I've become addicted! It's a lot deeper than I thought it would be. In fact, I think it intelligently comments on and criticizes a *lot* of the subjects that I had originally expected it to embrace. Anyway, yay for Sondheim and Wheeler?

[JeeRant]

Yes, yes, yes! Thank you so much for posting!

[bethsillytoe]

its truly scrumptious!!

[wannabe1491]

I love you.  Thanks for posting.

[proudtheatredork]

SO GOOD. but fredrika is not so great.sooo annoying

[flootloops]

Thank you for posting this version, it's fantastic! I'll be playing in a production of this soon, can't wait :)

[OndoreC77]

Best version of "Soon," I've had the pleasure of hearing. Excellent! Curse youth and the inability to have seen this in person.

[MomentsInTheWoods17]

THANK YOU! You deserve one million thank you's because you are amazing for posting this =D

This is my favorite show and this is the best version, but I've only seen it in portions! Thank you a million and a half times!

[AtLastOnTheGround]

You are my favorite person in the world. MY GOD! I thought I'd NEVER see this whole show! Thank you! Thank you so much!

[DukeofYar]

I'm already in love. I love Danielle Ferland, I mean, she's just my favorite! I can't get enough of her!

[Selendomono]

Lol 3:04 way to show off soprano. :P. Im glad this is an Opera company because the singing is excellent.