Theater Review: 'A Little Night Music' and Sex

If "A Little Night Music" could be described in one word it would be this: sex.

Or rather, what sex means to the characters.

For Frederick Egerman (Stephen R. Buntrock), it means re-touching long-lost youth. For Anne Egerman (Ramona Mallory), it's a way of keeping her husband's interest (typical virgin move). For Henrik Egerman (Hunter Ryan Herlicka), it's sinful, dreadfully, excitable sinful (no wonder he's trying to become a priest). For Count Malcolm (Bradley Dean but today it was Ben Davis), it's possession and a sign of ownership (he is a military man after all). For Petra (Leigh Ann Larkin), it's about freedom and free love (because she's a maid, what does she have to lose?).

For Madame Armsfeldt (Elaine Stritch), it's memories of more golden (deliciously wicked) times.

For Desiree Armfeldt (Bernadette Peters)...who knows?

Oh Stephen Sondheim, you dirty dirty man.

And people think Europeans are clean and boring. Obviously a trip with "A Little Night Music" will eliminate that notion right away.

"A Little Night Music" can be described as a domestic drama with three couples and the permutations in relations (sexual and otherwise) between them. Desiree and Fredrik used to be lovers but he is now married to Anne, 18, who is the object of Fredrik son, Henrik's, eye. Desiree is also the mistress to Count Malcolm, much to the silent anger of the Countess Malcolm. And Madame Armfeldt, and her servants, think all six of them are ridiculous. And so should you.

Stephen Sondheim wrote the music and lyrics and Hugh Wheeler wrote the book.

The revival on Broadway, with the great Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch as the headliners (replacing Catherine Zeta-Jones and Angela Lansbury), initially promises serious, thought-provoking fare. It, after all, opens with a waltz, a rapturous explosion of dancing and violins that had me in tears. And all the songs in the musical are written in 3/4 time, which is the meter for the typical waltz.

What I didn't expect it to be was hilariously wicked and witty. Considering the gravity of the subject (long-lost daughters, old lovers, jealously, infidelity, sin), I expected something a little melodramatic. Lesser musicals have made attempts at tear-wrenching drama with a quarter of those scenarios (I'm looking at you "Mamma Mia").

But this is Stephen Sondheim and I was a fool to not expect clever wordplay. Take these lyrics, where Fredrick Egerman debates whether to take a nap - option A - or ravish his still-virgin wife of 11 months (the gentleman has patience) - option B.

A, I could put on my nightshirt or sit

Disarmingly, B, in the nude.

That might be effective;

My body's all right--

But not in perspective

And not in the light.

And to go from that to "Send in the Clowns," which had the audience engrossed, moved and close to tears, it's a genius bit of tonal shift. And the production, with Stritch giving such dry delivery to her lines that makes them sardonic and prevents the rise of melodrama, to Peters who initially acts eccentric but soon, is solemn and rueful. She gives Desiree more dimensions than just the jilted lover.

Instead, she makes Desiree into a figure fully aware of her increasing age yet has to act as if it doesn't matter, for the sake of her lovers and the audience who worships her. But the viewer knows that there is something underneath, and she is acting for her lover as she acts for her audience.

And when she stops acting, during "Send in the Clowns," the moment is powerful because for once, that beautiful white mask of smiles drops and she pries herself open for her the love of her life, Fredrik, it's vulnerable and what happens at the end of the song is heart-wrenching.

And for that heavenly music, I'll forgive Mallory's stinted line delivery (filled with unnecessary pauses), Herdlicka's uneven attempts at an English accent (which is his accent different than his father's), and Peters slight overacting in scenes. But the merits far outweigh the flaws.

I got the $27 tickets from student rush, by standing in front of the box office a mere 10 minutes before it opened. And I sat in the very front row, to the right of the stage. I could touch Bernadette Peters. So for any student, hold on the liquor and spend some money on a quality Broadway show.

If for no other reason than to get this piece of very solid advice.

"To lose a lover, even a husband or two over the course of one's life can be vexing but to lose your teeth is a catastrophe." Word, Madame Armfeldt, word.

A video preview to get you to the theater (can you believe that Bernadette Peters is 62? She does not age.)



Details
What: "A Little Night Music"
Where: The Walter Kerr Theatre
219 W 48th St., New York, NY
212-239-6200
When: Tuesday through Sunday until Jan. 9
Rush: $27 - For students only the day of performance. Get there before the theater opens.