A Little Night Music Part 16/17 

As brilliant as Sondheim is-and don’t get me wrong, the man is incomparable and a genius of the highest order-due credit should go to Hugh Wheeler, who wrote the book of this musical. The exchange between Madame Armfeldt and Fredrika that opens this scene is one of my favorite bits of dialogue not just in musical theatre, but theatre PERIOD. From Fredrika simply but elegantly summing up the entire idea of the play (“I think it must be worth it...it’s all there is, isn’t it?”) to Madame Armfeldt being stunned into silence by that wisdom to the realization that all of the money, riches, and trappings in the world can’t replace love to the Madame’s rhapsodizing about the man who, after decades, she’s never forgotten...the entire thing makes me cry every time. Thank you, Mr. Wheeler.

This is the perfect performance of my favorite Sondheim show.

An extraordinarily beautiful production which completely fulfills the demands of this masterpice of the musical theater. Wonderful singing, superb acting, sumptuous period costumes are elegantly worn, perfect minimal sets beautifully, sensitively lite, enchanting choreography deeply knowing as is the expert staging... I saw the original production at least twice, and it was wonderful of course. But every Broadway revival since has been dreadful, each in its own uniquely miserable way I had missed this production until finding it recently on RU-vid and am thrilled to see that the material is so strong that when in the hands of truly talented artists as is the case here the show will emerge again as the immensely evocative, moving, and thoroughly enchanting night of entertainment that it is.

I watched this years ago on PBS and it was one of the best experiences for me. I always loved the song but never knew the musical. Seeing it performed by such a great cast made it interesting. The performance on PBS also had an interview with the cast and Sondheim himself which made it even more interesting.

Simply an amazing ending to a great performance. It shows the love of two people found after many years of an incoherent existense. It shows how destiny will bring two people together after many years of turmoil.

This show gets better every time I watch it. Thanks for posting it!

My favourite. Beautiful production.

Jesus, what a genius Sondheim is.

I agree. Glynis Johns is one in a million! I wish they would have recorded it! :( Her voice suits the part more, she's younger, and her comic timing is much better than Howes'. That being said, who doesn't love the voice of Truly Scrumptious singing Send in the Clowns?

@tonywrestles2 I totally agree with you on this. I never saw the OBC production but it was that recording that started my love affair with this work and with Sondheim in general. And as much as I love(d) it , I have always been disappointed that a recording of the NYCO production wasn't released! It's a musical that just does so well when produced on a bigger scale as an operetta. (And Bevely Lambert singing "Soon" was the first time I realized that it was actually written with syncopation!)

The wooden Ring sequenz is touching. Madame Armfeldt is the best character in the play!

Thank you for posting -3 Now to find a way to watch Sunday in the Park with George...

I had the honor to see the original A Little Night Music in 1974 as a kid that had Glynis John as Desiree Armfedt, Hermione Gingold, Laurence Guittard and by then William Daniels had assumed the role of Frederick Egerman. In 2010 I had the honor of seen it again with Angela Lansbury and Catherine Zeta Jones. To Be serious William Daniels look more the part of his character, than Cariou who for me was too young. However did like him as Sweeney Todd.

FANTASTIC!

@actressgrl Yes, there is no longer a need for her to live. She lived because she made the mistake of choosing glamor and image over love. So even though she claims not to object to immorality, she still wants for her daughter and granddaughter to be happy. When they have finally come to a spot in which she knows they will be happy, she can at last rest and rest in peace.

when the count kisses charlotte, I just swoon

@actressgrl Of course. If she didn't die, there would be no wisdom in the observations of the old. And there is too much wisdom of the human spirit in this play.

Hurray!

"They're finally here."

I'm confused. What happened to Charlotte and the count?

LOL imagine she accidentally hit the wrong key at the end

@iljlap The Count, who'd previously said that a civilized man could tolerate his wife's infidelity, decided that he wasn't civilized--and Charlotte swooned over the fact.

only in a play can a man diss a woman, man gets dissed by a woman, than runs back to previous woman and live happily ever after

@tonywrestles2 I still prefer the original Broadway cast, mainly because of Glynis Johns, Len Cariou, Laurence Guittard, Victoria Mallory, and the Quintet, all of whom I think are superior to the respective performers here. It's still a really good cast, though.

8:15

You liked her better than Glynis Johns? Why's that? I'm curious. :)

@TheSondheimFan its a shame that it wasnt taped such as this one... though i personally find Regina far superior to Hermione