Performed at the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre, Guildford.
For a single night the one and only Desiree Armfeldt graced the stage of the Yvonne Arnaud Theatre by courtesy of musical director Alex Parker, a man with a passion for staging concerts and musicals with large orchestras at the core of the entertainment. He is also able to conjure up first class casts if this production of A Little Night Music was anything to go by.
Stephen Sondheim’s evergreen musical of brooding morality and rekindled lost love with its entangled love-triangles was given a concert performance with the cast, on book, and with minimal staging. Despite these limitations the show held its magic and proved to be a success as the standing ovation at the end endorsed.
The score, written entirely in three-four time, received luxurious treatment from the 31-piece orchestra. After so many scaled down versions it was wonderful to hear the music in its full glory.
And the richness of the music was matched by the performances of the cast. The standard was set right from the off as the quintet, who act as observers and commentators, slowly made their way through the auditorium and on to the stage. The beauty and power of their voices thrilled.
Vocal strength marked the performances of the three male principals: Fra Fee, as the emotionally tormented Henrik, David Birrell, his father Fredrik Egerman, and Simon Bailey, the egotistical pea-brained Count Carl-Magnus. Birrell’s playing was beautifully understated which contrasted well with Bailey’s hot-blooded caricature.
Julia Sutton was delightful as old Madame Armfeldt and overcame a slight technical glitch to deliver a most wistful ‘Liaisons’. Anne, Fredrik’s virgin wife, was given the right immature petulance by Anna O’Byrne, while Bibi Jay’s Fredrika possessed wisdom and perception beyond her tender years – an assured performance. Laura Pitt-Pulford was saucy and sensual as the maid Petra.
Fresh from her recent triumph in Chichester’s Pajama Game, Joanna Riding notched up another success as Countess Charlotte. Her withering comments were delivered with perfection, ringing every ounce of comedy from the part. Her’s was probably the best playing of this role that I have seen.
Of course, the musical revolves round Desiree, the witty and glamorous actress and centre of attraction for Fredrik and Magnus, and it fell to Janie Dee to play her. For many of her fans it was a part that they have been waiting to see her take on – and they were not disappointed. The glamour was there along with mischievousness and comic timing. She had a delicate touch with the pathos needed when she realised her future with Fredrik was not to be. This performance will have to serve as an appetiser until the delectable Dee gets to play the role in a full-blown production.
Barrie Jerram
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