Night Music is Glorious at Marriott Lincolnshire
The genius of Stephen Sondheim never grows old for me. It’s always a pleasure to revisit my favorite shows of his. The production of A Little Night Music which just opened at Marriott Lincolnshire Theater in the northern suburbs of Chicago, under veteran stage director Nick Bowling, is the funniest, sexiest production of this show I have yet to see. Whether it’s new to you, or an old favorite, you should try to catch this fine production if you are a Sondheim fan.
For those unfamiliar with the plot, this musical is based on Ingmar Bergman’s comic film, “Smiles of a Summer Night.”The night smiles, it is said, on the young, the old, and the fools. That describes this assemblage of mismatched lovers trying to sort out their romantic entanglements.
Broadway veteran Andrew Samonsky stars as Fredrik Egerman, a middle-aged lawyer who marries Ann (Addie Morales), a charming yet virginal girl half his age, and finds himself still unable to consummate his marriage nearly a year later. Things get more complicated when he rekindles an old love affair with a glamorous actress, Desiree Armfeldt (Alexandra Silber). Ms. Armfeldt herself is in an inappropriate relationship with a thick headed, married soldier, Carl Magnus (Alan H. Green). To round things out, Fredrik’s sexually frustrated son, Henrik (Eldon Warner-Soriano) is hopelessly in love with his young stepmother.
While Chicago has no lack of talented musical theater performers, it’s always a treat when we are visited by our East Coast favorites. I’ve been a fan of Mr. Samonsky ever since seeing him as Lt. Cable in the Lincoln Center production of South Pacific. Mr. Samonsky’s understated style rarely gets him cast in broad comedies. It is perfect for the knowing, internalized humor of Hugh Wheeler’s book for this show. Mr. Samonsky is a master of stillness, and the less he does, the more expressive he becomes. It is at once a star turn and a perfectly generous ensemble performance, topped off by his outstanding singing.
As Fredrik’s young wife, Ann, Addie Morales is delicious, frustrating, and utterly clueless, with an infectious laugh and glittering soprano voice.
Fredrik’s son, Henrik, is a mass of pent up sexual and emotional longings, given full expression by Eldon Warner-Soriano, who is a fine singer, and who plays a mean cello as well.
Alexandra Silber is delightfully earthy and vulnerable as Desiree, a leading lady whose ingenue days are well behind her. However, Ms. Silber is almost ten years younger than the character is supposed to be. While Desiree’s bloom may have faded with time, Ms. Silber’s youthful beauty certainly has not. So it’s a little hard to accept her as a character so desperately a la recherche du temps perdu.
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Carl Magnus’s long suffering wife, Charlotte, is played with comedic brilliance by Veronica Garza. Ms. Garza’s dry, subtle, exquisitely turned take wrings belly laughs out of the smallest gestures, threatening to steal the show at every opportunity. I have never laughed at Charlotte before, and now I’ll probably never think of the role the same way again. Ms. Garza’s performance is a master class in comedy.
The servant girl, Petra, is given an appropriately lusty treatment by Madison Uphoff. Desiree’s young daughter, Fredrika, is a very sweet Olivia Grace O’Sullivan.
The show is framed by a small group of singers who set the scenes and comment indirectly on the action. This group, including Michael Earvin Martin, Victoria Okafor, Colette Todd, Joel Gelman, and Kelli Harrington, who were universally excellent. Jake DiMaggio Lopez also was naturally appealing in the smaller role of servant Frid.
Last but not least is Carmen Roman as Madame Armfeldt, Desiree’s aged and worldly mother. Ms. Roman is a wonderful actress who puts a knowing spin on every line. Mme. Armfeldt has an important song, “Liasons,” in which that word is generally pronounced with the accent on the last syllable, as the French would do. There’s one moment in the middle of the song where Sondheim wanted the pronunciation to change, emphasizing the second syllable, so “liasons” would rhyme with “raisins.” Ms. Roman didn’t do that, and the wittiness was lost. The audience didn’t get the joke, and she didn’t get the laugh. This is one of his most deliberately juicy inner rhymes. Call me picky, but if you’re going to do Sondheim, please do his lyrics justice.
The orchestra, under conductor and keyboardist Brad Haak, is first rate. Choreography by Katie Johannigman, sets by Regina Garcia, lights by Jesse Klug, costumes by Sally Dolembro, and wigs/makeup by Miguel A. Armstrong, all supported the production nicely.
So, while a couple choices could have been better, this production is tremendously satisfying overall. You’ll be glad you made the trip to Marriott Lincolnshire Resort to see it. The night will smile on you as well if you do.
A Little Night Music continues at Marriott Lincolnshire Theater through August 9.
