[NEohioPAL]Berko review: A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC (Kalliope)

[Roy Berko]

KALLIOPE PRESENTS AN ACCEPTABLE  ‘A LITTLE NIGHT
MUSIC’ 

Roy Berko

(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--

Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times

Earlier this year Kalliope Stage opened its second
season with an amazing production of the musical
‘SUMMER OF ‘42.’   Their present production of ‘A
LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC’ doesn’t live up to the ‘42
experience.

  ‘A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC,’ with music and lyrics by
Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler is based
on the Ingmar Bergman film “SMILES OF A  SUMMER
NIGHT.” The show originally opened on Broadway in
1973, with a cast which included Glynnis Johns in the
lead role.  It won the New York Drama Critics Circle
Award and the Tony Award for Best Musical.  It was
made into a less-than-successful movie starring
Elizabeth Taylor.

  ‘A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC’ tells the story of a Fredrik
Egerman an older lawyer who is married to a very young
wife, Anne, who, despite the fact that they have been
married almost a year, is still a virgin.  An old
flame, Desiree Armfeldt is appearing in a play at a
local theatre. His romantic interest in her is
rekindled when he and Anne attend the production. 
Desiree, who has an illegitimate daughter, is known
for her liaisons.  She is having an affair with a
jealous and married military man, Carl-Magnus. 
Complicating matters is Egerman's divinity student
son, Henrik, who is in love with his stepmother.  The
play culminates in a weekend at the country estate of
Desiree's mother, Madame Armfeldt where everything
turns out for the best.

Much of the show’s  music is written in waltz (3/4)
time which helps classify the work as an operetta
rather than standard musical comedy.  The operetta
definition is furthered by the fact that the lyrics
carry much of the play’s meanings.  The score contains
one of Sondheim's best-known songs, "Send in the
Clowns," as well as "The Glamorous Life," "Every Day a
Little Death," "Liaisons," "A Weekend in the Country"
and "The Miller's Son." 

Seindheim is noted for the complexity of his musical
arrangements and requires cast members to sing his
songs stressing the meaning of the words, not just
mouthing lyrics.    It is song interpretation that
causes the Paul Gurgol-directed cast the most problem.
 Many of the cast sings word, not meanings, which
results in the ideas being thrown away.

The KALLIOPE cast is uneven.  The lead females are
wonderful, while the males fail by comparison.  

Marla Berg creates a clear characterization as Desiree
Armfeldt.  She has a fine singing voice and her
rendition of “Send In the Clowns” is emotion-perfect! 
  Kathleen Huber is very believable as Madame
Armfeldt, but her solo “Liaisons” would have been more
effective of it was sung or spoken with a musical
cadence as  Hermione Gingold did it on Broadway rather
than spoken and ingnoring the music.  Kimberly Koljat
portrays well the role of Anne Egerman but the role
should have been cast with a younger actress.  Laurel
Held Posey is youthfully right as Petra.  Katrya
Oransky-Petyk has a wonderful comedic flair which
works well as Countess Malcolm.  As the maid Petra,
Laurel Held Posey displays a fine singing voice and a
nice sense of comedy.

On the other hand, Frederick Hamilton is miscast as
Fredrik Egerman.  He is too young for the role, his
characterization comes and goes, and he doesn’t
interpret his songs well.  The always delightful “You
Must Meet My Wife,” fell flat.  The same must be said
for Tony Lehmenkuler who gives a less than stellar
performance as Carl-Magnus.  His “In Praise of Woman”
was musically sung well, but with little attempt to
create lyric meaning.  Of the males, Brad Herbst came
the closest to creating a meaningful character as the
melancholy son, but his acting abilities fall short of
making the character totally believable.

The vocal chorus, which acts as the narrator, was
excellent.  The musical accompaniment was much too
shallow.  The show needs a lush sound not capable of
being produced by the few instruments used by musical
director Brad Wyner.

Set designer Russ Borski continues to amaze in his
ability to satisfy the needs of big shows placed on a
postage-stamp sized stage.  Borski and Aimee Kluiber’s
costumes were awesome.  This was the finest costumed
show seen on local stages this year.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  Kalliope’s “A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC’ 
is an acceptable, but not outstanding presentation
thanks to some strong female performances and
wonderful costume sand set design.
	The show runs through May 8 at 2134 Lee Road.  For
tickets call 216-321 0870 or go on line to
www.KalliopeStage.com.
	Kalliope Stage’s next production is a new version of
‘BABY’ from June 25 to August 1.
	The company has announced their upcoming fall/spring
season.  Productions include:  ‘CABARET,’ ‘OPAL,’
‘PASSION’ and ‘110 IN THE SHADE.'

Roy Berko's web page can be found at www.royberko.info.  His theatre and dance reviews appear on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.


		
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