Smiles all round for Sondheim

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC: Therry Dramatic Society

Arts Theatre, 53 Angas St, Adelaide

Until June 12

STEPHEN Sondheim's A Little Night Music is one of the finest examples of why this composer is so revered by true lovers of musical theatre.

His ability to take a group of people and explore their loves, foibles, hopes and widely varying dreams is never better illustrated than in this excellent ensemble piece.

Based on Ingmar Bergman's Smiles of a Summer Night, A Little Night Music follows the intricate relationships between as a group of socialites, showbiz types, landed gentry and the military whose machinations climax at a weekend in the country.

Director Ric Trevasksis has perfectly captured the many moods of this enchanting piece, with a simple and very effective set design from Julia Morris, deft choreography from Hazel Green and a classy orchestra under the baton of Rodney Hrvatin. This one of the best shows I have seen this year.

Sondheim's super music and lyrics are matched by Hugh Wheeler's witty script and the cast plays it for every nuance going.

As the oldest and the youngest, Loriel Smart (Madame Armfeldt) is worldweary and very wise, and Arista Kontos (Fredrika Armfeldt) is an old head on very attractive young shoulders.

James Pratt plays the tortured young Henrik to the hilt, and Eleanor Brasted is deliciously dippy as the unconsummated Anne.

Trish Fuller is in fine voice as the fading actress Desiree and John Green is marvellous as her often tried and true love Frederik.

But the star turns of the evening come from Tom Millhouse as the bombastic Count Magnus Malcolm and Dianne K. Lang in one of her finest ever performances as his superbly suffering wife Charlotte.

Millhouse, with his wonderful voice and stage presence, and Lang, whose Swiss timing has the audience in the palm of her hand, are a warring couple who find marriage can be sustaining after all.

There is also great support from Fahad Farooque as the randy Raja, Alexandra Gard is an earthy delight as Petra singing The Millers Son, and the ensemble of Mark Delaine, Fiona Linn, Di Griffith, Nicholas Lock and Michelle Grootenboer keep the night music coming.

Act One needs a little more punch and excellent diction is always a watchword with wordy Sondheim, but overall it's smiles all round for Therry with this musical classic.

MATT BYRNE

● Abridged version of this review published in the Guardian Messenger, 9-6-04, p. 59.