glebb Posted January 9, 2004 Share Posted January 9, 2004 Chicago Shakespeare A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC December 23, 2003 - February 15, 2004 Music and lyrics by STEPHEN SONDHEIM Book by HUGH WHEELER Directed by GARY GRIFFIN (Associate Artistic Director of Chicago Shakespeare Theatre) Music Direction THOMAS MURRAY Scenic Design DANIEL OSTLING Costume Design MARA BLUMENFELD Lighting Design KEN BILLINGTON Wig and Make-up Design MELISSA VEAL Sound Design JAMES SAVAGE Properties Design PAMELA L. PARKER Casting BOB MASON Production Stage Manager JENNIFER MATHESON COLLINS CAST: Mr. Linquist JAMES BANK Mrs. Nordstom JODI JEAN AMBLE Mrs. Anderson CAROL KUYKENDALL Mr. Erlanson JOHN CLONTS Mrs. Segstron KATHRYN KAMP Fredrika Armfeldt MATTIE HAWKINSON Madame Armfeldt HELEN RYAN Frid, her butler KEVIN ASSELIN Henrick Egerman PAUL GUDAHL Anne Egerman JULIE RUTH Fredrik Egerman KEVIN GUNDAHL Petra JENNY POWERS Desiree Armfeldt BARBARA ROBERTSON Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm MICHAEL CERVERIS Countess Charlotte Malcolm SAMANTHA SPIRO Malia ALYSSA NICOLE LARSON Osa ROBIN CHILDRESS Bertrand TONY LEWIS Servants MATTHEW CALLAHAN, ERIN PATRICIA WAGNER ORCHESTRA: Piano/Conductor THOMAS MURRAY Harp STEPHEN HARTMAN Violin (Concert Master) THOMAS YANG Violin JEFF YANG Violin ANDREA TOLZMANN Violin CHUCK BONTRAGER Viola BEN WEDGE Viola CLARA TAKARABE Cello (Principle) STEVEN HOUSER Cello JILL KAEDING Bass JACQUE HARPER Flutes/Clarinet DOMINIC TRUMFIO Oboe/English Horn DEBORAH STEVENSON French Horn KAREN SUAREZ FLINT French Horn SANDRA DONATELLE Though I am devoted to the New York City Opera production, I am happy to have found a new and different version that is almost perfect. The gorgeous Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier is intimate yet not too small, allowing this production to be elegant and less broad than others I've seen. Barbara Robertson who appears in Robert Altman's THE COMPANY as Harriet reinvents Desiree as a down to earth woman who on stage transforms into a statuesque star of peerless beauty and grace and who is irresistible at all times. There is an abundance of talent and physical beauty in the cast. I could gush about each member but must single out dashing Kevin Gundahl who has a voice quality reminiscent of Len Cariou. Director Gary Griffin whose successful production of PACIFIC OVERTURES (which also went to London) has made magic again. I can only disagree with one choice in some music hummed by Carl-Magnus. This choice which would virtually go unnoticed by most will take Sondheim aficionados out of the moment, but on the whole this production did for me what no ballet has, in a very long time. Link to comment
dirac Posted February 18, 2004 Share Posted February 18, 2004 glebb, a belated thank you for the report. I've never seen this on the stage, but the original cast recording is a favorite of mine. Link to comment
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