“A Little Night Music” Hits High Notes

By: Nicole Baillargeon
Posted In: Campus News

The crowd piled in and took their seats in the small, but intimate Megley Theatre as they waited for the large production of A Little Night Music. The cast of 20 controlled the stage from beginning to end, and the play was a complete success.

A Little Night Music is based on a book by Hugh Wheeler, and was adapted into musical form by Stephen Sondheim. It tells the tale of several couples, all of which seem to be in love with someone other than their partner. There is Fredrik Egerman, played by senior Jeffrey Desautels, who is an older man and married to an 18-year-old girl, Anne Egerman, played by junior Anna McConville. However, after 11 months of marriage, Anne is still a virgin and Fredrik grows increasingly frustrated as he dreams about his past love the “one and only” Desiree Armfeldt a famous actress, played by sophomore Sarah Thompson. Then of course, there is Fredrick’s son, Henrik, fantastically played by freshman Owen Murphy. Fredrik is studying to become a priest, but realizes that he has fallen madly in love with his step-mother, Anne. Drama and wonderfully sung songs ensue.

Of course, A Little Night Music, isn’t all serious. Many hilarious segments had the crowd in an uproarious laughter. One particularly hilarious scene occured when Fredrick is caught red handed in Desiree’s home by Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, played by sophomore Jonny Olivera, who is having an affair with Desiree. Oh, and Fredrik is caught with his pants off, wearing the Count’s robe. This is the stuff soap opera’s are made out of. But, the scene is done with subtle humor.

In fact Olivera’s character and his character’s wife, Countess Charlotte Malcolm played by sophomore Maggie Geha, offer much of the comic relief in the play. Geha’s character is snide and sarcastic, and she does an amazing job at portraying how trapped Charlotte feels, especially when singing “Every Day a Little Death,” with her old friend Anne after she told her of their husband’s affairs with Desiree. There is pain in her voice as she sings, but once the song is over she is back to her cynical self.

Another highlight was during act two when the whole gang goes for a weekend in the country at Desiree’s mother’s home, who is played by freshman Rachel Velardi. The make-up was done to perfection as she actually looked like an old lady rather than a college student. Desiree and Fredrik meet again, and her hopes are high that Fredrik will leave his wife for her. But, Fredrik informs her that he cannot leave Anne. The lights dim, and one shines on Thompson as she sings “Send in the Clowns” and the emotion rolls off of her tongue and into the crowd. She really connects with the audience during this scene, and you can tell that she has been completely consumed by her character.

A Little Night Music was sold out for a reason. Everyone in the cast both onstage and backstage did an amazing job putting this huge production together. They may not be professionals, and they may not have a large stage, but one thing’s for certain, they sure can act.