Elaine Stritch in "A Little Night Music."

When it opened in December, there were raves for the three leads -- Catherine Zeta-Jones, Angela Lansbury and Alexander Hanson -- but much criticism, including mine, of director Trevor Nunn's minimalist approach, which included visually drab sets, monochromatic costumes and dim lighting design.

Well, the production elements remain the same, but the two lead replacements, Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch, have enlivened the proceedings immeasurably. What before was an undeniably moving experience has now become even richer, filled with a humor that too often was lacking in its first incarnation. Peters and Stritch are beloved Broadway icons, and their performances here illustrate the
reasons why.

Based on Ingmar Bergman's film Smiles of a Summer Night, A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC is set in a weekend country house in turn of the century Sweden, bringing together surprising liaisons, long simmering passions and a taste of love's endless possibilities. Hailed as witty and wildly romantic, the story centers on the elegant actress Desirée Armfeldt and the spider's web of sensuality, intrigue and desire that surrounds her.

A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC - featuring a score by Stephen Sondheim and a book by Hugh Wheeler - originally opened in 1973 at Broadway's Shubert Theatre and ran for 601 performances. Produced and directed by Harold Prince, the production garnered six Tony Awards® including Best Musical and Best Original Score. The Sondheim score features one of the composer's best-known songs, "Send in the Clowns," as well as
"Every Day a Little Death," "The Miller's Son" and "A Weekend in the
Country."

Photo: Joan Marcus via Bloomberg
Source: www.broadwayworld.com, www.reuters.com, www.bloomberg.com