"A Little Night Music": A Lovely Theatrical Experience at Marblehead Little Theatre

The night has smiled three times... the smile for the fools was particularly broad tonight.

Marblehead Little Theatre welcomes audiences to “A Little Night Music,” with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Set in 1900 Sweden, the story follows tangled love affairs among mismatched lovers as they confront love, regret, and second chances during a weekend away in the country.

I always enjoy discovering new musicals. Marblehead Little Theatre’s “A Little Night Music” is a lovely theatre piece filled with marvelous music, atmosphere, and style. While ideas of love have evolved since the play’s setting, the story reinforces the importance of choosing our own pathways to true happiness.

The cast of “A Little Night Music” comprises a talented group of actors with astonishing, operatic voices. The relationships and dynamics are the most important part of this show, as characters race about figuring out love stories.

Ursina Amsler plays Desiree Armfeldt, the glamorous and once-prominent actress. Amsler is elegant, sophisticated, and compelling in her performance. Amsler achieves Desiree’s confident exterior and also a quiet vulnerability of her character’s conflict between independence and longing for love.

Fredrik Egerman (Matthew Ford) is a man caught between his former lover, Desiree, and his youthful infatuation with Anne (Abby Mae Rogers), his naive 18-year-old wife. Their marriage signifies how you should find partnership acquainted with similar age.

Henrik (Cole Dolan Hastings), Fredrik’s son, yearns for romance and experiences anxiety about which path to take. Ariel Sargent (Petra) is a standout in her bold and unapologetic views on love, particularly in her song, ‘The Miller’s Son.’

Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (Andrew Hankinson) and Countess Charlotte (Heather Phillips) are remarkable as a bickering couple. Their marriage serves as both comic relief and social expectation. Phillips’ sharp, sassy remarks earned laughs from audiences.

Speaking of snark, Sue Brother upped it as Madame Armfeldt, Desiree’s aging mother. It is always a delight to see Brother onstage. She is a natural talent. Despite her brash nature, Madame Armfeldt adds wisdom to the story’s themes.

As I have said, and will continue to reflect, no part is ever small in the theater. Fredrika Armfeldt (Ida Pelikhov and Kristy Van Dan) adds a youthful perspective as Desiree’s wise daughter. A small group of actors serves as a “Greek Chorus” that observes the situation.

Marblehead Little Theater’s black box stage is decorated in a lavish design by Andrew Barnett and director Alexandra Dietrich. Everything from Laura Dillon’s costume designs, Kaitlin Egger’s wigs, lighting by Bryan Lussier, and sound by Elliott Dupcak emphasizes the show’s elegance.

Stephen Sondheim’s lush, waltz-infused score floats through the theater with grace. Sondheim’s music is a challenge, but the ensemble bats that provocation away like it’s nothing. A live orchestra accompanies several ballads in melodies, ‘Night Waltz,’ The Glamorous Life,’ and ‘A Weekend in the Country.’

Alexandra Dietrich infuses her passion into every layer of her direction. She also choreographed and was the intimacy coordinator. Dietrich has directed this show in two different periods of her life. She said that she was honored to have another chance to direct again, as it developed her perspective on the story’s themes about love.

Time, love, and happiness are important themes in “A Little Night Music.” Love is complex. Romance has changed since the story’s time period. Make decisions that are right for you and don’t feel pressured by society. Choose authenticity.

From the first notes to the final moments, audiences marveled at this delightful musical. I didn’t expect the show’s comical moments. Fredrik and Carl-Magnus pushing each other on a swing in one song got an uproarious laugh.

“A Little Night Music” has one final weekend at Marblehead Little Theatre. Currently, it is all sold out, but if spots open up, don’t hesitate to see this beautiful production. It’s a worthy outing at the theater.