Time for a summer road trip to one of Northeast Ohio’s most beautiful country locations: the lovely (and newly revamped) Porthouse Theatre on the grounds of Blossom Music Center. A Little Night Music, the season opener, offered a spicy sweet mixture of song and sass devoted to showing couples in contrasting stages (and ages) of romantic love.
Set in 1900’s Sweden (the land of endless summer light) the story concerns sets of lovers, some married, some not (mostly not), and what happens when they all spend a weekend in the country. What sparks this comic drama? The mix of the following characters: professionally successful but confused Fredrick Egerman (Fabio Polanco, comic and dashing all at once) has married the much younger Anne (sprightly, clear-voiced Lucy Anders) after the death of his wife. But she remains strangely uncommitted (and still a virgin) after eleven married months. Egerman’s former mistress, Desiree Armfeldt (a touching Terri J. Kent whose “Send in the Clowns” makes hearts ache) and her daughter, Fredrika Armfeldt (cute Talia Cosentino), Egerman’s son Henrik (properly awkward Julian Kazenas), Desiree’s mother, Madame Armfeldt (a wise Lenne Snively), Desiree’s current lover, the bad-tempered Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (Jim Weaver), his wife (sweetly revenged Amy Fritsche), and the maid (earthy and wise Shamara Costa). And if that’s not confusing enough, there are other permutations in the love game.
This 1973 award-winning Broadway show has been a popular choice for regional theatres for years, but this production’s simple, effective staging enhanced the show’s appeal. Director and choreographer Sean T. Morrissey both respected Stephen Sondheim’s classic and made it seem fresh (even to eyes who have seen multiple versions of it and also its original source, Ingmar Bergman’s sexy Swedish film, Smiles of a Summer Night.) One way he did this was by employing circles. The rotating center stage, stairs circling over it, and the theatre itself (via the aisles) emphasized the different life stages romantic pairs danced through as they enmeshed themselves in the dark and bright sides of finding love. The chorus (a charming personable quintet) also circled around the stage as they set the scenes and created the “proper” atmosphere.
And despite being hidden behind the set, music director Jonathan Swoboda and his small ensemble played beautifully. I still believe Sondheim shows need supertitles over the stage because the clever and tricky lyrics are not always easy to hear, but even without them, it was clear what the actors were feeling.
While this show ends 6/27, there will be two more summer musicals: Violet opens 7/10 and runs through 7/25; Hairspray opens 7/31 and runs through 8/16. For tickets go to the Porthouse Theatre website or phone 330-672-3884.
Cuyahoga Valley National Park, Cuyahoga Falls, OH 44223