After enchanting audiences worldwide since its Broadway debut in 1973, A Little Night Music, a romantic comedy musical, opens at Richmond’s Gateway Theatre this weekend.
Set in Sweden circa 1900, the musical explores a tangled web of various couples who meet during a weekend at a lavish country estate where they discover that who they came with may not be who they truly belong with. However, in true romantic comedy fashion, everything is sorted out in the end, according to the director Peter Jorgensen.
“You can call it a comedy, but it also has dark moments, which is nice,” he said.
He added that, unlike many stories that focus on only one couple, this show discovers the love and desire of people at all ages and stages of life, which makes it “very rich.”
Having directed numerous award-winning productions, Jorgensen said one of the things that makes this musical very special is its music, created by the renowned Broadway composer Stephen Sondheim.
“The music is one of the most amazing pieces...It gives the actors a lot to go on,” said Jorgensen.
“And the lyrics are astonishing. It’s not just word play, but an extension of the story and really adds to the story,” he added.
Based on Ingmar Bergman’s comedy film Smiles of a Summer Night, Sondheim collaborated with playwright Hugh Wheeler to adapt the original film into a sophisticated musical.
A Little Night Musichas won four Tony Awards, featuring Sondheim’s popular song, the haunting Send in the Clowns.
The performance will star Warren Kimmel and Katey Wright, and feature a number of local actors.
“We have a wonderful cast, from top to bottom, and a great production team,” said Jorgensen.
“I hope the musical will transport the audience to a beautiful summer night in 1900 in Sweden… make them smile, and that they will go away feeling really good.”
A Little Night Musicruns from Oct. 12 — 21 at Gateway Theatre’s Mainstage. For more information, check GatewayTheatre.com.
