WELL, “wrong” is a strong word; this particular weekend actually works out for the best for all the parties — except maybe for Madame Armfeldt — even if the outcomes were not quite what they expected. At least they can open the best champagne. This bittersweet tale, which merges comedy and drama is A Little Night Music, music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim, book by Hugh Wheeler, at Theatre On The Bay until 12 July 2026, presented by Cape Town Opera. More info here.
Lawyer Fredrik Egerman (Jonathan Roxmouth, see the interview here) is of a certain age and married to Anne (Liné Jordaan) who is as young as Frederik wishes he still was. There’s not much happening in the bedroom for these two as Anne remains a skittish virgin after 11 months. Fredrik’s son Henrik (William Young) is painfully serious, with his books and cello and theology but secretly in love with Anne, and generally annoyed at the adults. I think you can see this would be a far better match, age-wise at least.
Fredrik takes Anne to see a play which stars his old flame Desirée Armfeldt (Samantha Peo). To her youthful credit, the connection doesn’t go unnoticed by Anne, who flounces out in a huff. Rather than console her, obviously, Fredrik goes to visit Desirée, irresistible and glamorous and wrapped up in memories of their time together. But then…her current lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcom (Marcel Meyer), a pompous military man drops in. He is outraged by Fredrik’s presence, particularly in his (Malcolm’s) robe. He can only leap to one conclusion, which fuels his jealousy.
Incensed, he goes home to his beleaguered wife Charlotte (Kate Normington, always such a joy) and tells her everything. What does she do? Goes to see Anne and share the news of course. Desirée decides the best thing to do is invite everyone to spend a weekend at her mother’s country estate, where Madame Armfeldt (Aviva Pelham — could this cast be any more star-studded?) lives in matriarchal wisdom with her granddaughter Fredrika (Mia-Cecilia Kriel) who receives her advice at her knee. She just happens to be about the age since Fredrik and Desirée’s affair. Is she? Could she be? “Not everything is about you, Fredrik,” Desirée tells him. Is she being honest? Who knows. She is an actress after all, albeit one past her prime.
As for the glittering cast, it can in fact be fleshed out with more stars, like CTO’s house soloist Brittany Smith, as Petra, Anne’s maidservant, who is, shall we say, an experienced and forthright girl who has worldly advice for her mistress, as well as for Henrik…
All the behind the scenes details are in the link at the top of this article, but I would like to offer praise for the set design which is against a mirrored backdrop which gives such an interesting perspectives of the players, and a view from behind we don’t normally get to see, as well as clever reflections. Musical director José Dias accompanies on the piano, centre stage, with his back to the audience, present but understated. Perhaps one can see his face from seats different to our own, but it was an exciting moment when he rose and turned around to take his bow. There is mostly one set, with upright pianos cleverly serving more purposes than those for which they were intended, and the lighting guides the story.
The musical is funny, laugh out loud, chortle and guffaw funny, thanks to the razor sharp and witty dialogue perfectly delivered with nuanced timing. These professionals know when to pause to allow us to laugh, at them and perhaps at ourselves too, as we consider follies we can all recognise.
PHOTO CREDIT: Jeremeo Le Cordeur
