Based on Ingmar Bergman's classic film "Smiles of a Summer Night", the show features a brilliant score and Sondheim's quintessential hit "Send in the Clowns."
Throughout the story, a quartet of Liebesleders (Kitty Cleveland, ) circulates through the show, telling the intricately interwoven story of a glamorous actress, Desiree Armfeldt. She is a well-known actress forever out on tour, performing in plays across the country. Her 12-year-old daughter Frederika lives with Desiree's mother, the imperious Madame Armfeldt (Pauline Prelutsky.) Desiree's tour brings her to the town where her former flame the Lawyer Frederik Egerman resides. Frederik, in the folly of ...Read More
Based on Ingmar Bergman's classic film "Smiles of a Summer Night", the show features a brilliant score and Sondheim's quintessential hit "Send in the Clowns."
Throughout the story, a quartet of Liebesleders (Kitty Cleveland, ) circulates through the show, telling the intricately interwoven story of a glamorous actress, Desiree Armfeldt. She is a well-known actress forever out on tour, performing in plays across the country. Her 12-year-old daughter Frederika lives with Desiree's mother, the imperious Madame Armfeldt (Pauline Prelutsky.) Desiree's tour brings her to the town where her former flame the Lawyer Frederik Egerman resides. Frederik, in the folly of middle age has taken for his wife a young girl named Anne (Amy Alvarez). She is only a few months older than his son, Henrik (Vatican Lokey), a seminary student home on break from school. Even as she denies Frederik in bed, he is blind to the natural attraction growing between Anne & Henrik. Called to the theatre to take care of some legal paperwork, Frederik encounters his old flame Desiree, and the embers of their former affair are rekindled. That is, until the arrival of Count Karl-Magnus Malcom, Desiree's current assignation. Meanwhile, back at home Anne is determined to arouse Henrik from his cello, and nearly accomplishes her task until the entrance of the saucy maid Petra (Jan Esthus). Henrik bolts from the room, leaving the two girls to talk about the men. Back from his liason with Desiree, Karl-Magnus complains to his acerbic wife Charlotte (Nancy Ross) that his mistress is having an affair! Charlotte, remaining civil as she dies a little inside, is sent by Karl-Magnus to visit with Anne...to reveal Frederik's disloyalty. The next day, Charlotte arrives to meet Anne, and the two become fast friends. Charlotte reveals her reason for visiting unannounced, and lament the hold which the actress has upon their husbands. Suddenly, invitations arrive at the homes of the Egermans and the Malcoms for a weekend in the country...at the Armfeldt Estate. Fortified with Madame Armfeldt's special cordial celebrating midsummer's eve, the games begin between all the players and the night is filled with the follies and foibles of the players.
|