A Little Night Music - With Lansbury and Zeta-Jones?

In his column yesterday, Michael Riedel of the New York Post wrote that the upcoming Broadway transfer of Trevor Nunn's acclaimed London production of A Little Night Music will very likely star Angela Lansbury (Madame Armfeldt) and Catherine Zeta-Jones (Desiree Armfeldt). There hasn't been any official announcement about casting, but the production is tentatively scheduled to begin performances in December at the Walter Kerr Theater.

Rumors have been circulating for weeks about Angela Lansbury's involvement in A Little Night Music, but this is the first I've heard about Catherine Zeta-Jones. I'm not sure what I think of CZJ as Desiree. She certainly has musical-theater experience, but I didn't think she really deserved an Oscar for the movie version of "Chicago." She was fine, but unexceptional.

But, irrespective of whether CZJ can pull off the part, there's the Antonio Banderas factor to consider. It's very unlikely that the recent Broadway revival of Nine would have gotten off the ground if it hadn't been for his presence, and as long as he stayed with the show, it did terrific business. But as soon as he left, business plummeted, despite the presence of replacement Guido John Stamos.

I have a sneaking suspicion that the same dynamic will play out with CZJ in Night Music. There's no question that she'll be a huge box-office draw, but once she leaves, the show will likely close. Unless, of course, they can get some other Hollywood star to take her place. (Rene Zellwegger as Desiree? The mind boggles...) And what are the odds that CZJ is likely to stick around for more than 6 months, a year tops? 

I adore A Little Night Music, and have been longing for a strong Broadway revival of the show, of which this production would be the first. I'm not usually a pie-in-the-sky kind of guy, and I know that the economic realities and vagaries of producing a Broadway show can induce producers to find ways to mitigate their risk. I can certainly understand the producers' wanting to bring in a name, but there's a part of me that wishes they would rely on the strength of the show itself and the quality of the production.

Comments

[Justin]

If you could pick, who would you want for Frederik?

[Geoff]

Wow. You voiced every single concern I have about this upcoming production...except one. Doesn't the Walter Kerr strike you as being...well, a bit cozy for a show like "Night Music?" What kind of orchestra can we expect for a show in the Kerr? I'm guessing that Johnathan Tunick's stunning string-heavy orchestrations will be thrown out in favor of...who knows what. Say what you will about the merits of the recent revivals of "South Pacific" and "West Side Story," but those shows have Honest-to-God orchestras and people get a chance to hear what they are supposed to sound like. Doesn't "Night Music," a top score from one of our top theatre composers, deserve the same?

[Encore Entertainment]

C, I had heard somewhere that Kristin Scott Thomas was in talks to star in a performance of this musical...I know she's not a Broadway star/singer, but remember Glynis Johns was not a singer either...and I feel she's a really good actress. I don't mind CZJ, but it seems like such an obvious casting choice. Oh, well I won't be seeing it anyway...not an American. [sighs]

[ccaggiano]

Geoff: Unfortunately, I think we can assume that the sound won't be nearly as lush as that of the original. South Pacific is under the auspices of a non-profit, and West Side is a major blockbuster in a huge theater that was built to accommodate a huge orchestra. So I think your fears are warranted.

I must shamefacedly confess that I don't really pay much attention to orchestrations, unless they're egregious. A number of my fellow bloggers had major issues with the recent Sunday revival, and the pared-down orchestrations, but that didn't really bother me.

Two recent musicals that played the Walter Kerr -- A Catered Affair and Grey Gardens -- sounded just fine to me. I understand that many people place an awful lot of stock in the fullness of the orchestra. But I guess I'm just not one of those people.

[ccaggiano]

Not sure I care to speculate. But if CZJ is any indication, it seems as though they might skew a bit younger than Len Cariou was.

[ccaggiano]

Kristin Scott Thomas is playing Desiree in a Paris production of ALNM. Would love to see that, but I don't think it's in the cards. Perhaps the broadway producers can incite her to step in after CZJ leaves.

[Monica]

I would hop on the first train from Chicago to see the show simply if Angela Lansbury was playing Madame Armfeldt because I think she would be perfect for the show. I would like to think that Angela Lansbury would be a draw for audiences, but I don't know.

And, I think that CZJ could be good in the role. She might not be a revelation, but she has the chance to be good. But there is also the chance that it could fail if she was in the show and she left because most "tourist audiences" probably don't know what ALNM is.

But this might just be a rumor. There might be someone else the producers are thinking of, I hope.

[Rogue Zentradi]

This production of Night Music originally played in London at the Menier Chocolate Factory, which seats about 200. It subsequently transferred to the Garrick, which (according to theatremonkey) seats 650, so intimacy is not a problem.

The orchestra in both locations was, I believe, five players. I didn't know the show well before so didn't miss anything musically, but I also saw it at the Chocolate Factory and it may have sounded emptier in the Garrick.

[ccaggiano]

Thanks, RZ. Sounds as though we're in for some chamber orchestrations at the Kerr.

[Greg]

I don't see CJZ having the requisite warmth AND dry writ that Desiree needs, but maybe I'll be surprised. Emma Thompson, on the other hand....