Event information
Cape Town Opera presents a new production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music, directed by Fred Abrahamse with set design also by Abrahamse. The musical, with book by Hugh Wheeler, premiered on Broadway in 1973, winning six Tony Awards, including Best Musical. Its score, written almost entirely in 3/4 waltz time, includes "Send in the Clowns", "A Weekend in the Country" and "Every Day a Little Death".
Set in turn-of-the-century Sweden and inspired by Ingmar Bergman's 1955 film Smiles of a Summer Night, the story follows a web of former and would-be lovers - a lawyer, his young wife, a celebrated actress, a military count and his countess - whose lives collide over a single midsummer weekend. The narrative moves between comedy, regret, desire and romantic miscalculation.
The cast includes Aviva Pelham as Madame Armfeldt, Samantha Peo as Desirée Armfeldt, Jonathan Roxmouth as Fredrik Egerman, Marcel Meyer as Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm, Kate Normington as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, Liné Jordaan as Anne Egerman, William Young as Henrik Egerman, Mia-Cecilia Kriel as Fredrika Armfeldt, and CTO House Soloist Brittany Smith, whose portrayal of Maria in The Sound of Music earned her a Fleur du Cap Theatre Award in 2024. Musical direction is by José Dias, with costumes by Marcel Meyer, lighting by Nicolaas de Jongh and sound design by David Classen.
The production is rated PG13 for adult themes and sexual context. No children under 5 are admitted.