Swedish farce full of class
ARTS Acclaimed cast brings award winner to GPAC
A SCANDALOUS drama set in the summer of 1900 in Sweden is set to arrive in Geelong next month. follows the farcical romantic adventures of an eclectic group of characters — including an ageing actor, her ex-lover, a buffoonish count and his long-suffering wife — intertwined through complex romantic relationships.
The play’s director Nicholas Cannon said there were funny characters, absurd moments and quite tense scenes with humour and sarcasm.
The “very talented” cast of 14 includes a quintet that acts like a chorus and has moments of singing and reflecting on the action.
Cannon said the cast included experienced, established performers, as well as top-quality, up and coming performers.
“The experience for them is going to be fantastic, it’s a really, really talented ensemble,” he said.
has won four Tony Awards, including best musical, best book and best original score.
The music and lyrics are by Oscar winner Stephen Sondheim
The farce, based on Ingmar Bergman’s film premiered in 1973.
This rendition of the classic drama is being brought to GPAC by Watch This, a grassroots organisation that performs musical theatre in Melbourne and regional Victoria.
Cannon said the show’s opening night would take place in Geelong, before it moved to other Victorian locations.
He said “all adults” would enjoy and it would suit audiences aged 13 and up.
“It looks at people from the ages of 13 up to ... a character who’s quite elderly,” Cannon said.
“It’s all about embracing life, no matter what age you are.”
Cannon said he loved “how the music really creates the emotion and the drama of the scene”.
“We have characters that sing such powerful music, and such reflective music,” he said.
“What I love about this show is the slightly odd collection of characters and the tension between their public faces and their more unruly, comfortable realities or desires.
“So although it’s set at the turn of the last century, there’s an immediate parallel with our own time and how we curate our lives for public consumption via social media.”
He said the play was also “incredibly witty”.
Watch This has previously visited Geelong twice, in 2014 with and 2016 to showcase There will be four performances of A Little Night Music at GPAC from February 22-24. For performance times and to buy tickets, visit gpac.com.au or call 5225 1200.