| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
type |
TVTItem |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
label |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
page |
ALittleNightMusic |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
comment |
A Little Night Music is a 1973 musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by Hugh Wheeler, based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night.The score is notable for having been written almost entirely in waltz time (3/4) or multiples thereof (only 11 bars of underscoring and the Cut Song "Two Fairy Tales" are in Common Time), and for featuring Sondheim's only major pop hit, "Send in the Clowns." The show was a hit, and is considered one of Sondheim's greatest works (it's also one of the lightest and most accessible, Forum and Into the Woods aside, which makes it a great introduction for nascent Sondheim fans). It concerns a series of interconnected Love Triangles, which end up resolving themselves on a summer's night.The plot, set in Sweden around 1900, is centered around a rekindled romance between just-barely-fading starlet Desirée Armfeldt and newly re-married lawyer Fredrik Egerman. Fredrik is married to a much younger woman, Anne, who is the subject of his son Henrik's adoration; Desirée is having an affair with a married dragoon, Carl-Magnus, whose wife Charlotte knows Anne through her younger sister. Eventually they all end up at Desirée's mother's house in the country. Hilarity (among other things) Ensues.There have been numerous revival productions over the years in both New York and London. Adapted into a 1977 film, directed by Harold Prince and starring Elizabeth Taylor as Desirée. The stage show was filmed for TV at Lincoln Center in 1990.Not to be confused with the Mozart composition. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
fetched |
2023-07-15T01:13:37Z |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
parsed |
2023-07-15T01:13:37Z |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
processingComment |
Dropped link to PatterSong: Not a Feature - ITEM |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
isPartOf |
DBTropes |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_10dcbe05 |
type |
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_10dcbe05 |
comment |
Aw, Look! They Really Do Love Each Other: Charlotte is elated when she manages to make Carl-Magnus jealous, taking it as proof that deep down he loves her. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_10dcbe05 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_10dcbe05 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_10dcbe05 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_126ce03c |
type |
I Was Quite a Looker |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_126ce03c |
comment |
I Was Quite a Looker: In "Liaisons," Mme. Armfeldt recounts how she made her fortune by seducing various royals. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_126ce03c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_126ce03c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_126ce03c |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_1c571556 |
type |
The Tease |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_1c571556 |
comment |
The Tease: Anne and Petra enjoy being this towards Fredrik. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_1c571556 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_1c571556 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_1c571556 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_222969af |
type |
All There in the Script |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_222969af |
comment |
All There in the Script: The Greek Chorus is Mr. Lindquist, Mrs. Nordstrom, Mrs. Segstrom, Mr. Erlanson, and Mrs. Anderssen. None of them are ever called by name. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_222969af |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_222969af |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_222969af |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_234fa9ba |
type |
May–December Romance |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_234fa9ba |
comment |
May–December Romance: Anne and Fredrik. However, they don't end up together, and this is portrayed as a good thing. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_234fa9ba |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_234fa9ba |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_234fa9ba |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_26ac510e |
type |
Mythology Gag |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_26ac510e |
comment |
Mythology Gag: In Smiles of a Summer Night, Fredrik falls into some water at Desirée's house, soaking his clothes, and so Desirée gives him Carl-Magnus's robe to wear while he waits for them to dry; Carl-Magnus arrives and is outraged, suspecting shenanigans. In A Little Night Music, the innocent explanation is dispensed with: Fredrik and Desirée actually do have sex. But when Carl-Magnus arrives, they tell him that Fredrik fell in the water, and so Desirée gave him Carl-Magnus's robe to wear while he waits for his clothes to dry... |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_26ac510e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_26ac510e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_26ac510e |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2848e7d2 |
type |
Oblivious to Love |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2848e7d2 |
comment |
Oblivious to Love: Anne. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2848e7d2 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2848e7d2 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2848e7d2 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_29d26001 |
type |
Spoiled Sweet |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_29d26001 |
comment |
Spoiled Sweet: Anne can be willful and petulant, but also sweet, innocent, and loving. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_29d26001 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_29d26001 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_29d26001 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2cac89cf |
type |
The Ingenue |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2cac89cf |
comment |
The Ingenue: Anne, right down to the soprano. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2cac89cf |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2cac89cf |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2cac89cf |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf |
type |
Hidden Depths |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf |
comment |
Hidden Depths: Petra seems like a fun-loving, flirtatious, carefree girl, until "The Miller's Son" reveals her more reflective side. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_2dc0d2bf |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_34e89418 |
type |
A Birthday, Not a Break |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_34e89418 |
comment |
A Birthday, Not a Break: It's Charlotte's birthday. So, naturally, her husband drags her to the country so he can see his mistress and challenge his romantic rival to a duel. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_34e89418 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_34e89418 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_34e89418 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_373e2b9f |
type |
Murder the Hypotenuse |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_373e2b9f |
comment |
Murder the Hypotenuse: Carl-Magnus's attempts to keep Fredrik away from Desirée are nasty, but when he thinks Fredrik is having an affair with Charlotte he turns flat-out murderous. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_373e2b9f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_373e2b9f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_373e2b9f |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_424d15ad |
type |
Love Hurts |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_424d15ad |
comment |
Love Hurts: Multiple characters can attest. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_424d15ad |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_424d15ad |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_424d15ad |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4523420b |
type |
Love Dodecahedron |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4523420b |
comment |
The music is mostly in waltz time (3/4) or variations thereof, incorporating a few trios ("Now/Later/Soon"), along with duets sung about a third person ("You Must Meet My Wife" and "It Would Have Been Wonderful" most prominently). The cast is, apart from Madame Armfeldt and Fredrika, structured into a series of interlocking love triangles (see Love Dodecahedron above). The summer night smiles three times (or twice in the film adaptation). |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4523420b |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4523420b |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4523420b |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f10672d |
type |
Wrong Guy First |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f10672d |
comment |
Wrong Guy First: By the end, everyone is with the partner they truly love. Anne has left Fredrik for Henrik, Desirée has called off her affair with Carl-Magnus and she and Fredrik are reunited. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f10672d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f10672d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f10672d |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f773434 |
type |
Wise Beyond Their Years |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f773434 |
comment |
Wise Beyond Their Years: Fredrika, Desirée's daughter, is the youngest character by far (she's implied to be roughly 10-12 years old), and also the wisest. Her solemn attitude and musings about love border on off-putting, but she's ultimately kind and uses her wisdom to help others. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f773434 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f773434 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_4f773434 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5062bd9d |
type |
Unknowingly in Love |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5062bd9d |
comment |
Unknowingly in Love: Anne is not only oblivious to her awkward stepson's feelings for her, but also to her own feelings about him, which she only realizes at the end. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5062bd9d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5062bd9d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5062bd9d |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_50b9b3d0 |
type |
Crazy Jealous Guy |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_50b9b3d0 |
comment |
Crazy Jealous Guy: Carl-Magnus. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_50b9b3d0 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_50b9b3d0 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_50b9b3d0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_52d1f46e |
type |
Not What It Looks Like |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_52d1f46e |
comment |
Not What It Looks Like: Anne and Fredrik walk in on Petra... fixing Henrik's pants. Although no one actually says the magic words, and while it's not sexual itself, it does happen right after Henrik and Petra's attempt at sex (see The Loins Sleep Tonight above). |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_52d1f46e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_52d1f46e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_52d1f46e |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5913a45f |
type |
Glamorous Single Mother |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5913a45f |
comment |
Glamorous Single Mother: Deconstructed. Although Desirée sings a song about living "The Glamorous Life," the irony is that her life as a touring actress is shabby and chaotic. And while she used to raise Fredrika on her own, Mme. Armfeldt eventually stepped in and insisted Fredrika be brought up in her mansion instead of joining Desirée on tour. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5913a45f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5913a45f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5913a45f |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5d513961 |
type |
Medley Overture |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5d513961 |
comment |
Medley Overture: Instead of the usual orchestral overture, the Greek Chorus sings a wordless medley of "Remember?," "Soon" and "The Glamorous Life" (on the cast recording due to space limitations, this is abridged to just the first song). |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5d513961 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5d513961 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5d513961 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5dd191ec |
type |
Wife Husbandry |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5dd191ec |
comment |
Wife Husbandry: Fredrik was friends with Anne's father. She even called him "Uncle Fredrik." |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5dd191ec |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5dd191ec |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_5dd191ec |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11 |
type |
Innocent Soprano |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11 |
comment |
Innocent Soprano: Anne is a naive teenager married to a much older man, but is explicitly still a virgin and does not fully grasp the concept of marriage. She is a soprano, going up to A5. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_65dfbf11 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_74149c93 |
type |
Epic Rocking |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_74149c93 |
comment |
Epic Rocking: "A Weekend In The Country", only upbeat and hilarious — a Gilbert-and-Sullivan-style first-act Finale. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_74149c93 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_74149c93 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_74149c93 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_77a55dfa |
type |
Endless Daytime |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_77a55dfa |
comment |
Endless Daytime: Act II has a thematically appropriate but otherwise Irrelevant Act Opener by the chorus called "The Sun Won't Set", in which it stays twilight till around 11 PM (because Act II takes place near the Arctic Circle during summer). |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_77a55dfa |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_77a55dfa |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_77a55dfa |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_7a82c3d2 |
type |
All Love Is Unrequited |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_7a82c3d2 |
comment |
All Love Is Unrequited: Pretty much straight through, until the end. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_7a82c3d2 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_7a82c3d2 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_7a82c3d2 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_842426f3 |
type |
Grande Dame |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_842426f3 |
comment |
Grande Dame: Mme. Armfeldt is the nicer version. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_842426f3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_842426f3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_842426f3 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_85cefc44 |
type |
Sympathetic Adulterer |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_85cefc44 |
comment |
Sympathetic Adulterer: Given his wife has continually put off consummating their marriage, whom eventually runs off with his son, and he is genuinely still in love with Desirée, it's hard to judge Fredrick for starting an affair. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_85cefc44 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_85cefc44 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_85cefc44 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1 |
type |
Tenor Boy |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1 |
comment |
Tenor Boy: Henrik, whose music is even more punishing than Anne's. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_8e81efd1 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9203bf6 |
type |
Arc Number |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9203bf6 |
comment |
Arc Number: Three, as one of the most striking examples in theatre. See Rule of Three below. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9203bf6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9203bf6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9203bf6 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab |
type |
Betty and Veronica |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab |
comment |
Betty and Veronica: Desirée as Archie, Fredrik as Betty, Carl-Magnus as Veronica. Alternatively, Fredrik as Archie, Desirée as Veronica, Anne as Betty. The Henrik/Anne/Petra triangle kinda fits this as well. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_94e4c8ab |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9820c37a |
type |
Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior! |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9820c37a |
comment |
Screw Politeness, I'm a Senior!: Mme. Armfeldt does not hold back on the sarcasm and disdain. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9820c37a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9820c37a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9820c37a |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9d0cfdb9 |
type |
Sex Is Evil, and I Am Horny |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9d0cfdb9 |
comment |
Sex Is Evil, and I Am Horny: Henrik does a very bad job of abstaining from the "devil's snares". |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9d0cfdb9 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9d0cfdb9 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9d0cfdb9 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9ed90b36 |
type |
Elopement |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9ed90b36 |
comment |
Elopement: Anne and Henrik elope near the end of the play. Since Anne is already married to Henrik's father this is really the only option. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9ed90b36 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9ed90b36 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_9ed90b36 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a4a91366 |
type |
It's All Junk |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a4a91366 |
comment |
It's All Junk: A mild case occurs toward the end of the play, when Fredrika argues that love "is all there is." Madame Armfeldt, impressed by her wisdom, remarks that while she's accumulated every material possession imaginable, they never really made her happy: "When I was your age, I wanted...everything. The moon, jewels, yachts, villas on the Rivera! And I got them, too—for all the good they did me..." |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a4a91366 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a4a91366 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a4a91366 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a6cda066 |
type |
Rule of Three |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a6cda066 |
comment |
Rule of Three: The whole work is structured around threes and triangles. The music is mostly in waltz time (3/4) or variations thereof, incorporating a few trios ("Now/Later/Soon"), along with duets sung about a third person ("You Must Meet My Wife" and "It Would Have Been Wonderful" most prominently). The cast is, apart from Madame Armfeldt and Fredrika, structured into a series of interlocking love triangles (see Love Dodecahedron above). The summer night smiles three times (or twice in the film adaptation). In original orchestrator Jonathan Tunick's foreword in the published script of the show, he takes this a step further, saying how the show is about the unstable three progressing into the stable two—by the end all of the love triangles are resolved. The original idea for the show was to go through the story three times - once as a tragedy (which would've ended with Fredrik committing suicide), once as a farce, and one final time where everything goes properly. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a6cda066 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a6cda066 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_a6cda066 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ad3e13c5 |
type |
The Loins Sleep Tonight |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ad3e13c5 |
comment |
The Loins Sleep Tonight: Poor, poor Henrik. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ad3e13c5 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ad3e13c5 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ad3e13c5 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 |
type |
Deadpan Snarker |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 |
comment |
Deadpan Snarker: Charlotte, Mme. Armfeldt, and Desirée (especially in "You Must Meet My Wife"). |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_ae3d6438 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b707726f |
type |
Hypocritical Humor |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b707726f |
comment |
Hypocritical Humor: Carl-Magnus sings an entire song about how men naturally expect fidelity... as he's actively cheating on Charlotte. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b707726f |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b707726f |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b707726f |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b8e3f20a |
type |
Demoted to Extra |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b8e3f20a |
comment |
Demoted to Extra: Frid plays an important part in Smiles of a Summer Night, but his role in the musical was essentially reduced to one scene. Even his song was cut. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b8e3f20a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b8e3f20a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_b8e3f20a |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bcd27e37 |
type |
Improbable Aiming Skills |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bcd27e37 |
comment |
Improbable Aiming Skills: Carl-Magnus shows off his ability to throw a fruit knife exactly on the eye of a woman in a portrait. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bcd27e37 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bcd27e37 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bcd27e37 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bf1255fa |
type |
Really Gets Around |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bf1255fa |
comment |
Really Gets Around: Petra is quite liberal in terms of sexuality. Her song "The Miller's Son" provides some interesting perspective on her actions: she knows that she'll eventually marry and settle down, and wants to "celebrate what passes by" while she still has the chance. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bf1255fa |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bf1255fa |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_bf1255fa |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c45237fb |
type |
Dialogue Tree |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c45237fb |
comment |
Dialogue Tree: Fredrik's thoughts take this shape in the song "Now". |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c45237fb |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c45237fb |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c45237fb |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c57293d6 |
type |
Chastity Couple |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c57293d6 |
comment |
Chastity Couple: Fredrik and Anne have a lot of affection for each other but they haven't consummated their marriage a year into it. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c57293d6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c57293d6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c57293d6 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c75df49a |
type |
Shout-Out |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c75df49a |
comment |
Shout-Out: During the climax of "A Weekend in the Country," Sondheim's orchestrator Jonathan Tunick quotes the opening horn call from Richard Strauss's opera Der Rosenkavalier, another high-society musical sex comedy. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c75df49a |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c75df49a |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_c75df49a |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_cb7fda55 |
type |
Minor Character, Major Song |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_cb7fda55 |
comment |
Minor Character, Major Song: Petra is a minor role, serving as occasional comic relief, until her insightful solo "The Miller's Son." |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_cb7fda55 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_cb7fda55 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_cb7fda55 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 |
type |
Broken Bird |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 |
comment |
Broken Bird: Charlotte. Her husband's disregard for her feelings makes her feel dead inside. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d08595d3 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d2b59903 |
type |
Cool Old Lady |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d2b59903 |
comment |
Cool Old Lady: Madame Leanora Armfeldt, in spades. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d2b59903 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d2b59903 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d2b59903 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d678747d |
type |
Sex with the Ex |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d678747d |
comment |
Sex with the Ex: Fredrik and Desirée engage in this. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d678747d |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d678747d |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_d678747d |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dc057cf3 |
type |
Adaptation Name Change |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dc057cf3 |
comment |
Adaptation Name Change: Henrik's name was changed to Erich in the film, due to the setting being moved from Sweden to Vienna. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dc057cf3 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dc057cf3 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dc057cf3 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dcb9c541 |
type |
Ship Tease |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dcb9c541 |
comment |
Ship Tease: Anne and Petra's "I'm a boy!" scene in her bedroom. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dcb9c541 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dcb9c541 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_dcb9c541 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e0e8cce6 |
type |
Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids! |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e0e8cce6 |
comment |
Silly Rabbit, Idealism Is for Kids!: Madame Armfeldt has this as her life philosophy. She believes that life is about the acquisition of money, power, and expensive things, and views concepts like love as a distraction from that goal. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e0e8cce6 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e0e8cce6 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e0e8cce6 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e25ae563 |
type |
Final Love Duet |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e25ae563 |
comment |
Final Love Duet: The finale/reprise of "Send in the Clowns". |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e25ae563 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e25ae563 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e25ae563 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e2d47c |
type |
The Diva |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e2d47c |
comment |
The Diva: Desirée. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e2d47c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e2d47c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e2d47c |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1 |
type |
Greek Chorus |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1 |
comment |
Greek Chorus: The Liebeslieders, a group of singers who comment on the story but never physically interact with the main characters. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e4d079c1 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e83f211c |
type |
O.O.C. Is Serious Business |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e83f211c |
comment |
O.O.C. Is Serious Business: At the end of the musical, Madame Armfeldt—who spends the whole play snarking about love and relationships—asks Fredrika "what it's all for." Fredrika gives a heartfelt defense of love—"It's all there is, isn't it?"—and Madame Armfedlt is so stunned that she drops her sarcasm and expresses genuine regret at her life choices, reminiscing about the relationships that could have been. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e83f211c |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e83f211c |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_e83f211c |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_edeafb2e |
type |
Malicious Misnaming |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_edeafb2e |
comment |
Malicious Misnaming: An envious Desirée does this in "You Must Meet My Wife". |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_edeafb2e |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_edeafb2e |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_edeafb2e |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fbd285b7 |
type |
Comically Missing the Point |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fbd285b7 |
comment |
Comically Missing the Point: Carl-Magnus continuously fails to grasp any of his wife's hints. When Charlotte informs him that Fredrik is heading to the Armfeldt home in the country, Carl-Magnus decides the best course of action... is to head there utterly uninvited like it's a party. Charlotte is utterly floored. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fbd285b7 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fbd285b7 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fbd285b7 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fcb75a9 |
type |
Movie Bonus Song |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fcb75a9 |
comment |
Movie Bonus Song: For the film version, Sondheim replaced "The Glamorous Life" with a completely different song with the same title, a solo for Fredrika about how her mother's career keeps them apart. |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fcb75a9 |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fcb75a9 |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_fcb75a9 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
type |
ItemName |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
comment |
|
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
featureApplicability |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
featureConfidence |
1.0 |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
hasFeature |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
| | A Little Night Music (Theatre) / int_name |
itemName |
A Little Night Music (Theatre) |
