PEBBLE MILL {A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC} (TV)
Summary
One in this series of British talk shows focusing on the performing arts. This edition is devoted to Stephen Sondheim's romantic comedy "A Little Night Music," set in late nineteenth-century Sweden, currently being revived by London's Royal National Theatre. Host Alan Titchmarsh gives a brief overview of the plot, after which a quintet consisting of Di Botcher, Stephen Hanley, Morag McLaren, John Owen-Jones, and Ernestina Quarcoo perform the group number "Remember?" Next, Laurence Guittard and Joanna Riding -- as couple approaching their first anniversary of a yet-unconsummated marriage -- sing "Now." Joining Titchmarsh, Riding explains her interpretation of the mood of the play, and Guittard talks about having played a different character in the original 1973 Broadway production and his experiences working with Elizabeth Taylor in the film version. Titchmarsh then shows his 1995 interview with Sondheim in which the composer discusses the following: why the British public appreciates his work even more than Americans; the reasons why "A Little Night Music" has been described as "whipped cream with knives"; the visual reinterpretations of his work with each new production; his first musical, written at the age of fifteen; and the events leading to his writing the lyrics for "West Side Story" and the influence of his mentor Oscar Hammerstein II. Sian Phillips, as Madame Armfeldt, then sings "Liaisons," a reminiscence of her past dalliances as a courtesan, and talks to Titchmarsh about her character's views on love, and her upcoming role as actress Marlene Dietrich. Titchmarsh's final guest is Judi Dench who recalls the variety of roles she has had in projects ranging from musical theater to James Bond films, and ends the program with her rendition of "Send in the Clowns."
Details
- NETWORK: BBC 1 (United Kingdom)
- DATE: January 25, 1996
- RUNNING TIME: 0:44:28
- COLOR/B&W: Color
- CATALOG ID: T:59529
- GENRE: Talk/Interviews
- SUBJECT HEADING: International Collection - United Kingdom; Interviews; Music, popular (songs, etc.); Musical revues, comedies, etc. - Excerpts; Theater
- SERIES RUN: BBC 1 (United Kingdom) - TV series, 1972-
- COMMERCIALS: N/A
CREDITS
- Helena Taylor … Producer
- Derek Hallworth … Director
- Melissa Feather … Researcher
- Dick Harris … Researcher
- Kate Southcott … Researcher
- Stephen Sondheim … Composer, Lyricist
- Mark W. Dorrell … Music (Misc.), Musical Director
- Alan Titchmarsh … Host
- Judi Dench … Cast, Desiree Armfeldt
- Laurence Guittard … Cast, Fredrik Egerman
- Sian Phillips … Cast, Madame Armfeldt
- Joanna Riding … Cast, Anne Egerman
- Di Botcher … Singer
- Stephen Hanley … Singer
- Morag McLaren … Singer
- John Owen-Jones … Singer
- Ernestina Quarcoo … Singer
- Marlene Dietrich
- Hammerstein, Oscar, II
- Elizabeth Taylor