From its production of Carousel in 2017, Union Avenue Opera learned that its audience wants to hear operatic voices in music from Broadway.

In its four subsequent seasons, Union Avenue has staged three more shows that premiered on Broadway. The most recent is the company’s current production of A Little Night Music, a brilliant work with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Hugh Wheeler’s book was suggested by the Ingmar Bergman film, Smiles of a Summer Night.

The Union Avenue staging is exactly what an audience of opera goers would want. The production has gorgeous music, insightful direction, outstanding principals, and convincing interpretations of all the characters.

The excellence begins with the orchestra’s playing of Sondheim’s score under conductor Scott Schoonover’s loving direction. The first of many singers to excel are the members of the quintet, who act as a Greek chorus as well as singing love songs. Its members are Joel Rogier, Gina Malone, Grace Yukiko Fisher, Philip Touchette, and Sarah Price. Touchette designed the supertitles projected on either side of the stage. I applaud the decision to include the dialogue in the supertitles as well as the lyrics.

The story unfolds with clarity and refinement under director Annamaria Pileggi, who displays a keen understanding of the characters, action, and period.

Debby Lennon and Peter Kendall Clark are splendid in the leading roles. Lennon is Desiree Armfeldt, a renowned actress. Clark is Frederick Egerman, a lawyer who was once Desiree’s lover. They meet again when Frederick and his very young second wife, Anne, attend a play starring Desiree. In Frederick, Desiree sees a chance to lead a more coherent existence than she ever has before. She sets her sights on him even though he is married and she is in a relationship with a vainglorious, empty-headed military officer. Lennon and Clark make Desiree and Frederick a most appealing couple who deserve to be together.

Brooklyn Snow’s Anne is lovely, charming, and obviously the wrong wife for Frederick. She is just as obviously right for Frederick’s son, Henrik, a divinity student who is Anne’s age. James Stevens has a sure grip on the angst of Henrik, whose raging hormones are at loggerheads with his calling to the ministry.

Arielle Pedersen is winsome as Desiree’s pubescent daughter, Fredrika. She lives with Desiree’s elderly mother, Madame Armfeldt, who has grown rich through liaisons with European royalty. Teresa Doggett gives Madame Armfeldt the imperious demeanor she needs to have. Doggett is also the designer of the lavish, beautiful costumes.

Eric J. McConnell is decorative, dense, and potentially deadly as Desiree’s jealous lover, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm. Leann Schuering captures the sadness in his much put-upon wife, Charlotte. As Petra, the Egermans’ maid, Amy Maude Helfer is smart, cheeky, and a sprightly soloist in “The Miller’s Son.”

The fine supporting cast includes Jordan Wolk as Madame Armfeldt’s butler, Frid; Raven Brooks as Desiree’s maid, Malla; Madeleine Buckley as Bertrand, a page; and Kay Love as Osa, a maid.

Christine Knoblauch-O’Neal choreographed an elegant waltz for the opening scene, but the production does not make elaborate dance numbers out of “A Weekend in the Country” and “The Miller’s Son.” This was undoubtedly the right choice. Union Avenue’s small stage is not the best place for exuberant choreography, so adding dancing ability to the casting requirements would not have been helpful.

C. Otis Sweezey’s scenic design uses two sets of attractive cutouts as backgrounds: one set for scenes in the city, the other for the weekend in the country. Patrick Huber’s lighting works well with both settings. Melissa Wohlwend created the hats; Wigboys.com provided the wigs. The Union Avenue crew works very hard to minimize the delay required to move heavy furniture on and off the stage.

A Little Night Music continues at 8 p.m. on August 26 and 27 at Union Avenue Christian Church, 733 North Union Boulevard. All visitors to Union Avenue Opera must wear a mask while in the building.

—Gerry Kowarsky

Photo by Dan Donovan
From left, Debby Lennon (Desiree) and Peter Kendall Clark (Frederick) in A Little Night Music.