> A Little Night Music opened at the Shubert Theatre on February 25,
1973 with a cast that featured Glynis Johns (Desirie), Len Cariou
(Fredrik), Victoria Mallory (Anne), Laurence Guittard (Carl-Magnus),
and Patricia Elliott (Charlotte). The production ran for 600
performances and went on to win five Tony Awards including "Best
Musical," "Best Music and Lyrics," "Best Book," "Best Actress in a
Musical" (Glynis Johns), and "Best Supporting Actress in a Musical"
(Patricia Elliott). The 1978 film version featured Elizabeth Taylor
and Len Cariou.
Great synopsis, Sis! Although I have never seen 'A Little Night
Music' performed I have read it and own the cast album on vinyl & cd.
Every song in this musical is a waltz, written in 3/4 time. There are
some other great songs from this show and some of the best lyrics I
have ever heard from a Broadway musical.
'Send in the Clowns' comes toward the end of the show. Desiree is
tired of 'The Glamorous Life' of being an actress and wants to settle
down. Fredrik has come back into her life and is obviously
ill-matched with the young & virginal Anne, so Desiree has decided she
should marry him once he's free of his wife. However, at the point of
the play where Desiree proposes this arrangement to Fredrik, he is not
yet ready to give up his marriage. He apologizes to Desiree for
'flirting with rescue with no intention of being saved' and leaves her
alone in her boudoir. She then sings:
Isn't it rich?
Are we a pair?
Me here at last on the ground
You in mid air
Where are the clowns?
Isn't it bliss?
Don't you approve?
One who keeps tearing around
One who can't move
Where are the clowns?
There ought to be clowns
Just when I'd stopped
Opening doors
Finally knowing the one that I wanted
Was yours
Making my entrance again
With my usual flair
Sure of my lines
No-one is there
Don't you love farce?
My fault I fear
I thought that you'd want what I want
Sorry, my dear
And where are the clowns?
Quick send in the clowns
Don't bother, they're here
Isn't it rich?
Isn't it queer?
Losing my timing this late
In my career
And where are the clowns
There ought to be clowns
Well maybe next year.
At the end of the play when many rather farcical goings-on have
finally caused Fredrik to see the light, he & Desiree sing a reprise:
Desiree: Isn't it rich?
Fredrik: Are we a pair?
You here at last on the ground
Desiree: You in mid air
Desiree: Was that a farce?
Fredrik: My fault, I fear
Desiree: Me as a merry-go-round
Fredrik: Me as King Lear
(musical interlude)
Fredrik: Make way for the clowns
Desiree: Applause for the clowns
Both: They're finally here.....
Some of the first vinyl lps I ever owned were movie soundtracks &
original Broadway cast albums. The Broadway musical has change a
great deal from the days of Rogers & Hammerstein. I think Sondheim
refined it to its highest peak thus far and the score of 'A Little
Night Music' is a prime example of what the form can be. Some day I
hope to see a good stage production of it. It's due for a revival so
maybe someday a good touring company will hit Seattle. Unfortunately,
the movie was rather bad. I finally rented it a few years ago and
although I love Elizabeth Taylor (she was a HOOT in 'These Old Broads
the other night, btw) and I think she was ok as Desiree, the movie as
a whole pretty much sucked.
But anyway, that's the context of 'Send in the Clowns.' Thanks, Sis!
Mark in Seattle
