John Simon, Bloomberg News: "It is lucky enough when a replacement cast can match the original one; it is more than serendipitous when the newcomers surpass their predecessors. That is the case with "A Little Night Music," which resumes after a recess, with Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch taking over for Catherine Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury, respectively."
Elisabeth Vincentelli,
NY Post: "With everybody firing on all cylinders, Nunn's spare, twilit staging finally makes sense, and even the smallness of the orchestra feels appropriate. This is about presenting Sondheim's sorry-grateful, regretful-happy take on love, sex and marriage without pretenses or adornments -- but with plenty of style and wit. How adult!"
Liz Smith: "But Bernadette Peters has never had a role that suited her quite so superbly as her brilliant, joyful, irrepressible, humane and generous "middle-aged" actress in this, Sondheim's very best work. I know he didn't write it with her in mind; but it has come to pass. Many have been entertaining in the role but none come up to Bernadette who is perfect."
Matt Windman, AM New York: "Trevor Nunn's scaled-down production looks visually exquisite, but the lighting is too dim, the pacing is too slow and the orchestra is too reduced. But with Peters and Stritch joining a strong supporting cast, Sondheim's romantic musical continues to ring out with divinity. Now send in the audience!"
Joe Dziemianowicz, NY Daily News: "Suddenly, the Stephen Sondheim-Hugh Wheeler musical is aglow with a brilliant and irresistible warmth. Don't credit the climate. Thank Bernadette Peters, who's assumed the role of Desiree Armfeldt, the famous but fading actress played to Tony-winning effect by Catherine Zeta-Jones."
Thom Geier, Entertainment Weekly: "A certain balance has been restored to A Little Night Music in its current incarnation. As the song goes: Isn't it rich! A-"
