A spell was cast as we were greeted on arrival at the intimate setting of Theatre@41 by the enchanting Liebeslieder Singers/The Quintet, who whisked us off for a magical evening of A Little Night Music (the iconic musical by Stephen Sondheim) with their opening musical number Night Waltz. Overlapping la-la-las sung with such precision and passion set the bar for the superb singing we were to be treated to from this talented cast, directed with great skill, style and insight by Helen ‘Bells' Spencer, understanding "that love is rarely simple, frequently ill-timed, and deeply human."

The Quintet Singers (Emma Burke, Hannah Thomson, Rachel Merry, Matthew Oglesby and Richard Pascoe) linked the scenes together, acting like a Greek chorus but also like Shakespeare’s Puck, mischievously playing with the mixed-up mortals they encountered, positioning principals into place at the beginning of various scenes – a most effective dramatic device. Their singing was sublime, and they moved with such grace and poise; (seamless choreography by Quintet member Rachel Merry) their musical number Remember being a particular harmonies highlight.

We met middle-aged lawyer Fredrik Egerman (Jason Weightman ) and his 18-year-old wife, Anne (Alexandra Mather) and soon learned that their marriage of 11months was yet to be consummated. A recipe for disaster, particularly when you added to the mix Fredrick’s increasingly moody, mixed-up son Henrik Egerman (James Pegg ) who was clearly smitten by his vivacious and beautiful step-mother.

James Pegg played this role with real conviction; his often gloomy mood was reflected brilliantly in his morose cello playing (spot-on timing from cello player Catherine Strachan).

The Band, directed so ably by the multi-talented James Robert Ball, was a joy to experience, with each musical number an absolute gem, in perfect sync with the singers – we could have been experiencing a West End show, and you were completely immersed in the music and storyline. All credit too to Wardrobe Mistress Suzanne Perkins for the sumptuous, breathtaking costumes that dazzled and delighted us.

Maggie Smales shone in her role as wise but world-weary elder Madame Armeldt, delivering her many pithy putdowns from her sturdily built wooden wheelchair with great zeal and timing. Libby Greenhill was like a breath of fresh air, as was her young, earnest granddaughter, Fredrika. Chris Gibson was Madame’s servant Frid, who showed that there was more to his character than met the eye in his saucy encounter with promiscuous Petra, a fellow servant (playfully portrayed with a twinkle in her roving eye by Katie Brier).

Alexandra Mather gave an outstanding performance as Frederik’s young wife, Anne, the poignancy of her position captured so well in the superb Now/Later/Soon musical number sung so movingly by Fredrik, Henrik and Anne.

Helen ‘Bells' Spencer was a tour de force as Frederik’s old flame Desiree; her facial expressions were a joy to behold during Fredrik’s insensitive You Must Meet My Wife musical number, then later creating a complete change of mood as you felt her despair when she poured her heart into the iconic song Send In The Clowns.

It was wonderful hearing this song in context ( I loved Judy Collins’ version, which hit the charts back in1973, but ‘Bells’ made this her own, and held us all in the palm of her hand with her mesmerising performance). Jason Weightman was outstanding in his role of middle-aged Fredrik, and he lived and breathed Fredrik’s confusion, desire, and guilt, which came over so very well in his compelling stage presence when Desiree sang Send In The Clowns.

Sanna Jeppsson brought real poignancy to her role as Countess Charlotte Malcolm, which contrasted well with her icy comic interjections in regard to her blustering buffoon of a husband, Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm (brilliantly portrayed by Nick Sephton) who liked nothing better than to posture, pose and challenge perceived foes to a duel!

A wonderfully “tender, witty, devastating, and deeply life-affirming show”, well worth taking time out to see.

A Little Night Music at Theatre@41 Monkgate, York, until Saturday 28 February 2026