five singers that act as a Greek chorus. Sometimes referred to as the Liebeslieder Singers (love song singers) although Stephen Sondheim and Hugh Wheeler did not script them to have that title, using Quintet instead. The first usage of Liebeslieder for the Quintet came during the 1990 New York City Opera production. Prince said that these characters represent "people in the show who aren't wasting time ... the play is about wasting time." Malla: Desiree's maid, who is with her constantly. Silent part Osa: Maid at Madame Armfeldt's manse. Silent part Bertrand: Page at Madame Armfeldt's manse. Silent part Casts Original casts Notable Replacements West End (1975) Desiree Armfeldt: Virginia McKenna Madame Armfeldt: Angela Baddeley Broadway Revival (2009–11) Desiree Armfeldt: Bernadette Peters Madame Armfeldt: Elaine Stritch Fredrika Armfeldt: Katherine McNamara Count Carl-Magnus: Bradley Dean Additional Performers Desiree Armfeldt: Judi Dench, Josefina Gabrielle, Sally Ann Howes, Greta Scacchi, Emily Skinner, Juliet Stevenson, Dorothy Tutin, Hannah Waddingham Fredrik Egerman: Jason Danieley, Laurence Guittard, Jeremy Irons, Ron Raines, Anthony Warlow Madame Armfeldt: Claire Bloom, Leslie Caron, Zarah Leander, Maureen Lipman, Regina Resnik Fredrika Armfeldt: Anna Kendrick Anne Egerman: Jessie Buckley, Joanna Riding Countess Charlotte: Sierra Boggess, Patricia Hodge, Michele Pawk Count Carl-Magnus: Marc Kudisch, Chuck Wagner Productions Original Broadway production A Little Night Music opened on Broadway at the Shubert Theatre on February 25, 1973. It played there until September 15, 1973, then moved to the Majestic Theatre, on September 17, and closed there on August 3, 1974, after 601 performances and 12 previews. It was directed by Harold Prince with choreography by Patricia Birch and design by Boris Aronson. The cast included Glynis Johns (Desiree Armfeldt), Len Cariou (Fredrik Egerman), Hermione Gingold (Madame Armfeldt), Victoria Mallory (Anne Egerman), Judith Kahan (Fredrika Armfeldt), Mark Lambert (Henrik Egerman), Laurence Guittard (Carl-Magnus Malcolm), Patricia Elliott (Charlotte Malcolm), George Lee Andrews (Frid), and D'Jamin Bartlett (Petra). It won the New York Drama Critics' Circle Award and the Tony Award for Best Musical. Australian premiere The first international production opened at Her Majesty's Theatre in Sydney, Australia in November 1973, with a cast including Taina Elg, Bruce Barry, Jill Perryman, Doris Fitton, Anna Russell and Geraldine Turner. Australian revivals have been presented by the Sydney Theatre Company (featuring Geraldine Turner and a young Toni Collette) in 1990, Melbourne Theatre Company (featuring Helen Morse and John O'May) in 1997, Opera Australia (featuring Sigrid Thornton and Anthony Warlow) in