Feb. 23-26—RUTLAND—Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre presents Stephen Sondheim’s 1980 musical revue, “Marry Me a Little” being performed in the intimate space, Brick Box at the Paramount Theatre, 30 Center Street, Rutland. Performances will be held Feb. 23, 24 and 25 as well as March 2, 3 and 4 at 7:30 p.m., and a 2 p.m. matinee Feb. 26. Lyrics and music are by Stephen Sondheim, conceived by Craig Lucas and Norman René. The revue sets songs cut from Sondheim’s better-known musicals from 1954 to 1973, and a few from later productions, into a dialogue-free plot about the relationship between two lonely New York single people who are in emotional conflict during an evening in their separate one-room apartments. Despite knowing of the other’s existence, they never get up the courage to talk to each other, though they imagine what an encounter might be like.
The musical originally was staged by the off-Broadway Production Company. It opened on Oct. 29, 1980. It re-opened March 12, 1981 at the off-Broadway Actor’s Playhouse where it ran for 96 performances. A new version opened in 2012, off-Broadway again. Directed by Norman Rene, it starred Craig Lucas and Suzanne Henry. In June 1982, the musical opened in London. It has been performed in many U.S. regional theaters, as well as around the world.
What can one do on a Saturday night alone? It’s a question one young man and one woman have as they struggle with another night alone with just the first edition of New York Times Sunday edition. Unlike many revues, by the end of the evening, a story has been told. The man and woman have shabby studio apartments in New York City. She lives on the floor below him, but the audience sees their apartments merged as one, functioning as both his and hers. They never meet, but they appear in each other’s dreams and recollections. How they spend the evening, and how they feel about it, is told through their actions and songs.
The cast of two is Julia Doiron and Ben Norton. Director is Peter Marsh. The choreographer is Tegan Waite and the stage manager is Wendy Savery. Rob Biddiscombe is technical director, David Lane is lighting designer, Nancy Ellery is costume designer and Kelly Connaughton is prop designer. Sandy Gartner is assistant producer and Susan Gladding-Heitzman is board operator.
Presented in the Brick Box, there is limited seating for each performance. Reservations are available by calling 802-775-0903, at the box office, or online at paramountlive.org. Tickets will also be sold at the door and are $20 for general admission.
For more information about Vermont Actors’ Repertory Theatre, visit actorsrepvt.org.
