A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC--------------REVISITED

With almost nothing happening on the New York theatre scene until late September, I went to revisit Trevor Nunn's elegant bandbox rethinking of " A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC" with its two new leads Bernadette Peters and Elaine Stritch replacing Catherine-Zeta Jones and Angela Lansbury respectivly.
How do they compare with their predesessors? Well Ms. Peters is a fine actress and a wonderful singer and her rendition of the shows' best song "Send In The Clowns" is devestatingly beautiful,but her kewpie doll looks and generally cheerful disposition seemed at odds with her part and she never convinced me that she was a well traveled actress trying to make amends with her elderly and wise mother.
On the other hand, Ms. Stritch is wonderful as the mother delivering her lines with expert timing and doing her one solo "Laisons" with the skill of the superb actress that she is.
The rest of the show is in tip top shape and Hugh Wheeler's book and Stephen Sondeim's score seem even better now then they did when this production opened ten months ago even if the new orchestrations by Jason Carr don't serve Mr. Sondheim's classic score very well and can't even begin to compare with Jonathan Tunick's superb originals.
But despite certain reservations I may have this lovely rethinking of"A LITTLE NIGHT MUSIC" is well worth seeing and provides one of the better theatre evenings in town.
AT THE WALTER KERR THEATRE 219 WEST 48th. STREET N.Y.C.