Character guide
Anne Egerman
from A Little Night Music
Anne Egerman is Fredrik's much younger new wife in A Little Night Music, Stephen Sondheim's 1973 musical, still a virgin eleven months into their marriage.
- Show
- A Little Night Music
- Broadway premiere
- 1973
- Role
- Supporting
- Music by
- Stephen Sondheim
Anne Egerman on stage vs screen
Broadway compared with the 1977 film and Bergman's 1955 film
Victoria Mallory originated Anne on Broadway in 1973; Lesley-Anne Down played her in Harold Prince's 1977 film, which moved the story from Sweden to Austria. In Ingmar Bergman's 1955 source film, Smiles of a Summer Night, Anne Egerman was played by Ulla Jacobsson.
On stage Anne is Fredrik's very young wife, and her song Soon becomes part of the trio with Fredrik's Now and Henrik's Later. The 1977 film renamed Henrik, Fredrik's son, as Erich, played by Christopher Guard.
Who is Anne Egerman?
Anne is girlish, anxious, and acutely aware that her husband still carries feelings for his former lover, Desiree, even as she struggles to define her own feelings toward him. Her arc shifts decisively when she realizes she is drawn not to Fredrik but to his son from an earlier marriage, Henrik.
That quiet, growing attraction to Henrik gives Anne one of the show's more tender transformations, moving her from a nervous, uncertain young bride toward someone who finally acts on what she actually wants.
Anne's role in A Little Night Music
Anne is a supporting role featured in the interwoven trio Now, Later, Soon and later in duets with Henrik as their mutual attraction comes into focus. The part calls for a light, youthful soprano and an actress able to shift convincingly from comic nervousness to sincere feeling.
Anne's storyline provides an important counterpoint to the more world weary romances of Desiree and Fredrik, offering a younger, more hopeful version of love within the same country weekend.
Anne Egerman: frequently asked questions
What show is Anne Egerman from?
Anne Egerman is a supporting character in A Little Night Music, which opened on Broadway in 1973.
Is Anne Egerman a lead or supporting role?
Anne is a supporting role, featured in the trio Now, Later, Soon.
Who wrote the music for A Little Night Music?
Stephen Sondheim composed the music and lyrics for A Little Night Music.
Think you can name today's mystery character in eight guesses?
Play today's Character GuesserMore characters from A Little Night Music
More characters with music by Stephen Sondheim
A Little Night Music show guideMusical theatre characters A to Z