This synposis was provided by the North Shore Music Theater.
One by one, a quartet gathers in front of the piano, blending their voices in song (OVERTURE). As the scene starts, elegantly dressed couples dance through a sylvan setting (NIGHT WALTZ), presenting the romantic flirtations and frustrations to come.
The waltzers exit, and the aging Madame, a woman who has numbered kings among her lovers, alerts her granddaughter Fredrika to watch for the summer night to smile. 'it smiles three times,' she says, 'first, for the young, who know nothing; second, for the fools, who know too little; and, third, for the old, who know too much.' Attention shifts to the home of Fredrik Egerman, a widowed lawyer who has recently married Anne, a young girl of 15. Fredrik's son by a previous marriage, Henrik is a somber 20-year-old divinity student who plays the cello in moments of stress. Fredrik arrives with tickets for the theater: he is taking Anne (still a virgin after 11 months of marriage) to see 'the one and only" Desiree Armfeldt. As he prepares for his afternoon nap, and Anne chatters away, Fredrik muses on some of the problems encountered in his new marriage (NOW). In the parlor, son Henrik is being flirted with by the less-than-virginal maid, Petra. He clumsily tries to unbutton her blouse. Petra, merely amused, tells him, as she leaves the room, 'Later. You'll soon get the knack of it.' Frustrated, as usual, Henrik grabs his cello (LATER).
Back in the bedroom, Anne now promises Fredrik to become his bride in deed (SOON). Henrik continues complaining (LATER). Fredrik, still asleep and obviously enjoying some vivid dream (NOW), utters a heartfelt'Desiree.'Anne stares at him, startled.
Desiree Armfeldt, the beguiling actress who was once Fredrik's mistress, enters her dressing room at the theater, ironically extolling the joys of life on the road (THE GLAMOROUS LIFE), with comments by the Quintet and her disapproving mother, Madame Armfeldt.
Fredrik and Anne arrive at the theater that evening, Anne clearly suspicious after Fredrik's nap time slip of the tongue. Desiree makes her entrance, and spots Fredrik immediately. The Quintet comments on romantic recollections (REMEMBER?).
Desiree plays directly to Fredrik, upsetting Anne so much she rushes out of the theater. Fredrik takes his wife home and puts her to bed, while he goes out for a breath of fresh air.' Naturally, his stroll takes him directly to Desiree's rooms, to meet her for the first time in 14 years. Desiree welcomes him warmly and lends a not-quite-sympathetic ear to Fredrik's praise of Anne (YOU MUST MEET MY WIFE). He tries to revive their relationship, and Desiree happily accepts with, 'Of course, darling, what are old friends for?' Madame Armfeldt, the grande dame of a more refined era, who has been 'tidy enough to acquire a sizable mansion,' emerges from the theatrical shadows to lament the current lack of delicacy in the art of love (LIAISONS).
Fredrik and Desiree are disturbed by the unexpected arrival of Desiree's current lover, a dragoon named Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm. Fredrik and Desiree quickly concoct a feeble story about legal papers and failing into a hip bath, to convince the Count that the situation is quite innocent. The Count sends Fredrik on his way in his nightshirt, and tries to assess the situation (IN PRAISE OF WOMEN).
In the morning, the Count returns to his long- suffering wife, Charlotte, suggesting that she might enlighten Anne about her husband's late-night activities. Charlotte promptly goes to inform Anne of Fredrik's infidelity and to commiserate with her about their mutual matrimonial problems (EVERY DAY A LITTLE DEATH).
Desiree goes to the country to visit her mother and daughter, and to arrange for her mother to invite lawyer Egerrnan and his family out for the weekend, hoping to snare Fredrik back to herself. The invitation is sent, and Anne, after consulting with Charlotte, decides to accept. The Count, hearing of the weekend, decides that he and Charlotte should also make an uninvited appearance (A WEEKEND IN THE COUNTRY).
ACT 2
When all the guests, invited and uninvited, have arrived at Madame Armfeldt's splendid chateau, the Quintet announces the end of the day (NIGHT WALTZ I - THE SUN WON'T SET), then sets the tone for the magical white night (NIGHT WALTZ 1 1 - THE SUN SITS LOW), and Fredrik and the Count contemplate how things might have turned out differently with Desiree (IT WOULD HAVE BEEN WONDERFUL).
As the guests assemble for the candlelight feast in the formal dining room, the Quintet drifts in and out (PERPETUAL ANTICIPATION). The dinner turns into a witty, jealous sparring session, and ends with a furiously upset Henrik smashing his goblet in disgust and running from the room. The other guests scatter throughout the estate. Fredrik makes his way to Desiree's bedroom, where she reveals her true reason for inviting him - her hope that they might be able to revive their love permanently. But Fredrik, unable to give up his child bride, walks out, leaving Desiree alone (SEND IN THE CLOWNS).
Meanwhile, Anne and Fredrika scour the grounds for Henrik. Anne finally finds him as he is suicidally rigging up a noose. Henrik confesses his love for Anne who recipricates and decides to run off with him.
Petra, the maid, having made love with Madame Armfeldt's butler, Frid, expresses her sense of romance in terms of the practical and real (THE MILLER'S SON).
Fredrik finds himself being consoled by Charlotte about the loss of his son and wife. The Count spots Fredrik and Charlotte embracing. He storms out of the house to challenge Fredrik to a game of Russian roulette. They go off to the summer pavilion, a shot is heard, and the Count returns with Fredrik slung over his shoulder. Fredrik has 'merely grazed his ear.' The Count orders Charlotte to pack their bags. At last, Desiree and Fredrik realize that they are meant to be together (reprise of SEND IN THE CLOWNS). The comedy ended, Madame Armfeldt tells her granddaughter that the night has already smiled twice, once for the young and once for the fools. 'The smile for the fools was particularly broad tonight.' To the accompaniment of the Night Waltz, the lovers dance through the silver birches as the night smiles down for the third and final time (FINALE).