Show Synopsis:
Frederik Armfeldt brings his new and virginal wife Anne to see his old lover Desiree, a prominent actress, in a play while Anne's maidservant Petra tries to seduce Frederik's son Henrik. Frederik sneaks out later that night to see Desiree, and they recommence their romantic activities before Desiree's married boyfriend Count Carl-Magnus Malcolm barges in. He is upset and later tells his wife Charlotte, who is aware of her husband's infidelity and happens to know Anne, who she visits to relay the story of Frederick's activities. Desiree convinces her mother to host a part for the Armfeldts, which Carl-Magnus and his wife will also attend uninvited. Everyone arrives with their own romantic aims, and Henrik shrieks at everyone for being immoral while hiding his love for Anne. Fredrik tells Desiree that he loves her, but she is a dream to him, and Anne and Henrik sleep together and then run away together. Carl-Magnus and Charlotte leave together and Fredrik finally acknowledges to Desiree that he knows her daughter is his as well. Desiree's mother dies peacefully.	

Character:
Countess Charlotte Malcom, a middle-aged wife of a military dragoon; very clever and convincing; loves her husband but does not feel possessive of him. Anne Egerman - a young naïve woman who has recently married the older and more experienced Frederick; has absolutely no idea of the work that goes into a marriage outside of social gatherings; very sweet; not knowledgeable about the world at all.

Song Context:
Charlotte goes to Anne's house to tell her about Frederick's recent activities with Desiree, and Anne is upset, but Charlotte tells her that she will have to put up with it, and worse, as a wife. Charlotte, who has been married for a long time and ignored her husband's many infidelities, but Anne is new to marriage and the duties of a wife. She struggles to grasp the reality of her situation and Charlotte helps her.	

Fun Facts:
1) This musical was inspired by the plot of the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night. 
2) The 2008 Broadway revival included Ramona Mallory as Anne. Her parents Victoria Mallory and Mark Lambert met while starring as Anne and Henrik in the original Broadway production, while Victoria was dating Len Cariou, who was playing Frederick. It was a case of life imitating art when they ended their relationship and Victoria eventually married Mark. 
3) Ramona Mallory described her and director Trevor Nunn's interpretation of Anne as "very much a part of the world created for her -- which is why it is so devastating when she finally discovers things aren't as they seem." She also describes her as "childlike" and "innocent."