The lovers are all mismatched, but sweeping melodies and wry humor rearrange them into the correct pairings by the final waltz in Germantown Academy's masterful production of Stephen Sondheim's A Little Night Music.

This bedroom farce, based on the Ingmar Bergman film Smiles of a Summer Night, takes place in Sweden at the turn of the century. Frederik (Erik Rogers) has yet to consummate his marriage to his teenaged bride, Anne (Ally Doman), and renews an old courtship with actress Desiree (Anna Flynn-Meketon). Matters are deliciously complicated by Frederik's son Henrik (Eli Schleicher), who is enamored of his stepmother, and by Desiree's current lover, Carl-Magnus (Will Bellamy), whose jealous wife Charlotte (Shelby Hightower) still schemes for his undivided attention.

The entire cast handled the challenging score set in waltz time with ease, demonstrating a vocal maturity well beyond their years.

Ally Doman gave a delightfully nuanced portrayal of Anne, smiling coyly and bubbling with a youthful exuberance that highlighted her character's frivolous interests and playful nature. Her strong stage presence and penetrating voice drove her scenes.

Anna Flynn-Meketon also commanded the stage as Desiree with expressive body language. Her proper comedic timing and strong chemistry with Erik Rogers made "You Must Meet My Wife" a memorable exchange of wit.

Will Bellamy portrayed the pea-brained Carl-Magnus with a perfect blend of arrogance and dashing charm. Shelby Hightower as his suffering wife delivered her lines with a delightfully biting sarcasm. Their exaggerated interactions were hilarious, particularly when they rekindled their romance at the end of the show.

Lea Tsoubanos was confident and engaging as the saucy maid Petra. Her playful innuendos promised delicious mischief, especially in her spirited rendition of "The Miller's Son."

Germantown Academy took the comedy a step beyond the script in a riotous gender reversal of the role of Madame Armfeldt, Desiree's aging mother expressively played by Sam Pottash, who nostalgically reflects upon her own amorous liaisons.

The set was tastefully designed by Katie Burkhart. White pillars supporting balconies on either side of the stage captured the elegance and luxury of the time period. Undisruptive scene changes were smoothly executed by a mixture of costumed crew and cast members.

A Sondheim musical is a demanding production for a high school, but Germantown Academy rose to the occasion, delivering a memorable and sophisticated performance – a "pleasurable means to a measurable end."