Another LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Review...

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:23pm

THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Review

“The Light in the Piazza” is a brand new musical with old fashioned qualities, a cast of some uber talented folk, an award winning book writer adapting a celebrated novel, and a composer and lyricist making his Broadway debut. Sounds like the perfect recipe for success, right? Not so fast! What could be and should be the most moving and artsy production of the season, turns out to be a half-baked yet thought provoking; sensual yet melodramatic mush; and an engulfing yet surprisingly downright boring and bland evening at the Vivian Beaumont theatre.

For every upside, “Piazza” has an equal if not greater downward turn. If that were the case with just one element of the production then all would be forgiven and this uniquely sophisticated, yet typical Lincoln Center Production would be in a league of the greats. But it is indeed a half hearted attempt to bring a story, so steeped in melodrama to the musical theatre stage, one begins to wonder if this is really where this “Light” belongs. More aptly suited for daytime television in the form of an after school special, the story tugs on heart strings and sets audience members up for an ending with tearful consequences. Instead of taking the heartbreaking route, the creative team halts the heightened emotion at the plays end to give the shows leading lady an all encompassing nearly operatic finale. The payoff, while sung with great vigor by Victoria Clark’s character Margaret, seems nothing more than a sorry attempt to wrap up what already feels like an eternity, in reality cheats the audience out of the stories most tender of moments.

But does anyone really care by that point? After sitting through two hours that seem more like two days of the most ballad heavy and uninspiring melodic show to hit Broadway since “Caroline or Change,” one would be ready to damn this musical to the depths of flops. But just hang on one second…the lyrics are actually thought provoking, and the story may have a deeper meaning than all the surface level gloss. The inner level is where the combination of Adam Guettel music and Craig Lucas’ book really begin to mesh and venture into greatness.

Unfortunately, today’s Broadway going audience is not interested in such vested material and tourists would rather spend an evening with a jukebox and get their art fill from MOMA! The talented cast of Broadway vets only give ordinary, middle of the road performances. On one hand Kelli O’Hara has the acting chops to pull off the emotionally disturbed Clara, but the singing voice of a tintype cabaret performer. Victoria Clark while being in a league of her own in this particular production has a vocal presence of an angel during her songs, but while speaking sounds like a mix of Donna Murphy’s Ruth Sherwood from “Wonderful Town” and mental patient – WHAT WAS THAT Victoria? Also, a slap between the two characters at the top of Act II was done so poorly that snide laughter rose from the audience at the ludicrousness of it. Clark’s physicality in general needs honed and tweaked. The standout here is far and wide Matthew Morrison as Clara’s Italian suitor Fabrizio. A solid tenor who hits all the high notes demanded and layers his character with fortitude and enduring passion from beginning to end.

Set and lighting designers Michael Yeargan and Christopher Akerlind find a nice accord and balance filling the peculiar Beaumont although a bit bloated and brash at times; Director Bartlett Sher also does a commendable if less than memorable job adjusting his actors on stage. Chatherine Zuber who designed this seasons “Doubt” costumes to precise perfection, seems to have fallen into trap after trap here. The first being trying to help Kelli O’Hara dub this her season of sexy lingerie. The second being the matronly red frocks poor Victoria Clark is placed in. The third being the borrowed nuns costumes from her version of “The Sound of Music” a few seasons earlier.

If only the sound in the Piazza were as sweet as “The Sound of Music,” maybe the Light would have shone much brighter. In a season where jukebox musicals have jumped to the forefront, it is a nice change of pace to have a true, honest, heartfelt musical again. In order for this type of show to succeed however, “Little Women” (a show with the same feel) need not already be playing and winning more raves for its stars; an open ended run to attract more out of town visitors instead of a limited one is desperately needed; and a bunch of Tony nominations couldn’t hurt the box office either. Unfortunately the first two will not happen, and the third is anyone’s guess, but with eleven new musicals and two revivals; popularity will trump art (what tedious ballad to perform at the three hour long telecast would be the first headache) and in this case, that’s okay!

Updated On: 3/27/05 at 11:23 PM

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:27pm

Not to be rude, but are you a professional reviewer posting these reviews on the board?

Because, if you're not, it's clearly evident you're doing this in hopes that someone will discover you and offer you a job as a professional reviewer.

[FOAnatic]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:29pm

All of the reviews of this show have really sparked my interest in it. I think I am going to have to buy tickets as soon as I get paid. Will I see it before the TONYs? I hope so.

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:30pm

I'm getting really interested, too. I think I'm going to go next week.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:31pm

Well thats CLEARLY not the case. It's something I have enjoyed doing since my first Broadway show and continue to enjoy. Didn't plan and still don't intend to be "discovered" - I do it for my enjoyment and anyone else who likes to comment for or against my reviews. Thats all! Just my own personal writing technique! :)

THAT SAID...I do reccomend seeing this musical, it is much better fare than the likes of ALL SHOOK UP, GOOD VIBRATIONS, DRACULA, or BROOKLYN...I just wish it would have been a bit more polished and perfect. Updated On: 3/26/05 at 11:31 PM

[luvtheEmcee]

Posted: 3/26/05 at 11:38pm

Well, it doesn't open for nearly three more weeks. It has time to become more polished.

[Thesbijean]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:54am

I agree that polishing couldn't hurt, but wow, guess we have different eyes...hehe

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:59am

I saw it again tonight and it was already even better than the first preview, it didnt change a lot, but staging was different and the pacing was quicker from the first show. Matt told me I could post a review of the show tonight (finally!) but, Im heading to bed. Ill check in with all you lovely people after Easter! :)

[Greekmusicalfan]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 10:33am

"The standout here is far and wide Matthew Morrison as Clara’s Italian suitor Fabrizio. A solid tenor who hits all the high notes demanded and layers his character with fortitude and enduring passion from beginning to end."

I LOVED your review !!! LOL

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 11:15am

Thanks Greekmusicalfan - loved your pull quote as well. He really was a standout - heads and heals better than Clark, O'Hara, and especially better than TABOO's Sarah Berry and Sound of Music's Patti Coenhouer (although she isn't as screechy here and her song is the one light and non ballady part of the entire show)

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:17pm

"the most ballad heavy and uninspiring melodic show to hit Broadway since “Caroline or Change,”

Having a gauge to measure given opinions against is frequently helpful to the reader - it allows them to put your thoughts into some context as compared to their own. If this is how you felt about Caroline - which I thought was one of the most brilliant things I've seen in the last few years - then I have a feeling I'll enjoy Piazza more than you indicate I might.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:39pm

DGrant - I couldn't agree more.

I hate to throw some punches but I may anyway. A review is an opinion and I TOTALLY respect that, but calling Guettel's music unmelodic shows me your taste (no offense but if you're a big Jerry Herman fan, I can see why). Also, Kelli O'Hara a tintype cabaret performer? You could say that about 95% of Broadway women, but not O'Hara, she's actually as "legit" as they come, compared to the rest of the young female Broadway community. And what exactly is this "inner level" you speak about?

Thanks

Updated On: 3/27/05 at 12:39 PM

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:43pm

yes I'm sorry but I have to disagree with your review. I don't find the show boring at all. It was engaging enough for me because it was a classic love story that's told in a different sort of way. The score is rather operatic and is BEAUTIFUL. Now, let's talk about this foolish hummablitiy concept people keep throwing around. Although it wasn't stated in so many words here, I've heard it said about this show. What the hell does that mean, hummable?! You can hum anything and I did this show. I'm still humming it. Actually this is one of the most melodious scores on Broadway. Now what might be hard to swallow is Adam's use of harmony. His harmonic language tends to be very angular. I often wonder when people say things aren't hummable or melodious, if they are musically inclined. My guess is musicians will eat this score up. I already know quite a few who love it. I think this show is art and like Caroline, or Change is pushing the envelope. Caroline is wonderful as this is. I think the 2 shows will have similar fates. 10 years down the road people are going to wonder why it didn't do as well as it did and the people who probably walked out of it, will claim they always loved it. It'll be like pacific overtures or Merrily we roll along. One however is entitled to his or her opinion, as long as it's not treated as law. A few people didn't like the show. I did and I thought I'd state it here. I think the point here is go see the show and decide.

[leomaxfrank]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:49pm

Thanks jazzy - well put. And this is a CLASSIC love story. One's point of view pertaining to melodrama is of course subjective, but an old-fashioned love story can have that feel of melodrama. Remember, it is based on a mid 20th century romance novel.

[Jazzysuite82]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:54pm

yes, let's remember, falling in love is sort of a melodramatic emotion, especially the first time. It was for me! I also want to add that this score is sort of operatic and opera is all about melodrama.

[QueenMuppet]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 12:59pm

I have to disagree with the review as well. I loved every second of the show and it's been quite a while since I found a score as emotionally engaging as 'Piazza' (only Caroline Or Change springs to mind in the last year).

Although I've had my small issues with the way Kelli O'Hara portrayed the character (in my opinion she was not quite naive enough, considering what had happened to her), I still thought she gave a wonderful performance. To call her a 'tintype cabaret performer' makes me wonder if we saw the same person on stage.

QM

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 1:01pm

I really do respect all of your opinions, and I am glad to see the diversity here. Your right, I did NOT enjoy CAROLINE, OR CHANGE much for the same reasons I didn't enjoy THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA. PIAZZA is a far better musical than CHANGE, but I still walked out of both of them going "Do they really think this will sell?!?!" Yes, both very artsy shows, neither of which do much for me at all. There is a reason this musical will fare better at LINCOLN CENTER than Caroline did with a commerical Bway run.

Yes, Jerry Herman, Comden & Green, Warren & Dubin, and even Shwartz to some extent is my Broadway Fare - but I can and do respect many of others. I dont percive this review as LAW, just my opinion, what all reviews should be. Just hope it can give some insight to others.

And PS - O'Haras voice to me is like Nails on the chalkboard, I was hoping for soothing and got screeching instead. Although, she was better than Barry - who COMPLETELY overshot her final note of her song and was flatter than pancakes. Updated On: 3/27/05 at 01:01 PM

Posted: 3/27/05 at 3:14pm

LaCageFan--when did u see Piazza? Was it yesterday matinee? Because that's when I saw it, and someone laughed because of the slap as well, so I didn't know if we were seeing the same thing.

I however loved the show. My sister, who usually strongly dislikes dramatic musicals (she's likes the upbeat music, comedy, great dancing shows--that's why we saw La Cage afterwards), thought Piazza was a masterpiece. She was set to HATE it. I made her go because I had already seen La Cage and didn't want that to be the only thing I saw this weekend (which was free b/c my fam was in town and paying for things, so you can see why I didn't want my mom to pay for a show I had already seen... anyway I'm rambling). She really wanted to hate it and during Matt Morrison's first song (or, I should say, first song in English) we both sighed at the same time and I looked over at her and she went 'yeah, okay, so this is really good'.

I absolutely ADORE Kelli O'Hara (she recognized and remembered me at the stagedoor from Drac--I kinda freaked out after that), I think she has an absolutely beautiful voice. And I think that she was absolutely wonderful yesterday. It was so nice to see her talents fully used in a show, and one in which she didn't die in the first act! (And yes, I did tell her that and she laughed and said 'Yes, I get to live til the end in this one!'.

Matthew Morrison was absolutely wonderful as well. His 'Passeggiata' was just great. After seeing him in Hairspray, I didn't know if he could sing operatic music like this, but he amazed me. He just rocked the socks off that score. And singing/speaking in Italian half the show... MAN. For the rest of the weekend, my sister and I would just randomly scream 'Aiutami!!!' (and if you don't know what that means, I'm not going to tell you because it would ruin something very funny in the show hehe)

Victoria Clark was great too, but everyone's already said that, and she's just as amazing to watch as they all have posted, so there's nothing else to say

I thought the music was absolutely breathtaking, the lyrics dead on. I loved the lighting design--the light was used for hallways and such and really a concrete presense in the show. The set was gorgeous. The one problem was that I felt it was a bit anticlimatic at the very end, but I think that's what the book was like, and after Matt sang Love to Me, all thoughts of any problems with it vanished from my mind. Sigh. Great voice. Very hot. Couldn't get the courage to say anything to him but 'great job' because I didn't have a pen for autographs and felt weird stopping him to talk for no reason. When Kelli came out everyone crowded around and I just started yapping away though hehe.

Okay that's enough. But, by the way... At La Cage, the playbills were black and white... not a good sign, I'm very concerned. I thought the show was even better than when I saw it in December, and the theater was packed, but it was Saturday night. I hope they're doing okay, but I remember when the Drac playbills turned black and white, it was only a few more weeks until they announced the closing.

[Testing1232]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 3:21pm

We were there too during the matinee yesterday..sitting pretty close to the person that laughed. It was a bit of bad acting, but dont really think laughing was called for... ANYWAY.....
LaCage... have to respectfully disagree with you about "Piazza" being a FAR better musical than "Caroline". I think everything about "Caroline", from the score, to the book, to the performances, are better than those of "Piazza", but simply my opinion.

[wicked4life51]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 4:15pm

the show is amazing and i loved it ,matt was so hot lol,and keli o hara WHAT A VOICE,met adam guettel very nice amazing guy,i just loved every second about that show,the set,costumes scenery everything

Posted: 3/27/05 at 6:48pm

you guys saw the matinee on 3/26? i was outside waiting for matt then too. pity i didnt know any of you were there. im a girl in a wheelchair, if you saw me... i only remembering seeing Matt sign two things.

[LaCageAuxFollesFan2]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:27pm

Yep, I was at the 3/26 mat. The slap was so poorly acted that I nearly laughed as well. Anyway...Im sure THAT can be fixed, but so much other stuff just simply bored me that I just dont understand all of this love.

Oh...and btw, just because a playbill turns black & white means nothing...many, many, many a shows playbills turn black and white after time...yes it is about $$$, but LA CAGE is doing quite fine at the box office, and after seeing it last week again...is in quite fine shape - how nice to see it with a completetly full theatre as well.

[misterchoi]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:55pm

Your review and derogatory mention of "Caroline or Change," no offense, assure me that this show will be the toast of my TONY's party.

[misterchoi]

Posted: 3/27/05 at 7:55pm

Your review and derogatory mention of "Caroline or Change," no offense, assure me that this show will be the toast of my TONY's party.

Posted: 3/27/05 at 8:00pm

That's so funny that at least 4 people on this board saw the show at the same time! I don't think I saw anyone in a wheelchair, but I must admit I was preoccupied with what I was going to say, my sister making fun of me, and Matt Morrison being so damn hot.

I was standing across from the door in a pink coat with a very loud and annoying sister (I'm blonde, she's a brunette).

We need to get, like, bwayworld nametags or something so we can recognize each other hehe. I've talked to so many people and only at the end of the conversation have we realized that we posted on bwayworld (most of them were at Joe's Pub shows, but you know). hehe