Light in the Piazza on PBS Tonight! — Page 10

Well that was fantabulous.

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After buying the CD, I really wasn't all that interested in "The Light in the Piazza". But after watching it tonight, I can see why it won 6 Tony Awards. It was an absolutely breath-taking production. It wasn't your typical Broadway show, and that is nice for a change. I can only imagine what it would look like live.

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I was looking for Mike Piazza, too. I never saw him.

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Ah, it was great to see it all over again.
I have seen it twice with the original cast, however, and nothing compares to the thrill of that.
Although, I thought Aaron Lazar was fantastic! His voice... my goodness. I always cry during "Love to Me," but man, who needs to act at all if he were singing it to them? Anyone would fall in love with him again. With him and his voice and his gorgeous body.
Ohk, I'll stop talking about my attraction to Aaron...

Victoria was wonderful, of course. I'm so glad I can now look back at her wonderful performance any time I want to.

Katie was...not as good as Kelli, I thought. Nope, not in the least bit. I thought she was fine, but Kelli made the role so special. From the start, I thought Katie was playing Clara as a little girl and so it was confusing from the very beginning why she was acting that way when she doesn't appear to be that young. Come on, lure us in a little more. Kelli also had a better voice. But whatever, Katie was fine.

Someone said that the supportive characters are lost in the telecast and I agree whole-heartedly. The way the show is directed for the thrust stage at the Beaumont is wonderful because no one really sees the same show. I've seen the show from two different seats and angles (and planes) and I saw different details in the background each time. I missed seeing a lot of the Franca/Giuseppe action that usually takes place while some other scene is happening. But ah well, that's what happens when you add a camera.

I really need to see the show live again. It was the most thrilling theatre experience I've had in recent years. I honestly can't understand how people can like Spamalot more than Piazza. (Or any of the other Best Musical nominees from last year, but that's a different story and I don't want to strike a debate, haha.) I think Piazza is just such a beautifully written show and this production elevates it to such a heavenly level. The sets, lighting, and costumes alone could make one cry because it's such a beautiful sight to see (which is a shame because I thought the technical elements were the largest victim of the telecast, the sets and lighting especially were lost). But yes, with the lovely design and then adding the luscious score and exquisite orchestrations... I was hooked ever since I heard the first few bars of the Overture. The perfect (and Tony Award-winning) acting doesn't hurt either, ha. Here's to future, equally beautiful productions of this wonderful show!

~Steven

Looks like they are repeating it.

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Right now..
for me at least.

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I am staying up till 3 AM to 5:30 AM just to watch it again...is that pathetic?

I saw Katie around when she began and while she still didn't blow me away, she was much stronger, vocally. As I said back then and have now been vindicated, she is killing her voice tackling a role that she can't handle. She acts the hell out of it but she can't hold a candle to Kelli's interpretation. All the same I appreciate the fact that her rough vocals make her seem more childish. As an inadvertant character choice it works. Just one occasionally misses Kelli's power and clarity. And she should worry about her voice if she wants a career past this.

Aaron is great. I still think Matt's voice is lighter, but I love Aaron's intelligent acting.

Of course the rest of the cast is uniform excellent. I thought it came across very well. Parts of it were a little slow for me but that might be because I've seen it twice and know the cast recording by heart and I watched it after working for eight hours. But it was fun how you could see so many small details, things that never stood out to me before. Such as at the very end when the whole family links hands. I thought that was very powerful.

Every time I see it I'm reminded of how well done this show is. It's simply the most emotionally evocative piece of theater I've seen. Rather than appealing with cynical ideas or cliches, it reaches for the heart and presents truths that anyone at any stage in life can recognize. Nothing in the show is incidental or wasted. Margaret and Clara are beautiful characters with an amazing relationship, and even if it's slow, the payoff at the end is what it's all about.

I love Adam Guettel's music because it's all about choices, a million little details that add up to make a complex but sensible and evocative whole. A real artist who takes the unconventional path, but the one that still feels right.

It made me cry. Always does.

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HELP!
I saw the telecast tonight and then discovered my vcr didn't tape it even though it said it was recording. so i've tried getting it to tape a few other things in hopes that when it repeats, but my vcr seems to be broken as far as recording goes.

Piazza has been one of my faves and i would absolutely adore to have a copy of it on vhs or dvd or whatever. I was wondering if someone could take pity on a poor college theater kid and send me a copy.

pretty please! private message me if you would be willing to do so!

I thought the show was great. it was lovely to see it again. SO powerful on so many levels. for me i find you get more and more with each viewing, i also thought the quality was great for a live tv telecast. Clark amazes me, I enjoyed Katie's Clara, but missed kelli a bit. Aaron made me swoon.

Just a fabulous night at the Piazza!

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I don't understand when people say they don't think Clara wouldn't have a legit voice, etc. It's a musical. If this were real life, they wouldn't be singing.

Can mentally challanged people not sing well? I understand simplicity, and I think Kelli was incrediby simple. The thing with singing Clara is you have to know how to navigate your way through your chest, head, and mix. You have to plan where you're going to place everynote, because it's a very difficult role. Vocally, and character wise.

I just finished Act I, cause I had work when it aired. Katie... she's really playing the retardation. Which I don't necessarily agree with. I think she's doing some really good work. I don't think Clara is retarded. She's slow, she's got some issues, but she's not an autistic 12 (now 10???) year old. Sometimes, Katie reminded me of Molly Shannon's Catholic girl from SNL. Her singing in The Beauty Is was NOT good, but she got a lot better. I don't hate her though. She's making choices, and at least she's not dead, which is the worst.

Victoria really is giving the performance of a lifetime.
Aaron Lazar is HOT.
Sarah U.B. is GORGEOUS.

Ok, i'ts coming back on.

Full report later.

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excellent production......absolutely loved it.

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Brilliant. And deeply moving.

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It was a beautiful production, the camera angles left me a little dizzy but overall it was wonderful. Victoria Clark is just brilliant, my mother even cried at the end, and she doesn't cry over musicals. Katie Clarke is a good actress and I think she'll get better over time but tonight she was off. Aaron Lazar was really good and his eagerness really helped sell the story.

It was just awesome, thanks PBS

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