"Light in the Piazza" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?
"Light in the Piazza" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?
#0"Light in the Piazza" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:11am
I am visiting NYC in April. I already have tickets for "La Cage", "Sweet Charity", "Spamalot" and "Dirty Rotten Scoundrels". On my remaining day should I see "Light in the Piazza" or "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang"?
Thanks for your help!
BSoBW2
Broadway Legend Joined: 12/8/04
#1re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:13amIn comes Mistress...
#2re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:13am
PIAZZA!
PIAZZA! PIAZZA! PIAZZA!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#3re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:14am
well, aside from my Matt bias, I dont know a darn thing about Chitty so Id say youll have to ask someone elses opinion. 
crazy smiles
Stand-by Joined: 5/10/04
#4re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:33amI believe Piazza has a short run, so you should check that out, even though Kudisch is in Chitty. Flip a coin? It's the best way in any situation.
Chrysanthemum62001
Broadway Legend Joined: 2/14/04
#5re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:40am
Yeah, I probably shouldn't answer this question either.
ETA-I'm looking forward to seeing them both though!
Unknown User
Joined: 12/31/69
#6re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:44amPiazza IS a short run. previews mid March opens April 17 or 18 and closes June somethin (atleast, its scheduled to) Updated On: 2/11/05 at 12:44 AM
ifagirlisntpretty
Understudy Joined: 6/20/04
#7re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:10am
WOW--you couldn't find two more different shows....
Chitty is fun--very family-oriented. The show itself is not great by any means (it's sort of crap), but, the sets are cool and that is a very interesting cast...
Piazza some peope love, but, from what I have heard of it, the score is pretentious. Nevertheless--I am sure it is an impressive artistic achievement, which, is something Chitty isn't.
So it really depends more than anything whether you want to go with something mindless or not... decide that and then go from there.
#8re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 1:25amOh, I have SUCH a bias....
#9re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 2:56am
Piazza is a really artistic kind of play...the music veering toward disonant and operatic at times. Victoria Clark was quite funny in Chicago but... I wouldn't recommend it unless you're a serious musical theater fan... in which case I recomend it HIGHLY...it's a beautifully moving piece... but it's also very trying...so... mindless fun it ain't...
KC
#10re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 6:31am"Piazza" without question.
#11re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 8:46amUnless Marc Kudish is taking a bath on stage in Chitty, I would go with Piazza.
#12re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 8:57am
Chitty has had horrible reviews, wheras Piazza is getting raves.
Guettel's music is a lot more complicated than Chitty's, so if you want simple - see Chitty.
#13re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 9:11amGosh - is there even a question here? Piazza, definitely.
#14re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 9:26amIt depends....do you want thought-provoking drama or mindless spectacle entertainment? I'd go with Piazza simply because Chitty will probably still be around on your next visit. Go see why Victoria Clark will get a Tony nom.
WOSQ
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/18/03
#15re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 9:47am
I have not seen either although I will probably see both.
Nonetheless if I were in your dilemma, here is how my logic would go--
One is a limited run of a musical by a very talented young composer with a book by a playwright who is always at least interesting;
The other is a stage version of a movie that wasn't any good in the first place and features a flying car.
To me its a no-brainer.
At the very possible worst Piazza seems like an 'interesting failure'. At best The Flying Car seems like a flying car.
#16re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 10:12amThanks for all your help. I really appreciate it and am looking forward to my trip to NYC!
iluvtheatertrash
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/9/04
#17re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 10:56amI'd say 'Light in the Piazza' only because I have a feeling 'Chitty, Chitty, Bang Bang!' will be around much longer.
timote316
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/20/04
#18re: 'Light in the Piazza' or 'Chitty Chitty Bang Bang'?
Posted: 2/11/05 at 12:40pm
I'd choose Piazza just because its a limited run. However, both are good choices, as no matter what the reviews are for Chitty, Raul is in there.
On the topics of reviews... Chitty hasn't opened here yet, the only reviews are from the London production. There's no saying that the NYC production is going to be a carbon-copy, or that our critics won't like it. So that's not a completely valid arguement.
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