My Return to PIAZZA (June 1 Matinee)

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 12:02pm

Full cast was there.

I first saw the show on its third preview and, while I quickly fell in love with it, I was hesitant about its future due to what I felt was Craig Lucas' book being a weak link in the musical. My main problem was the link between lyrics and dialogue. Lucas' dialogue didn't seem as poetic to that of Guettel's lyrics and something seemed missing. Also, Margaret's secret about Clara came so late in the course of the show that I begin to stop caring whenever she alluded to it.

However, the book has much improved and really fitted to suit the show. The earlier oncoming of the telling of the secret added so much more layering to the show.

Anyway, this is a terrible review, but I don't really know what else to say except WOW.

Posted: 6/2/05 at 12:50pm

I saw it early in previews and found the book to be so confusing and anti-climactic that it ruined the show for me. How much more sense does the book now make??

The music, I thought (and still think), is beautiful.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 12:52pm

I saw the show in the evening.

will post a review.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 12:55pm

I was at the same performance as iluvtheatertrash, and I loved it as well. It was my first time seeing the show. I thought the music was absolutely beautiful. I had a few slight issues with the book, but overall it was a great experience. All the actors were fantastic.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 1:58pm

The book is just so much tighter now. They also allow things to marinate over the course of the show now:

SPOILERS

--------

The small romance between Signor Nacarelli and Margaret begins earlier when we see small doses of flirtation between the two, allowing the entire love interest to be blossoming up until that kiss at the end of "Let's Walk".

We learn of how Clara was made to face retardation about half-way through the first act making Margaret's reprise of 'The Beauty Is' one of the most heartbreaking moments of the production. I sat in my seat yesterday crying during Clark's rendition of it. It is, byfar, her most electrifying moment on stage.

Margaret's asides with the audience are all much tighter now.

However, my only problem I'm still noticing is at the early moments of act two before the title song is sung. The dialogue leading up is a huge climactic moment for Margaret and Clara. Here, we see Margaret assume a position we shun these days: a mother hitting her child. However, instead of any huge reaction, Clara breaks into the title song. The moment was just... lacking. Not really sure what the problem is, but something is off and sets the sound of the music beginning to be a bit strange at first.

Overall though, huge improvements on an already thrilling, beautiful piece.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:07pm

Thanks, Steven. Great review and comparisons.

I will be seeing the show again next Wednesday. I'm excited to say the least.

~Steven

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:07pm

SPOILER -

I saw the saw and loved it - I did find a few issues with the book however. These things bothered me to some degree (sorry, not great with character names) and these scenes may not appear in the original source material:

1. I would've liked to have seen Matt Morrison's character fight for his relationship with Clara after the father storms out of the church.

2. Not sure why the father suddenly decides to permit the marriage after the brief walk with Victoria Clark.

3. The kiss between the father and victoria Clark really seems to come out of nowhere and leads no where.

4. I would've liked to have seen a scene with the father/Victoria Clark announcing to Matt and Kelli that the wedding was blessed by him.

Just my opinion.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:15pm

I think the kiss between Signor Nacarelli and Margaret Johnson really makes a comment on 'Fable'. Some people believe that love is a fairy tale but sometimes you find it for maybe just a tiny moment and then it's gone. So look, look, keep looking and you'll find it. I also think it continues the way Lucas and Guettel continually touch on the romanticism and cheating ways of many Italian men.

I'm personally never sure why the father permits the marriage, however, I don't think we're supposed to be. I kind of like that he never really tells us why he's okay with it.

For all we know, Fabrizio DOES fight for the marriage. Remember, the majority of that moment is in Italian, so we don't really know what is being said. However, he does go home with the family. For all we know, the fight in the Nacarelli home, ya know?

Just my two cents.

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:17pm

SPOILER.

It just seems to me that there were a couple of scenes missing, scenes that could've been extremely emotional with song. I found the father to be a caricature, not so much a real person. By showing him grant his blessing in song would've humanized him.

IMO. Still love the show.

Updated On: 6/2/05 at 02:17 PM

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:18pm

I think Nacrelli changes his mind because Margaret tells him the truth.

[BluCat500]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:18pm

I was at the June 1st matinee as well...amusing how many people from the board are at any one show

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:19pm

DGRANT -

Interesting interpretation. My thought was that he grants permission because he thinks he will be involved with Margaret in the future.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:22pm

Well, then wouldn't that be kind of strange? Father and son involved with a mother and daughter? Hm...

~Steven

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:22pm

Well his kiss with her wasn't a friendly peck on the cheek. It was a romantic kiss.

[HeyMrMusic]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:25pm

True.
But I think it's more of a vicarious thing. If they can't get married, then let their children be married.

~Steven

[baddadnpa]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:26pm

I thought my head was going to explode at the end of Act 1. The song and staging were just magnificent.

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:38pm

I'm not sure Nacrelli has any thoughts about a future with Margaret. The Italian family unit presented seems pretty strong. I think what we see is perhaps a more European sensibility at work. He realizes that he has attraction to Margaret, and that she could obviously use some reassurance that she is desirable. He probably is secure enough in his own reality to know he's not risking anything, and feels that Margaret is mature enough to also understand the situation.

I also think that it is that very sensibility toward the acceptance of love's path that Margaret could have tapped into by telling him the truth. He probably hears what we all do when she sings that glorious song at the end of the piece.

[Thenardier]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:43pm

Just posted my review.


1. I would've liked to have seen Matt Morrison's character fight for his relationship with Clara after the father storms out of the church.

I sort of agree - but I think it adds to his "boyish" quality that he didn't. Instead, Margaret fights for it - which I liked. It's sort of dynamic that she's going to give away her life savings for her daughter to be happily married.

2. Not sure why the father suddenly decides to permit the marriage after the brief walk with Victoria Clark.

I think the father really fell for Margaret. Perhaps there was an age difference there that made him realize it's not important. Or, perhaps, he truly fell for Margaret and was afraid she'd leave Italy if Clara and Fabrizio didn't marry.

3. The kiss between the father and victoria Clark really seems to come out of nowhere and leads no where.

Throughout the show I think there were hints of love. You could tell Margaret is not really "in love" with her husband. Also, in Aiutami, we learn that Signor Naccarelli is prone to cheating. Besides, what's not to love - Margaret is beuatiful, innocent, caring, and a fool to love.

4. I would've liked to have seen a scene with the father/Victoria Clark announcing to Matt and Kelli that the wedding was blessed by him.

I like the way it was done. I think it's understood by the demeanor of Signor Naccarelli during the wedding scene.

[Dummy]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:50pm

I loved the musical, too. I highly recommend that you read Elizabeth Spencer's novella...it's short, easy to read, beautifully written, and opens up the story in ways that will enrich your enjoyment of the musical. The relationship between Margaret and Signor Nacarelli is brilliant...it turns out to be a very subtle battle of wits and wills. Spencer effectively captures nuances of American vs. Italian mentality, and wonderfully portrays Margaret's competing perceptions of Italians: part admiration and part assumption/bias. The entire musical production is outstanding. I hope the source material will get some renewed attention.

[broadway betty]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 2:51pm

Steven-

I was also at the matinee and saw you during the intermission just before the second act started. I was going to try to say hi after the show but I didn't want to introduce myself while I was crying. It was beautiful and I have no problems with it.

[#1Elphie]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:06pm

Steven, I saw you too (during intermission), but you were on the phone and I didn't want to bother you.
It is funny that so many of us were there.

[ken8631]

Posted: 6/2/05 at 4:17pm

I think it might have been better (it was great anyway) if I knew some Italian (lots of it in the play).