Piazza Storyline.. kinda weird

Well, I remember reading that the the condition Clara has is fictional, so that is probably why the pony story is weird to you. I also wouldnt say that its really random, because Margaret telling that story gives some background as to how Clara is the way she is and it gives some character development for both Margaret and Clara.

Hope that makes sense.

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there have actually been about a dozen threads on this topic, addressing it from a variety of perspectives (what is the nature of Clara's condition? is it plausible? how severe would the trauma be? why is it important in the story? is it the central theme of the story or just a plot twist? etc.). if you're really interested you might do a search for some of the previous threads.

In a nutshell, it is no more "random" a story topic than anything else. It is what makes the Piazza love story more than just another romance set in Italy. It provides the impetus for Margaret's protectiveness, Clara's innocence, Fabrizio's growth to be an emotional protector and provider, etc.

LitP was based on a novella by Elizabeth Spencer. The musical actually handles the story FAR better than the book does, IMO.

And, Ourtime, I couldn't have said it better myself.

I would be interested in seeing discussions of Clara's condition, so I'll have to search for those threads as well.

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I won't comment on your thoughts on the musical but, no, the movie's awful. Some of the choices they made had me going "What the heck?" And the guy playing Fabrizio was just plain bad.

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I've never seen the movie and I've been trying to find it with no luck. It didn't come up on my blockbuster.com or Amazon search -- what am I doing wrong?

Well Isabella I am sorry that you find this gorgeous piece of theater so wierd, because the story is far from wierd, and it is one of the most beautiful stories that I have ever heard. But I guess we all think different wierd things are wierd, and you think that this wierd thing is wierd while we dont. Now isnt that wierd.

A deformed man obsesses over a chorus girl with an Electra complex...

A barber and his downstairs neighbor turns people into pies...

A dour black woman philosophizes and rants with anthropomorphic appliances...

A green lady flies around on a broom and has all sorts of completely unspecified magic powers and high belt notes....

...and you find the girl injured by a pony implausible and wierd?

Lizzie - of course, you're right. My point was that this particular person finding something boring means nothing.

And what the food tastes like could be totally subjective based on your own personal likes and dislikes.

Case NOT closed.

A young girl- still maturing and growing physically and mentally- gets kicked by a pony in a VERY vulnerable area of her neck/head... and in that era in time? *Not* a good situation. I find it COMPLETELY plausible, not "weird."


"In a nutshell, it is no more "random" a story topic than anything else. It is what makes the Piazza love story more than just another romance set in Italy. It provides the impetus for Margaret's protectiveness, Clara's innocence, Fabrizio's growth to be an emotional protector and provider, etc."

--- Well said and true, Ourtime992.

"The pony kicked her in the head and caused her severe head trauma. When Guettel was researching for Piazza, he went to a head trauma specialist for a number of hours. The specialist said, in Clara's condition, anything was game. Brain trauma is something that manifests in an infinite number of ways. It's a wide spectrum."

--- Thank you BillFinn

And on the cynical side, yes- it's certainly no more "weird" than... "A deformed man obsesses over a chorus girl with an Electra complex...

A barber and his downstairs neighbor turns people into pies...

A green lady flies around on a broom and has all sorts of completely unspecified magic powers and high belt notes...." ... as PegasusRising pointed out

And I love those shows, too.

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Updated On: 6/20/06 at 09:52 AM

Clara's mentally challenged in Act 1. During the intermission, she's abducted by aliens. In Act 2, she's normal as a result of this.

Get it now?

I didn't really like Piazza on TV. If everyone's saying that you need to be in the theater to get the full experience, then the TV recording really did not do it justice at all. I was bored out of my mind and practically falling asleep. I don't know if I'll be spending my money any time soon to see this - maybe the tour.

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