The Light in the Piazza (10/4/05)

[boxers7]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:01pm

Saw "The Light in the Piazza" yesterday for the second time and thought I'd give a little review.

I saw the show in its first preview and immediately knew that it would change Broadway today as we know it. It is about time that something comes along that makes you think "Why did she do that?" "Why is she saying that?" Not "How high can she belt?" "What riff is she going to do tonight?" or "Let's see who can woot the loudest when she enters!" This show is solid. And there is no tampering with it each night, as some actors do in their respective shows. The actors gave the same performances they did six monthes ago. No one looked bored and no one was tampering with Adam Geutell's amazing score. I caught the matinee which was filled mostly with the older crowd. I figured it would be a typical matinee, no much applause, not many laughs, not a great audience in general. Boy, was I wrong! The lights went down and the theatre erupted! The hysterical pre-show announcement got a nice round of applause as well. When Victoria Clark entered it was not as though U2 just entered the stage, as happens at most shows, instead the audience acknowledged her with a round of short applause. Not much has changed since previews. The show is gorgous. Kelli O' Hara and Victoria are very convincing as the mother and daughter team, traveling in Italy for the first time. I was tentative about liking the new Fabrizzio, Aaron Lazar, but boy! he can sing!! His Fabrizzio wasn't much different from Matt's but you can tell that Aaron is more classiclly trained, on the high notes. Chris Sarandon was another great addition as Signor Naccarrelli. THe rest of the cast is flawless, espeically Sarah Uriarte Berry and Patti Cohenour who are hysterical as Franca and Signora, respectively. This is a show that worked for and deserved the standing ovation it got, instead of the normal obligatory one. If you're still with me and understand what I just said: Thanks!

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:03pm

patti cohenour is my hero.

i'm glad you liked this show.

but isn't the thrill of live theatre, seeing how the actors will do it differently everytime?

i like light in the piazza a lot (saw it twice) don't get me wrong. it's just a question i was wondering.

[boxers7]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:07pm

Don't get me wrong, I do enjoy bloopers and ad-libs a ton (I've been notorious for them myself) but in a show like Piazza I don't feel it's neccessary for them to "change it up" all the time.

How silly of me to forget! There was one "ad-libbed" moment.
**SPOILER**
At the end of "Let's Walk" after Margaret and Signor shake hands and Signor steps in, the audience collectivley gasped and "uh oh'd" together. Chris gave the audience this priceless look, stepped in and kissed her. Very funny.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:10pm

that's awesome.

you are righ about piazza. i think it's complete and i'm glad there's a show like that on broadway right now.

i love chris sarandon. he makes me want to see this show again. i love him in The Princess Bride, which is going to be a musical! i wonder if he'll reprise his role along with mandy patinkin!
(sorry for the thread jack)
Updated On: 10/6/05 at 03:10 PM

[TheQuibbler]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:12pm

One thing that surprised me about this show was how funny it was. This is really a wonderful piece of theatre.

[kgee30]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:19pm

Agreed! I saw it on Saturday: ineffable sadness, unspeakable joy. Thoroughly lovely. Lovely. Humanity and graciousness and understanding above all, and the letting go. The skip a heart takes when everything changes. My favorite? Definitely Chris Sarandon: flirtatious, expansive, deeply Italian. But everyone was marvelous, everyone had their moments (Victoria Clark on the phone with her husband: he's speaking and she just stops and stares out into the audience -- she's saying nothing, not moving, and yet the loneliness on her face brought me to tears).

And the unexpected ending, a breath held -- I really thought it could go either way, which was refreshing. The ending wasn't telegraphed. The standing ovation, richly deserved. The music is gorgeous, lush, soaring, unabashedly romantic, but ultimately (to me) doesn't quite hold together -- the lyrics are frequently clunky and there's no thread, so to speak, no common strands to connect the songs, to build the experience -- and yet. A spell is cast. Somehow you fall, and are grateful. Rewarded. And at the end, ah, the sunlight. Divine.

[cathywellerstein]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 3:22pm

i like your writting stlye!

light in the piazza is beautiful. i've never seen it in the orchestra. i want to.

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 5:18pm

Besides lct student tix, what are the other discounted ticket options?

[Pinguin]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 5:22pm

I'm glad the replacements are holding their own!

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 5:51pm

Honestly, I don't think I've ever seen any of the Piazza cast give the same performance each time I've seen the show, but the changes are never so glaringly obvious that they mess with the integrity of the piece, rather they're completely organic reactions to what's happening on-stage that particular evening. It's incredible to experience that.

Thanks for the fabulous reviews, boxers and kgee! On a side note, I'm in love with Aaron Lazar's portrayal of Fabrizio! He's just so adorably awkward!

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 5:55pm

They have student rush tickets... similar to other theatre's policies: 2 hours before curtain.

Thanks for your review, we are glad you enjoyed it both times you went to see the show! It's nice to read someone's review that got a chance to see Piazza in the preview stages.

--korenglish [Joyce]

[boxers7]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 9:00pm

I got my tickets an hour and a half before the show at TKTS for $50.50. We lucked out and got first row mezz, first lodge to the right. The end lodges were empty though teh orchestra was full.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 10/6/05 at 9:29pm

I didn't like Aaron Lazar's high notes. They sounded forced and uncomfortable, and to be frank, unpretty. Which isn't really a word, I think.

[anybodyelse]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 12:12am

I agree with you...but wait a second...u look familiar! I was at the same show and possibly talked to you afterwards. My friend Jenn and I took pics with Victoria Clark and maybe one with you...haha. Of course I could be mistaking you.

But yeah I liked Matt much better than Aaron, although my friend did go to school with Aaron's sister.

[DancerGirl16]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 2:23pm

This is very blunt but I just thought that the Light in the Piazza is genius and wish that it would appeal to more people,I feel like there is something about the title (although I like it) that puts off the younger audiences...it is unfortunate.

[boxers7]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 2:41pm

Two things I forgot to mention:
1.) Jay Reiss (from Spelling Bee) was sitting down the row from us for Act One, but left at intermission. Was anyone at Spelling Bee Saturday Matinee? Was he there?

2.) Three cell phones went off and six times the row vibrated. Something must be done!!

3.) Kelli O' Hara. Why did she not win the Tony? Am I the only one who thinks that she is a tad more worthy of an award than Sara? I'm not even talking attendance, I'm talking acting, which Sara didn't do much of. Anyone with me?

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 2:45pm

<<3.) Kelli O' Hara. Why did she not win the Tony? Am I the only one who thinks that she is a tad more worthy of an award than Sara? I'm not even talking attendance, I'm talking acting, which Sara didn't do much of. Anyone with me?>>

Yes yes yes! A thousand times yes!
Though I haven't seen Sara's performance and, therefore, can't really pass proper judgment on it. It just seems like a lot of riffing to me...

Updated On: 10/7/05 at 02:45 PM

[tagiunagi]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 3:29pm

Where are the seats available if I get rush tickets??

[flaemmchen]

Posted: 10/7/05 at 5:10pm

I think the rush seats are usually in the loge.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 10/10/05 at 12:00am

I don't understand why Kelli didn't get the Tony Award...

and I never will.

[Composer9]

Posted: 10/12/05 at 3:44am

I'm there with ya Kor...BUT her Tony will come...and come soon. Not that Tonys are all that matters...cause Vicki has been working in the biz for a long long time and just won her first...hell just got her first nomination!...so it could take some time for Kelli, but when it comes...it will be a sweet affirmation of her amazing amazing talent!

[gwalke4]

Posted: 10/12/05 at 10:40am

I felt very similarly, especially at the very end.

I felt like the show held you at a distance for so long, even through "Fable," I just couldn't let go, and then that final tableau, with that incredible blue sky, and then Patti held her hand out to Victoria and that was when I lost it - right as the lights went out! But then, so did everyone sitting around me, we had to take some time to recover ourselves, it was embarassing almost.

SOOO upset when I went to the matinee and Kelli didn't come out afterwards, she was giving an interview or some such. Matthew Morrison was even sexier than I imagined he could have been, Mark Harelik was incredibly nice, Victoria Clark was tired and irritable (surprisingly, but major distractions during the show in the audience) and she left very quickly.

[AllNite429]

Posted: 10/12/05 at 11:56am

I'm seeing the show on Nov. 2 and I can't wait. Maybe this has been posted before but to Victoria and/or Kelli have vacations coming up?