#1
Posted: 3/18/05 at 11:57am
I certainly don't want to be attacked for posting a review after seeing a show's first preview, but I just wanted to put in a quick word for this show.
Now, I will admit to being a huge fan of Adam Guettel's. I bought the Floyd Collins album years ago...and hated it. Absolutely hated it. Wondered what all the fuss was about. Put it away and forgot about it for about 6 months.
Then, one day, it managed to make its way into my cd turntable while I was cleaning and it came on. I let it play and, by the end of the album, I was hooked. I saw the show when it was on its "mini-tour" in 1999 about 7 times (sidenote: ended up doing a show with one of the cast members of that production. When she met me, she spent about an hour trying to figure out why she knew me and, when it dawned on her, she could not stop laughing. The entire cast of Floyd used to look in the audience every night to see if they could spot me. Glad they were amused and not frightened...). Went on to even perform in a production of it.
so, with all of that said...I saw the 1st preview of Piazza last night.
The audience was fairly appreciative (partial standing o with long and pronounced cheering for the three leads).
The show needs a little tweaking and I think it was fairly obvious it was a first preview, but here are a few little thoughts:
The score: beautiful. At times absolutely haunting. Guettel mixes his blend of quasi-opera and musical theatre with some lush writing that often recalls old romance movies. Also, almost the entire show is underscored, much like a film. Unbelievably beautiful to listen to. The title song is gorgeous, as is the 1st act closer, a duet between Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Morrison. Victoria Clark makes out with the best two songs of the evening, "Dividing Day" and the finale, "Fable." "Fable" is an absolutely gorgeous and bittersweet song and this woman does it complete justice.
The performances: Kelli O'Hara is, I think, still finding her way with the role...but it's the first preview. She sings the crap out of it already and is very confident in this role.
Matthew Morrison is a wonderful Fabrizio. I confess I've never been a huge fan but he was so wonderful in this (and so much better looking in real life than in photos) but he has really proved himself to me.
Victoria Clark...this musical is about her. The race for the Tony awards is on but, given the dearth of leading lady roles this year (who knew it was a year for men?!?!? All the roles in the best musicals this year are featured for women...think Spelling Bee and Spamalot), it's going to come down to Sherie Renee Scott, Sutton Foster, and Victoria, and I think Victoria has the edge as her role is the best-written of the three. And I say it's about time.
Clark really gets a chance to show off some of that comedic timing for which she's always been relegated to the supporting cast of shows (Smitty in How to Succeed among others) but she's absolutely riveting during all the serious moments as well.
The rest of the cast is really left with little to do (especially the ensemble, who look like well-paid stagehands moving set pieces about). The Vacarrelli (I apologize for the brutal misspelling) family has some really insanely funny moments and no one makes better use of the overly-dramatic Italian personality than Sarah Uriarte Berry. Michael Beresse is SEVERELY underused, although Patti Cohenour (who is the understudy for Victoria) has a particularly hysterical moment that I won't give away here...and she sings like a dream.
I think I've turned this into more of a review than I would have liked it, so I will stop for now, except to say that Piazza has officially helped make this year a VERY exciting one award-wise and in terms of quality. It's a strong contender for many awards and also should help make Guettel a real theatrical presence here in the city.
Now, I will admit to being a huge fan of Adam Guettel's. I bought the Floyd Collins album years ago...and hated it. Absolutely hated it. Wondered what all the fuss was about. Put it away and forgot about it for about 6 months.
Then, one day, it managed to make its way into my cd turntable while I was cleaning and it came on. I let it play and, by the end of the album, I was hooked. I saw the show when it was on its "mini-tour" in 1999 about 7 times (sidenote: ended up doing a show with one of the cast members of that production. When she met me, she spent about an hour trying to figure out why she knew me and, when it dawned on her, she could not stop laughing. The entire cast of Floyd used to look in the audience every night to see if they could spot me. Glad they were amused and not frightened...). Went on to even perform in a production of it.
so, with all of that said...I saw the 1st preview of Piazza last night.
The audience was fairly appreciative (partial standing o with long and pronounced cheering for the three leads).
The show needs a little tweaking and I think it was fairly obvious it was a first preview, but here are a few little thoughts:
The score: beautiful. At times absolutely haunting. Guettel mixes his blend of quasi-opera and musical theatre with some lush writing that often recalls old romance movies. Also, almost the entire show is underscored, much like a film. Unbelievably beautiful to listen to. The title song is gorgeous, as is the 1st act closer, a duet between Kelli O'Hara and Matthew Morrison. Victoria Clark makes out with the best two songs of the evening, "Dividing Day" and the finale, "Fable." "Fable" is an absolutely gorgeous and bittersweet song and this woman does it complete justice.
The performances: Kelli O'Hara is, I think, still finding her way with the role...but it's the first preview. She sings the crap out of it already and is very confident in this role.
Matthew Morrison is a wonderful Fabrizio. I confess I've never been a huge fan but he was so wonderful in this (and so much better looking in real life than in photos) but he has really proved himself to me.
Victoria Clark...this musical is about her. The race for the Tony awards is on but, given the dearth of leading lady roles this year (who knew it was a year for men?!?!? All the roles in the best musicals this year are featured for women...think Spelling Bee and Spamalot), it's going to come down to Sherie Renee Scott, Sutton Foster, and Victoria, and I think Victoria has the edge as her role is the best-written of the three. And I say it's about time.
Clark really gets a chance to show off some of that comedic timing for which she's always been relegated to the supporting cast of shows (Smitty in How to Succeed among others) but she's absolutely riveting during all the serious moments as well.
The rest of the cast is really left with little to do (especially the ensemble, who look like well-paid stagehands moving set pieces about). The Vacarrelli (I apologize for the brutal misspelling) family has some really insanely funny moments and no one makes better use of the overly-dramatic Italian personality than Sarah Uriarte Berry. Michael Beresse is SEVERELY underused, although Patti Cohenour (who is the understudy for Victoria) has a particularly hysterical moment that I won't give away here...and she sings like a dream.
I think I've turned this into more of a review than I would have liked it, so I will stop for now, except to say that Piazza has officially helped make this year a VERY exciting one award-wise and in terms of quality. It's a strong contender for many awards and also should help make Guettel a real theatrical presence here in the city.
