The Light in the Piazza Review 3/29

[MusicSnob22]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 1:20am

I just got back from seeing The Light in the Piazza and let me just say "Wow!" After sitting through an entire season of frivolous American Idol musicals or shows that are just compilations of other artists work, this was EXACTLY what I wanted to see.

The sets and lights were so beautifully done. I love when you can go to theater and know that it's a whole machine at work, but if it all flows well, it looks effortless ~ and that's exactly what happened this evening. The costumes were beautiful. The colors were so complimentary and everyone looked great on that stage. Sticking out with the most flattering and elegant costumes was Sarah Uriarte Berry...she looked amazing in everything (and the girl has a voice on her)!

Adam Guettel's music was simply amazing...every song had its own beautiful line and the cast had the talent to sing it ~ especially Victoria Clark. She brought down the house everytime she opened her mouth. Also Kelli O'Hara took everyones breath away when she first started singing and kept us wanting more during the whole show. I will be praying for a cast recording!

The only complaint that I had about the whole evening was that Matthew Morrison showed to me that vocally he is more suited to sing characters like Link and not serious singing roles like Fabrizio. There was more than one moment this evening that his singing was weak and he had to resort to falsetto to help himself out. Maybe it was just an off night...or maybe this is just his "style"...I kind of have a feeling that it's the latter based on other things I've heard of him. But, in his defense, his performance was really good, especially in the italian sections.

If you have the opportunity to see this amazing show, please do! Especially you students...$20 can get you amazing seats. This is the type of show that American musical theater should be!

[secret-soul]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 1:30am

If you mean the "now is I in HAPPINESS with you" in La Passeggiata, that's the way Bart wanted it.

[Unknown User]

Posted: 3/30/05 at 1:33am

(im gonna guess you meant the director- bartlett sher?)

[DG]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 1:50am

Revisited this show again this year with the new cast, and it is even more affecting the second time around. Aaron Lazar is positively flawless, and the new Clara beautifully captures the innocence and longing. Their chemistry together is extraordinary.

And Ms. Clark continues to give a performance for the ages - astonishing to see up close and really drink it in.

[BwayBaby18]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:15am

IT is nice to see i am not the only person who appreciates Katie

[bschneid76]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 11:19am

I recently saw it in March and it was the second time I saw it. I saw things I must have missed the first time around, when Victoria Clark sings Fable at the end and then the light shines upon her and she says "The Light in the Piazza" I must have missed the light coming on her and it sent a chill down my spine and I got it!

Katie was also amazing more so than Kelli O'Hare. I felt she gave more to the character than Kelli did. Which made the show even better. I hope it continues to run!

[zoran912]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:34pm

I may be a bit biased, but I love Kelli!

[DG]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 2:53pm

Zoran - I liked Kelli very much, too - her voice was so amazingly beautiful singing that score. I just felt that Katie stepped in and really made the role work for her - which isn't easy to do when the orginator was so loved. Having Aaron to play off of couldn't have hurt

[LorelaiGilmore]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 4:06pm

I only saw Katie, but she was absoulutely amazing, and Aaron, well I'm sort of in love with him, so I think you can figure out what I think of him.

[jv92]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 4:11pm

Katie Clarke felt much more believable as a mentally challenged person to me. I don't know, maybe's she's younger or maybe the role is better suited for her than it was for Kelli O'Hara (who was great too) but she was fantastic and played the role superbly.

[Roninjoey]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 5:26pm

Apples and oranges, they're different people and each do the role differently. Kelli is my favorite but I rather liked Katie too.

[whatyouown223]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:17pm

I enjoyed Katie's acting more than Kelli's (although sometimes I felt like she was Amber from Hairspray), but I missed Kelli's voice. It seems like Katie didn't use full voice, because when she sang clara's interlude, I could tell she had it, she just wasn't using it.

[dancingthrulife04]

Posted: 4/3/06 at 6:35pm

I liked KAtie as well, but I have to agree with what you own. At first I thought her voice was just a bit weak, as nice as it was. Then, "Clara's Interlude" (which I LOVE) came, and I went "WHOA! Where did that come from?"