Thoughts on "The Light in the Piazza" Tour

[junglered]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 2:43pm

I am happy to report that "The Light in the Piazza" tour is in fine shape. The lush orchestrations and glorious score, costumes, lighting, and sets are still terrific as they were in the original LCT production. The show was just fine presented on a proscenium stage. David Burnham was fantastic as Fabrizio. Elena Shaddow had a glorious soprano and sang the part of Clara well. I think that she was superior to Katie Clarke, but not quite in Kelli O'Hara's league. It was wonderful to see the return of Christine Andreas. She has such an inspiring story to tell that parallels the "Piazza" story. Evidently, she has raised a developmentally challenged son who is now 19 or 20. He wanted independence and she has just let him go - to live in a group home. Christine works hard in the role and we really believe her struggle as Margaret. Minor quibbles would be that I am not a fan of her vibrato when she sings in the higher registers and her accent - though Southern - is NOT that of a person hailing from central North Carolina. Victoria Clark had the accent down pat (think Elizabeth Dole's accent). Victoria will ALWAYS be the definitive Margaret to me, but Christine does turn in a winning performance. Laura Griffith is strong as Franca, as is David Ledingham as Signor Naccarelli.

[DG]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 2:45pm

Glad to know it's doing well. My biggest interest is in how it translates to a proscenium setting - nice to know that you found it as beautiful as before.

[junglered]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 2:56pm

DG - You raise a valid point. I also believe that the thrust stage of the Vivian Beaumont Theatre really lent itself well to this production, but I think that a nice job was done with making the touring set work with the rather large proscenium stage of our Fox Theatre.

Posted: 10/12/06 at 6:57pm

"Elena Shaddow had a glorious soprano and sang the part of Clara well. I think that she was superior to Katie Clarke, but not quite in Kelli O'Hara's league."

Katie Clarke was better than Kelli in my opinion.

[Yero]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 6:59pm

"Katie Clarke was better than Kelli in my opinion."
I think it's safe to say you are completely nuts and delusional.

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:00pm

Thank you, Yero.

[Yero]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:01pm

My pleasure, you are very welcome.

[Horton]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:31pm

In my opinion they were very different, I loved Kelli's soprano, but I thought Katie was slightly better at different things in the role.

[bwayondabrain]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:35pm

maybe Katie is better live, but i saw her in the "live at lincoln center" taping of the show, and did not care for her much
yeah...i definitely prefer Kelli better.
Kelli is...amazing
:)
and semi-hot, too

[leon1489]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:43pm

All three of them are very talented. Elena was the better actress of the three, though. By far.

[jeremykushnier1fan]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 7:53pm

I need to see this!

[harris007]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:41pm

i saw the tour and fully agree, i also love their show curtain

Posted: 10/12/06 at 8:59pm

Does anyone have a pic of the curtain?

Posted: 10/12/06 at 9:10pm

bump

[BroadwaynSeventh2]

Posted: 10/12/06 at 9:35pm

I have to say I saw the tour in Tampa on the 6th and let me tell you... I was in awe. It was completely amazing. I watched it on PBS and was less then impressed. But seeing it live WOW. The best thing to come through Tampa in a LONG time.