rOcKS @ '...Piazza'

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 3:53pm

Where to begin? I'll start with the technical aspects of the show which swept the Tonys.

-The Sets: The set design for this show is easily the best on Broadway right now and is one of the best I’ve ever seen. It is so creative and awesome. It really, truly does the best it can of transporting one to Italy. The sets take advantage of the depth of the stage (as they should) and really put you into the piazza. A very well deserved Tony win.
-The Lights: A bit disappointing. They were really nothing special. I enjoyed how they used the lights to show the duomo, I believe. I must say, however, that the scene in which Clara runs away from home towards the end and the stage is cleared and the backdrop is flooded with white is truly breathtaking. So, for that scene's lighting alone, I'd give the Tony to Posner even though his designs for Wicked were more worthy of the Tony, in my opinion.
-The Orchestrations: Gorgeous. They really complimented Guettel's lush and lovely score. Another well deserved Tony.
-The Costumes: Again, gorgeous. Zuber really did a wonderful job of working with Yeargan to bring the audience to Italy in the '50s as much as possible. Innovative yet classic.

-The Direction: Here, I thought the show faltered the most. The direction was the only thing that failed in bringing the audience to Italy. It didn't capture the hustle and bustle of the town squares very well although the more intimate scenes were stunning.

-The Book: I wasn't totally convinced by Lucas' book. It was a little uneven, at least for my taste. It started off a bit slow and boring and at times seemed a bit repetitive but, when Lucas knew what he was doing with a scene, he took full and complete advantage of it. I really enjoyed Margaret's moments in which she speaks with the audience. I also loved the conflict scenes where the characters are arguing and bickering (including the telephone conversations between Margaret and Roy and the argument in Rome between Margaret and Clara). Overall, I'd give the book a B.
-The Score: Well, here we go. Overall consensus for the score on the board is praise and worship but most critics dismissed it and yet it still won the Tony. I had purchased the OBC and enjoyed it very much the first go-around but with the exception of a few songs, I found myself not able to listen to it over and over like I am with most of the OBCs and RCR's of this past season. I went in a bit reluctant about Guettel's score but came out totally and utterly convinced that it was one of the most beautiful and gorgeous score I'd heard in years. It must be seen/heard live and in context to be understood and appreciated fully. It does seem a bit too mushy and as one person said "lovey-dovey" at times but the melodies are irresistibly lovely. Grade: A-

The Performances:
-Victoria Clark: If I were a producer of this show, I would bill it as 'The Light in the Piazza: AKA The Victoria Clark Show'. She gave the single best performance I'd even seen on a stage. She was funny, touching, real, raw, and while she didn’t have any huge, "Motown" numbers to deal with as Tonya Pinkins did last year in Caroline, or Change, she does deal with the lush songs she has to sing extremely well. If an award were to be given out to an 11 O’clock number, I would personally give it to Lot's Wife which had me awestruck in CoC but then again, as previously mentioned, Clark has a much lower stamina role and quieter, more classical songs to sing even though her 'Fable' was beautiful and rawly dramatic. This was a performance I will never forget. She was inexplicably phenomenal.
-Kelli O'Hara: A very lovely performance. I didn't enjoy it as much as some of the people on this board did but her singing is beautiful and her acting skills are very good. I just guess she was eclipsed by Clark's performance, at least in my mind.
-Matthew Morrison: Sheesh, Link's come a long, long way. He came, he sang, and boy did he deliver. His Italian is gorgeous and had all of the women around me swooning and his singing voice has developed greatly since Hairspray. Although he and Dan Fogler were playing two TOTALLY polar opposite roles, I would still have to give the Tony to Fogler who was exceptionally funny and entertaining but with Morrison very close behind. He was wonderful.
The rest of the cast including Mark Harelik & Sarah Uriarte Berry were top notch.

The only little complaints I have are:
1) I agree with Margo, who in his review stated that *SPOILER* Clara was a bit too normal for a girl with a mental issue *END SPOILER* and I wasn’t too sure who to blame, Lucas, Sher, or O'Hara.
2) The relationship between the two lovers didn't seem as developed as much as it should and could have been. People around me were laughing when *SPOILER* Clara and Fabrizzio agree to wed because we hadn't seen their love grow as much as we could have. *END SPOILER*

Overall, 'Piazza' is a musical for the ages. I applaud it for its boldness and fresh realness. From the very moment the hat is blown off of Clara's head and caught by Fabrizzio, I was sold. That scene as well as the scene in which Clara is running through the piazza flooded in white light were two of the most amazingly breathtaking scenes I’ve ever witnessed, live theater or otherwise. I left Piazza feeling something I rarely feel after a show. I felt inspired and profoundly moved. Flaws and all, I give this show FOUR STARS. It is so rare that a musical this gorgeous comes to Broadway and makes it big time. I highly recommend this show.

[sports620]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 3:56pm

AWESOME review!

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 3:57pm

Thanks!

[musicnmath]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 3:59pm

a much more coherent and eloquent review than mine. I find this show to be an "experience" unlike any other.

Totally agree on that scene where Clara is alone and the stage is cleared. I may have gasped.

It had me before the hat -- the blowing leaves at the beginning! Are you kidding me? blowing leaves? So simple. so perfect.

glad you enjoyed :) I'd love to see it again.

[DottieD'Luscia]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 3:59pm

Excellent, well written review. You really covered all the bases with this one.

I have listened to the CD mostly everyday since purchasing it a few weeks ago. Love to Me never fails to give me chills in its simple eloquence.

Updated On: 7/14/05 at 03:59 PM

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 4:04pm

I have a really, well probably really dumb questions, what exactly are the orchastrations?

[marincrazy11]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 4:09pm

musicnmath-I totally agree about the leaves. I thought was such brilliantly simple detail that really brought everything to life before anyone even got on stage.

I haven't not listened to the OBC one day since I bought it. I LOVE this score, and as beautiful as it is on cd, it really takes on more life once you've seen the show.

just breathtaking. that is really the only word I can think of to describe this show.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 4:55pm

Bump.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 5:03pm

i saw it yesterday afternoon, and i have to agree. the major point of the show's flaws were the book problems, especially in act 2. i would have been more convinced about clara's 'becoming normal' if there was a plot about aliens landing and making her that way (i hope that makes sense)

i also saw a lack of chemistry between most of the characters, but thats just me

[Aigoo]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 5:09pm

Great review! The only point where I disagree is actually the part where Matt's and Kelly's relationship is supposed to develop. Granted, it isn't exactly the slow, blooming relationship some may hope for, but because of Kelly's character, I don't think she was able to do that? Because people are more naive that way...more able to rush into things. And the wedding...maybe she might've found it as one of those very non-thinking moves. I'm sure she wasn't thinking, "Yay, I found my soulmate..." but more like, "Yay, a new person to play with!" Maybe that's why people laughed...they didn't expect it and neither did Fabrizio at the time. I'm sure he was THINKING it, but due to Clara's obscene proposal, he thought that they were both in passionate undeniable luv. But being the proper man he is, HE wanted to propose...and Clara was just eager to get married to her best friend.

So I think it's one of those things that little children do when they say absurd things...but later on, she sort of develops a sense of maturity and begins to take things like her wedding on a much more serious level. Sort of like that whole, love unlocks all..thing maybe? Her immaturity still shows in "Octet" (Olly olly oxen free!), but again, it continues to develop.

I don't know. I may be on the wrong page, but that's how I perceived their engagement.

Updated On: 7/14/05 at 05:09 PM

[musicnmath]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 5:14pm

Aigoo, I'm on your page.

[sanda]

Posted: 7/14/05 at 10:36pm

Great review. I wish I could put my words like yours.

One thing I agree the most is the score. The orchestra is the best I ever heard in theatre. I don't think I would enjoy the music that much if I did not experience it live. The music is normally not my type, but in this show, it is incredibly beautiful and moving.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 10:45am

Good point, Aigoo.

[showmethetony]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 12:19pm

"Clara was a bit too normal for a girl with a mental issue"

I disagree with this. She wasn't crazy...she was emotionally stunted. I think there is a big difference there. I think Clara captures that essence of a young person around 10/11yrs old. I know a lot of young people that age who are fairly normal and mature along side that naivete or gullibility. There are a few moments when you see that. "That's a completely naked statue!" and "Hello" in the middle of The Beauty Is. And I think Aigoo hits the mark about her relationship with Fabrizio and their marriage. I don't think it was a "yes I found my soulmate" sort of connection - but we do have to realize that young people can experience deep feelings and rather quickly and are more likely to act on impulse because they don't really know what to do with their feelings or their hormones. Think about the first time you had a crush or fell in love...You probably did a lot of things without thinking b/c it just FELT GOOD and made you happy. Plus, I think Fabrizio is the first person to see Clara as a something more than a child who needs to be coddled and cared for and it makes sense that she would be drawn to that when her emotional age would put her right at the peak of "I want to be independent"

[wickedrentq]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 12:25pm

Orchestrations...course the pit geek answers...the orchestrator takes the score which in lotsa cases are written on a piano, and distribute all the music among the instruments...decides what instruments play in the show, which one gets each part, etc. Generally when one's describing amazing orchestrations, they're referring to the orchestra as a whole, just how the instruments mended together to produce such a beautiful sound, and I completely agree the orchestrations here are amazing!

[BwayTheatre11]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 12:40pm

How can you not appreciate the show's lighting?? It is amazing!

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 8:13pm

wickedrentq, thank you so much!

[sanda]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 8:50pm

I don't think Clara is too " Normal" as well.

Conincidently, I have a relative whom I should call aunt. She is sort of " Slow". I remember when I was a kid, people talked about that she was retarded. But I did not feel that way at all. She was very pretty, quiet, got a lovely smile. She can cook ,do housework and take care herself well. Until I grow up I realized that she was different. When she talked, her mind was really like a child. But that is when I grow up. When I was a kid about 11, I didnot realize it. Later she married to a normal guy who was so poor that he cannot afford to marry a normal woman. And she even gets a smart daughter now.

Clara reminded me a lot about her.




Updated On: 7/15/05 at 08:50 PM

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 7/15/05 at 9:01pm

i think kelli was the best thing in the show.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 7/16/05 at 12:36am

Maybe I wasn't clear enough on O'Hara's performance. After relistening to the OBC and watching video clips I had found online, I was reminded of how good she was. I did not, however, think she was as wonderful as Clark who upstaged her very much but she was, as I said, lovely. She has a gorgeous singing voice and very good acting skills but I still stick by the fact that she could have acted a bit younger for a person with a mental issue. A very good performance but, she was not as amazing as people on here have said, and she was not even close to the best thing about the show, IMO. It was a splendid performance but, at least for me, didn't live up to all the hoopla on this site about it.

[WickedGeek28]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:23pm

I feel you really need to see the show because on the city and previews, Clara doesn't seem as immature. I mean, some people are just funny and joking ya kno?

[alwy15]

Posted: 7/17/05 at 10:35pm

i think ohara's performance was one of the most strikingly beautiful performances i've ever seen on a stage in my life. it managed to move me without being bombastic... which is what im usually attracted to. she was just... flawless...