The Light in the Piazza
The Winner of 6 Tony Awards, this Neo-romantic, classical musical written by Craig Lucas with Music and Lyrics by Adam Guettle is based on the novella of Elizabeth Spencer. The main portion of the story takes place in Florence during 1953 and centers on the love affair of Clara Johnson (Stephanie Wall), an American tourist, and Fabrizio Naccarelli (Blake McIver Ewing), a young Florentine and Clara’s mother, Margaret’s (Mary Donnelly Haskell) intentions to stop this union. The score is a shift away from the popular rock or ballad musicals currently dominating Broadway and every theatre in between, and uses fresh, operatic movements which are enhanced by having large portions of the score in both English and Italian.
YMTA Productions presents this fiery romantic musical at the El Portal Forum Theatre in North Hollywood, under the direction of William Robert Ewing. From the opening moments to the closing there is rarely a missed beat. This production opened with a curtain speech half in English and half in Italian, setting up the play on this convention used within the show, the beauty of being lost in translation and how humor as well as love transcends language. The stage was without more than a few minor set pieces and all the scene changes happened fluidly within the action of the play. Lighting and excellent use of the ensemble resulted in a fast paced show that never lost its intensity.
Mary Donnelly Haskell led this stellar cast as Clara’s mother, Margaret. From an exceptional voice, to the effortless transformation from protective mother to the accepting woman who values that love and happiness is always worth fighting for, Haskell simply shines. And the apple does not fall far from the tree in the Johnson family, because Stephanie Wall commands this roller coaster of a role with a sparkling vocal quality as well as a heart of solid gold. Blake McIver Ewing captures an equally buoyant, young Romeo quality that never runs the risk of becoming saccharin, but rather rings true from Clara and Fabrizio’s first meeting to their final scene.
The supporting cast delivers with equal power to the three powerhouse lead. Christine M. Capsuto as Fabrizio’s sister-in-law Franca steals every scene she is in and blows the roof off the intimate Forum Theatre with her solo, “The Joy You Feel”. Darius Rose is the absolute ying to her yang, as Franca’s unfaithful husband Giuseppe. The comic energy of these two together is pure magic and is tempered by the dynamic performances of Jonathan Kruger and Dena Drotar as Signor and Signora Naccarelli.
With a simply elegant score and brilliantly orchestrated performances, YMTA’s production of The Light in the Piazza is a passionate night at the theatre. Bring a loved one, or someone to fall in love with, because this production will remind you just why love is always worth fighting for.