An Italian Feast for the Eye and Ear

The Light in the Piazza – Lyric Opera of Chicago

Elizabeth Spencer’s beloved 1960 novella about an American mother and her young daughter on vacation in Italy became a popular film just two years later. It starred Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton and Rossano Brazzi. Then, in 2003, book writer Craig Lucas and composer Adam Guettel teamed up to develop a theatrical musical version of this heartwarming story. This artistic collaboration began its journey at Seattle’s Intiman Playhouse, completing its pre-Broadway course at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre, a year later.

The musical, which has a richly, romantic, operatic look and sound, finally opened on Broadway in 2005, earning the show six Tony Awards, including Best Score, for Guettel, and Best Actress, for Victoria Clark. Following the musical’s New York success, in addition to a National Tour the musical’s been performed all over the world, including outstanding local productions at the Marriott Theatre, in Lincolnshire, and Theo Ubique Cabaret, in Rogers Park. Earlier this year, the musical was given a stellar, critically acclaimed production in London, soon transferring to Los Angeles. The production, which stars the magnificent opera star, Renee Fleming, in the leading role of the southern mother, Margaret Johnson, is playing a limited engagement in Chicago, before it heads off to the Sydney Opera House, in 2020. Following that production—well, who knows? Perhaps the time is right for a Broadway revival of Adam Guettel’s plush, sophisticated and gorgeously staged musical.

Margaret Johnson has treated Clara, her pretty, young daughter, to a culturally rich summer trip to picturesque Florence, Italy. As they stroll leisurely through the sun-streaked piazza in the early morning light, Margaret reads from her guidebook, sharing gems of information and points of interest with her inquisitive daughter. When a sudden breeze catches Clara’s hat, the other tourists and locals try to grab it. But a handsome, young Italian man named Fabrizio eventually rescues the bonnet and returns it to the lovely girl. This fateful first encounter is the beginning of a whirlwind romance that Clara’s mother doesn’t entirely approve of for enigmatic reasons of her own.

Florence reminds Margaret of a happier time, when she and her brusque husband, Roy, visited Italy and were in love. As she watches Clara and Fabrizio’s relationship intensify, Margaret worries about a fact that she and her husband have kept secret from everyone, especially Fabrizio and his family. When Clara was 12 years old, a pony kicked her in the head. The accident left the girl mentally and emotionally handicapped. She tries to distract her daughter with the magical sights and sounds of Florence. However, when Fabrizio asks Clara to marry him, and she accepts, Margaret whisks her daughter off to Rome. Hoping that a change of scene will distract Clara, Margaret eventually gives in to her daughter’s unshakable passion for the young Italian man and finally agrees to the wedding. But upon signing the marriage license, Signor Naccarelli, Fabrizio’s father, notices that Clara’s handwriting appears juvenile and she’s listed her age as being six years older than his son. He immediately calls off the wedding; but Margaret, realizing that Clara deserves the love that she and Roy no longer share, subtly persuades Signor Naccarelli to change his mind and the wedding proceeds as planned. The musical ends happily with the gorgeous “Fable.”

Beautifully directed by Olivier Award-winner Daniel Evans, this grandly opulent production stars the much-celebrated opera star, Renee Fleming. She’s lovely, filled with grace and sings like an angel. Ms. Fleming is perfection in this role. Clara is played with charm and innocence by attractive film and theatre actress, Solea Pfeiffer. The role of Fabrizio is portrayed by the handsome, charismatic Rob Houchen, well-known for playing Marius in the London production of “Les Miserables.” Signor Naccarelli is played with likable, suave sophistication by the multi award-winning English actor, Alex Jennings. Distinguished opera diva, Marie McLaughlin, brings humor to Signora Naccarelli; prolific Broadway actor/singer Eric Sciotto is winning as Giuseppe Naccarelli and Suzanne Kantorski is appropriately passionate as his lusty wife, Franca.

Technically this production magnificently supports this sumptuous production. It is everything. The soaring, unconventional score by Adam Guettel is beautifully sung by this company, and accompanied 31-members of the gifted Lyric Opera Orchestra, under the direction of Kimberly Grigsby. Robert Jones’ sun-kissed, two-story scenic design is filled with detail and floats a spheroid blue sky, filled with clouds and light, high above the piazza. It’s as if the characters are under the dome of a great cathedral. Mark Henderson’s lighting is a wash of sunshine and moonlight that enhances the locale. Period perfect costumes by Brigitte Reiffenstuel, along with wigs fashioned by Campbell Young, enable theatergoers to travel back to the wide-eyed 1950’s.

This majestic new production of Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel’s operatic musical is an Italian feast for the eyes and ears. The music fills the audience with romance and splendor, boasting a lush score that perfectly complements the story. With Renee Fleming singing the leading role, and supported by a wonderfully talented supporting cast, this is a “Light in the Piazza” that should positively not be missed.

Highly Recommended

Reviewed by Colin Douglas     

Presented December 14-29 by Scenario Two at the Lyric Opera House, 20 N. Wacker Drive, Chicago.

Tickets are available at the box office or by going to www.lightinthepiazzathemusical.com.

Additional information about this and other area productions can be found by visiting www.theatreinchicago.com.