Cast:Christine Andreas (Margaret Johnson), Katie Rose Clarke (Clara Johnson), David Burnham (Fabrizio Naccarelli), David Ledingham (Signor Naccarelli), Betsy DiLellio (Franca Naccarelli), Jonathan Hammond (Giuseppe Naccarelli)
For complete cast info and how to get tickets for the rest of the tour, see the The Light in the Piazza tour page. Unfortunately, it leaves the Orange County Performing Arts Center after the performances tomorrow.
Clearly, I wouldn't see a show I didn't really enjoy twice in less than two weeks. I saw The Light in the Piazza (with almost exactly the same cast, Wendi Bergamini was not able to perform as Franca Naccarelli today, though Betsy DiLellio did a wonderful job and I don't think I would have known that it wasn't the same actress if I hadn't read the slip of paper in the program). David made fun of me for being a theatre freak, which those of you who know me well know is completely accurate, so I'm comfortable with that. I love the theatre and often get more than a little obsessed with it. *grin* I enjoyed The Light in the Piazza even more the second time I saw it and I'm so glad I got to see it again so soon. It's great that it was in town longer than a week and that I had a day free to see it. Although I'm sad it hasn't been selling out everywhere (since it's a wonderful show), I am thrilled that I was able to get a ticket.
I got very lucky today and got a wonderful almost completely center seat in the 5th row of the orchestra (which is row B at the OCPAC). Normally, I wouldn't sit closer than row 5 in a theatre, since closer than that is too close for my neck, but due to the spacing of the seats at the OCPAC, I'd sit in row A, the 4th row, there. It's nice to have so much leg room in a theatre.
The lady next to me was really sweet. We ended up talking, since she was an older woman (86) who hadn't gotten a program and I offered to get one for her when she realized she didn't have one. I gave her mine. Next thing you knew, we were talking about our love for New York, how her friends told her The Light in the Piazza was a horrible show, how I'd already seen it and came back to see it again, David Burnham's great CD, how she's moving to Florida to be closer to her daughter, and just about everything else.
At intermission, the woman next to me said she thought there was a bit too much Italian, but that the music was beautiful. By the end of the show, she said she understood why I had come back to see the show again. I'd managed to convince her it was worth the trip. :-) I'd also convinced her to buy David's CD, but they only took cash, so I think she was going to have to buy it elsewhere.
When I saw the show the other time, I figured I'd buy a program online, since I didn't see a booth and my David was tired. The reason I didn't see a booth is that they didn't sell anything there. What a bummer. I would have bought a program and perhaps a shirt (depends on the designs available) if they'd had them to sell. I guess I'll look online to see what they made and see what I find when I'm in New York in August.
If you get a chance to see The Light in the Piazza and can handle not understanding every word that they say (and like romantic musicals), I highly recommend it. It's a wonderful show with a great story and amazing music. Until July, I can also say that the cast, scenic design, orchestrations, and everything else on the tour are well done, too.
Grade: A-
Labels: 2007, Christine Andreas, dancing, David Burnham, drama, Katie Rose Clarke, musical, romance, tour
Reviewed by Kat at the 2:00 PM show | 0 screams