Starrsville,

I'm just now seeing this thread for the first time. My husband and I both thoroughly enjoyed this show. I hope you do too!

OO, what a very moving post. I'm so sorry about all these troubles.

But oddly enough, while I suppose it is more a matter of semantics, how that all relates to your reaction to Light in the Piazza seems to reconfirm that it is a "no brainer". In other words -- it's not a play that works on your brain and makes you think -- it's a play that works on your emotions and makes you feel. You were very right to be so moved by the play -- but it was your emotions they were playing on, not your ability to think, reason, or question. On the other hand, I find it hard to imagine a discussion group coming out of Light in the Piazza and saying, "let's sit and discuss the layers of plot and meaning". Again, I don't think it's bad that it works on your emotions rather than the thinking part of your brain -- that's clearly what the writers intended it to do.

I don't consider "no brainers" necessarily a bad thing. And yes, starrsville, I certainly think shoot em ups are no brainers. But that isn't bad either. I still maintain that the MAIN objective of theatre or film is to entertain. And if it does that, then it has worked. Certainly Mama Mia is a no brainer -- but I love it -- it's so much fun. Nearly all TV sitcoms are no brainers, and I'm practically addicted.
No brainer is not necessarily a BAD thing. I can't stand shoot em ups, but some people thrive on them. So why is that a bad thing? Different strokes for different folks.

My wife and I both voted:
story ((N))
music ((N))

OO, I'm sorry that your family was/is going through a health crisis. I have also faced serious health issues with one of my daughters that continue to be ongoing so please don't jump to conclusions about people.

My characterization of this play as "no brainer" entertainment was a direct response to JB Hapgood who said "If your looking for spectacular no brainer entertainment, go elsewhere." I may have been too defensive but it seemed as though that was a challenge to those who did not like this play, as if to say "you just weren't smart enought to appreciate it." I was trying to be funny, but I really did find the plot trite. I did not mean for it to get personal.

This thread has certainly gone off into a far broader area than I'm sure the OP intended.
I think we can agree on the following:
Women are more likely to enjoy the show than men. That is not to say that all women will enjoy it nor that all men won't.
So, starrsville, go see it and find out where you fit in!

I'll be there - front row (and almost) center!

And, this is my consolation prize. I'll be sitting there INSTEAD OF on a plane, en route to my birthday trip to Tuscany! :-(

Work, money, life got in the way this year. This is my consolation prize - and since I like sappy musicals, I'm sure I'll be happy! :-)

While I agree, Neo, that it plays off emotion...and most plays will to some degree or other, (hopefully), but I have to agree with JBHapgood, who also evidently took something more than that away from it. I would never characterize it as no brainer entertainment, which can have a negative connotation and I feel did, in this thread, but neither would I characterize someone who "doesn't get it" as brainless, and I honestly don't think he intended that extension of reasoning Suki.

I apologize for being so...er...pixxy last night too. I should have known better than to get into further discussion last night as hard a time as I was having with the events of the day and working through my feelings on it all. I was very much aware as I watched "Light..." that my reaction was strongly tied to my DD's illness, and felt the family dynamics in play with Clara's family were either missed or being trivialized in this discussion. Anyway...not a good time for me to lock horns, which is something I hate doing, but if I feel strongly about something, and I did about this, I'm often one of the first to jump on my chair, unfortunately, and last night was not the time for me to get further involved.

Happy Birthday, Starrs. Enjoy. :) Next year...Tuscany.

By "no brainer" I was referring to the many highly successful shows that rely on spectacle and sensory overload, after which you walk out humming the scenery. Or, more recently, those that mine a familiar popular song catalogue and shoehorn it into the obligatory minimum of a story to make it a "musical" rather than a jukebox.

<i>Piazza</i> has rather little spectacle, sensory overload, or popular songs. So if that's what you like, you'd probably be very bored. Does that make my remarks any clearer?

I have an amazing comment. Perhaps no one is LOOKING for a &quot;no brainer&quot; however it is defined by the individual. Perhaps, no one is so limited they like only a certain kind of show. Perhaps, there are people diverse enough to enjoy all types of theatre.

Just a thought.

I, am for one, am tired of the pompous lectures. I am very appreciative of the varied responses. It helped me make my original decision - not to buy a tix for the person who has a birthday that same week. The continued discussion has helped me make another decision - to try to by a tix (even in the nosebleed section) and take someone else special in my life. The story will speak to her.

Many thanks! :-)

I guess I just don't find the term &quot;no brainer&quot; a slam, so I fail to understand why that upsets some people. As I mentioned before I love what I call no brainers and go to see them all the time. I love seeing a no brainer &quot;chick flick&quot; type of movie one day and then a fine foreign film that makes me think the next. Or I like watching old episodes of Friends and Raymond on TV before turning over to watch a &quot;Great Performances&quot; on PBS. I guess some people are thinking that &quot;no brainer&quot; means anyone who likes it has no brains? Not at all. I think it merely means a show that is for entertainment or emotional value only -- one you don't have to do a lot of intellectualizing over to enjoy. Maybe that's just MY definition, not others.

Hey Starrs,

I can get you free tickets to the Wednesday, October 11th show if you're interested....

brandie, for Piazza!?
Are you kidding!?!
If you are serious, I would love to have them.

Yes, I'm just teasing you :P

If you still have my email address, send me an email and we'll work out the details.

I don't. Email me at starrsvillega at yahoo.

Thanks!

First of all, THANK YOU BRANDIE for the tickets! What a treat - and one friend had never been to the Fox before.

Thank you, HowardR and Neo. I basically agreed with you - and many other posters. It was &quot;just okay&quot;. Wanted to enjoy it more - but didn't. It.......just........dragged.

Yet, I wanted very much to go, thanks to a Fodorite was able to go and take friends, and had a very nice evening.

Thanks all!