Light on the Piazza
Sep 23rd, 2006, 11:15 PM
#22
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Neopolitan, some very well known operas (Carmen, The Magic Flute, among others) have dialogue. And some musicals (Sweeney Todd, The Most Happy Fella, any of the Lloyd Webber line of "rock operas") have little or no dialogue. So that's not what determines the species of musical theatre.
HowardR, you're quite right that Guettel isn't (yet) at Sondheim's level of artistry. What "Piazza" does have in common with Sondheim's shows is that the music is too complex to "get" in one hearing. I have long suspected the main reason for the complexity is to promote the sales of cast albums, which provide an affordable way to hear the score enough times to appreciate it.
HowardR, you're quite right that Guettel isn't (yet) at Sondheim's level of artistry. What "Piazza" does have in common with Sondheim's shows is that the music is too complex to "get" in one hearing. I have long suspected the main reason for the complexity is to promote the sales of cast albums, which provide an affordable way to hear the score enough times to appreciate it.
Sep 24th, 2006, 05:47 AM
#24
Guest
Posts: n/a
Oh my, I certainly hope he is!!!
And that's quite a stretch -- Carmen has some dialogue so that is similar to Light in the Piazza -- how?
By the way, you would be far closer to right to call those other examples you give -- Sweeney Todd, etc.-- operas, than to call A Light in the Piazza one.
Maybe you're just confusing "opera" with "serious sounding music"?
And that's quite a stretch -- Carmen has some dialogue so that is similar to Light in the Piazza -- how?
By the way, you would be far closer to right to call those other examples you give -- Sweeney Todd, etc.-- operas, than to call A Light in the Piazza one.
Maybe you're just confusing "opera" with "serious sounding music"?
Sep 24th, 2006, 09:04 AM
#25
Join Date: Apr 2005
Posts: 290
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
"I have long suspected the main reason for the complexity [of the music] is to promote the sales of cast albums...."
You're kidding, right?
Yes. But the recording often is the only practical way to appreciate something that you can't "get" in one hearing in the theatre.
Maybe you're just confusing "opera" with "serious sounding music"?
Maybe. But the distinctions between the various species of musical theatre are rather nebulous. As is the definition of "serious sounding music." Does Richard Rodgers qualify, as in Carousel, South Pacific, or On Your Toes (which has two fully-composed ballets)? If not, the aforementioned Carmen is chock-full of very hummable "tunes" (Hammerstein even turned it into Carmen Jones-- does that make it less than "serious sounding"?
I think the distinction may have more to do with some combination of venue and attitude. If a piece of musical theatre is performed in an Opera House before an audience of self-proclaimed snobs, and preferably in a foreign language that none of the snobs understands, it's "Opera." Otherwise it's some "lower order" of musical theatre. But you'll have to account for the New York City Opera, which regularly includes musicals like Pajama Game in its repertoire.
The whole issue is a bit silly. I would actually be more inclined to say that Piazza is a musical that uses "operatic" music and conventions to fit the characters and locale. That's how Loesser categorized Most Happy Fella and Sondheim classifies Sweeney Todd. But how much does it really matter anyway?
You're kidding, right?
Yes. But the recording often is the only practical way to appreciate something that you can't "get" in one hearing in the theatre.
Maybe you're just confusing "opera" with "serious sounding music"?
Maybe. But the distinctions between the various species of musical theatre are rather nebulous. As is the definition of "serious sounding music." Does Richard Rodgers qualify, as in Carousel, South Pacific, or On Your Toes (which has two fully-composed ballets)? If not, the aforementioned Carmen is chock-full of very hummable "tunes" (Hammerstein even turned it into Carmen Jones-- does that make it less than "serious sounding"?
I think the distinction may have more to do with some combination of venue and attitude. If a piece of musical theatre is performed in an Opera House before an audience of self-proclaimed snobs, and preferably in a foreign language that none of the snobs understands, it's "Opera." Otherwise it's some "lower order" of musical theatre. But you'll have to account for the New York City Opera, which regularly includes musicals like Pajama Game in its repertoire.
The whole issue is a bit silly. I would actually be more inclined to say that Piazza is a musical that uses "operatic" music and conventions to fit the characters and locale. That's how Loesser categorized Most Happy Fella and Sondheim classifies Sweeney Todd. But how much does it really matter anyway?
Sep 24th, 2006, 10:00 AM
#27
Join Date: Jan 2003
Posts: 8,305
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Your explanation/definition (or whatever you want to call it) of what constitutes opera is both simplistic and ludicrous. Am I a snob because I love opera.....or am I a non-snob because I love the musical theater? Oh dear me, I'm really in an emotional turmoil because I love both!
Sep 24th, 2006, 12:45 PM
#28
Wasn't the plot of this thing that the girl got dropped on her head as a baby so she couldn't be trusted, in her parents' opinion, to make a mature decision about love? This show was IMO the height of no-brainer entertainment although the music may have been beautifully orchestrated. I don't rememeber.
Sep 24th, 2006, 12:52 PM
#29
Guest
Posts: n/a
Suki, that's priceless. They ought to use that summary for publicity! The funniest thing is it's pretty close to right. In fact maybe that bump on the head is why her hat wouldn't stay on!
By the way, if anyone has seen Light in the Piazza and you go to see Forbidden Broadway -Special Victims Unit, you'll be on the floor with the Light in the Piazza segment.
By the way, if anyone has seen Light in the Piazza and you go to see Forbidden Broadway -Special Victims Unit, you'll be on the floor with the Light in the Piazza segment.
Sep 24th, 2006, 01:50 PM
#30
Suck the enjoyment right out of this, why dontcha?
I'm sorry if that's all you were able to take away from it--and for anyone thinking about going, there are other opinions.
http://tinyurl.com/oehdj
I'm sorry if that's all you were able to take away from it--and for anyone thinking about going, there are other opinions.
http://tinyurl.com/oehdj
Sep 24th, 2006, 04:03 PM
#32
Original Poster
Join Date: Oct 2004
Posts: 17,226
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
Well, as the OP, I appreciate the varied opinions. It helped me make the decision I needed to make. I didn't read all the opera discussion, but will when I have a bit more time. I needed to know whether or not to buy 2 tix in the nosebleed section to take someone who may or may not enjoy it, or to buy just one tix for myself - front row, almost center. I'm going solo, I am sure I will enjoy it, and if that makes me simplistic, I am happily so! 
The varied opinions were of great help.
And, btw Howard, I still greatly value your opinion even though I can't comprehend your thoughts on Wicked. If it's a show, I do want to know what you think.
Again, thanks all!
The varied opinions were of great help.
And, btw Howard, I still greatly value your opinion even though I can't comprehend your thoughts on Wicked
. If it's a show, I do want to know what you think.Again, thanks all!
Sep 24th, 2006, 04:35 PM
#34
Why on earth would anyone now post a rave review, or even that they had a enjoyable evening after the above?
I'm not the only one who enjoyed this, but evidently the only one willing to speak up now! Input Light in the Piazza in the fodors search cell. I'm not alone in my applause.
Yours wasn't just an opinion Suki, but a derisive one: "no brainer entertainment". You are way cool, and I am so lacking in sophistication. If you can't come away from that with more than you did, actually, I feel very sorry for your jaded self.
I'm not the only one who enjoyed this, but evidently the only one willing to speak up now! Input Light in the Piazza in the fodors search cell. I'm not alone in my applause.
Yours wasn't just an opinion Suki, but a derisive one: "no brainer entertainment". You are way cool, and I am so lacking in sophistication. If you can't come away from that with more than you did, actually, I feel very sorry for your jaded self.
Sep 24th, 2006, 05:05 PM
#36
Guest
Posts: n/a
Come on OO, lighten up. I've never seen a shortage of people here willing to voice their opinions when they disagreed with a few posters. When have people been afraid to say they loved a show when others say they hated it or even that it was silly?
By the way, if you go back to my first posts, you'll see that I never said it was horrible. It wasn't. It was indeed a very enjoyable evening of theatre. But I'd have a hard time saying there was anything about the story or the dialogue that would be called new or cutting age. Yes, it's predictable and simple. And like so many "chick flicks" it really is a "no brainer" but one that will certainly cause most audience members to shed a tear or two. But I took Suki's comment about dropping the baby on the head to just be funny. It was!! You might also notice that I sort of scolded her earlier when she seemed to be seriously misinterpreting the basic idea of the play. But I took her later comment to be an attempt at humor.
By the way, if you go back to my first posts, you'll see that I never said it was horrible. It wasn't. It was indeed a very enjoyable evening of theatre. But I'd have a hard time saying there was anything about the story or the dialogue that would be called new or cutting age. Yes, it's predictable and simple. And like so many "chick flicks" it really is a "no brainer" but one that will certainly cause most audience members to shed a tear or two. But I took Suki's comment about dropping the baby on the head to just be funny. It was!! You might also notice that I sort of scolded her earlier when she seemed to be seriously misinterpreting the basic idea of the play. But I took her later comment to be an attempt at humor.
Sep 24th, 2006, 05:51 PM
#37
Join Date: Mar 2005
Posts: 470
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
I hated it. I think I even dozed off it was so dull. My wife liked it and said it's a "women's show." Also, that Lincoln center theatre has the worst seats of any Bway theatre I've been to. My knees were jammed up against the seatback in front of me (I'm 6 ft tall.)
Sep 24th, 2006, 07:40 PM
#39
Join Date: Dec 2004
Posts: 270
Likes: 0
Received 0 Likes
on
0 Posts
My wife and i love musicals, and rarely does one come along that we are so bored that we want to leave at intermission. But Light In the Piazza was one such musical. We're glad that some people find something to praise about it, but for us it was just about a total zero. I cant remember any of the music and the story was trite indeed. You should be able to find over a dozen shows better to see. Perhaps that's why seats are still available.
Sep 24th, 2006, 08:07 PM
#40
Great question Starrs. Between this discussion and hearing this morning that one of my best friend's from Tampa has just been DX'd with the same kind of cancer my daughter has/had, I've had something of a catharsis this evening. This morning, after hearing about my friend, I asked my DH as we walked, if he wasn't furious at our DD's cancer. Angry at whom he asked? Good question. Angry at ourselves that it happened? Angry that we didn't see it sooner when we should/might have, or even prevented it, somehow? This evening, smack in the middle of dinner, I cried long hard tears that this happened to her and us. About time...it's been 3 years of wishful thinking that it would just go away and life would be what it had been before..."before the horse kicked her", in Clara's case, before the DX in my daughter's. Life altering situations where the mom in you tries to become all powerful, conquer everything evil that can/has befallen your child, and keep it from ever happening again and let her life go on as it has, until happily ever after. Well, for so many reasons, it just doesn't happen that way and how do you, then, adjust to the new circumstances?
I'm lucky...I don't have an axx for a husband, as Clara's Dad was, but I envy anyone with the ability he and my husband have..."ok, it's over, lets move on". It will never ever, as long as I live, be "over". She has had cancer and there is always the potential for it to return. Clara's mother lives with worse: a daily reminder of what is and shouldn't have been. She's challenged, but the relief to her to see the issue with marriage is not her daughter's disability...but that she's an "older woman". She wants what I do...that her daughter's life be normal and happy despite it all.
I don't have a daughter that is emotionally challenged, but physically. From my innermost being, I understand a mother's protectiveness now, wanting everything to be right although there is no way, try as you might, you can make that happen.
Beautifully, it was the challenged Clara that taught the lessons to both parents.
I struck out at you all this evening, but with some justification. How dare anyone call this "no brainer entertainment"? May you always have the following winds you evidently have had, Suki!
My own child is making one more step toward normal life...her own child due in December...that Clara and her mothers (everywhere, and there are lots and lots of us for various reasons) find the same happiness, brainless or not. You don't have to live the wild west shoot-em-up Kinky Friedman to understand and empathize with issues involved.
I'm lucky...I don't have an axx for a husband, as Clara's Dad was, but I envy anyone with the ability he and my husband have..."ok, it's over, lets move on". It will never ever, as long as I live, be "over". She has had cancer and there is always the potential for it to return. Clara's mother lives with worse: a daily reminder of what is and shouldn't have been. She's challenged, but the relief to her to see the issue with marriage is not her daughter's disability...but that she's an "older woman". She wants what I do...that her daughter's life be normal and happy despite it all.
I don't have a daughter that is emotionally challenged, but physically. From my innermost being, I understand a mother's protectiveness now, wanting everything to be right although there is no way, try as you might, you can make that happen.
Beautifully, it was the challenged Clara that taught the lessons to both parents.
I struck out at you all this evening, but with some justification. How dare anyone call this "no brainer entertainment"? May you always have the following winds you evidently have had, Suki!
My own child is making one more step toward normal life...her own child due in December...that Clara and her mothers (everywhere, and there are lots and lots of us for various reasons) find the same happiness, brainless or not. You don't have to live the wild west shoot-em-up Kinky Friedman to understand and empathize with issues involved.
