Light in the Piazza- London

[Call_me_jorge]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 8:16am

Okay. Why does look so good? Anyone seeing it? Wonder what the chances of a transfer are.

https://www.instagram.com/p/ByvvzwWHbW9/?igshid=1v7561supkg1p

[binau]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 8:17am

I will be seeing it next weekend :). If I recall, this same production is already doing the rounds in some US cities. It is the kind of thing I could imagine transferring to Broadway if sales were good. Unfortunately, at least in London, they are not. I personally would not invest. 

[inception]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 9:20am

It will be at Los Angeles Opera in October & Chicago Lyric Opera in December.

[ggersten]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 12:13pm

London message board is mixed with suggestions Cameron may not have vocal stamina for Clara. She called out right after opening.

[imeldasturn]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 12:23pm

I saw it twice at the Royal Festival Hall and really enjoyed it, Renée Fleming sounds wonderful and her acting is pretty solid too: she's more of a dramatic actress than a comedian, and she's not as funny as Victoria Clark was on stage, but the scenes where she discusses Clara's mental health and her marriage are very moving. Her The Beauty Is (Reprise) is an absolute highlight. She's no Meryl Streep but the acting is way more than just serviceable, nothing to do with Bryn Terfel's abysmal acting in Sweeney Todd. She has so many costume changes, even in moments that are really not appropriate, which is a bit distracting. 

Dove Cameron has a pretty little voice and acts the part well, but it is Rob Houchen that steals the show as Frabrizio. Lovely supporting performances from Alex Jennings and Celinde Schoenmaker as Franca. The set is very minimal and the orchestra is above the stage - rightly so, since it's the star of the production.

Reviews have been average, around 3 stars, pointing out that the venue is totally wrong for the show (which is true), but also criticising the stereotypical representation of Italians. Which is actually quite interesting, I don't remember reviews pointing that out almost 15 years ago. But they have a point, the book is not particularly fair on Italian people and particularly Giuseppe is a vulgar caricature.

Updated On: 6/23/19 at 12:23 PM

[LS7188]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 12:51pm

ggersten said: "London message board is mixed with suggestions Cameron may not have vocal stamina for Clara. She called out right after opening."

I believe she was sick when they opened? Hopefully she improves with each show. 

I'm seeing it in LA when it opens. 

[Alessio2]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 3:08pm

I saw it in London Wednesday June 19 and absolutely loved it! Beautiful production well sung and acted by everyone.  Agree that this venue is totally wrong.  It was way too big and vastly undersold! Was pleasently surprised by Dove Cameron's performance.  Costumes were absolutely stunning and the score sounded gorgeous played by a full orchestra.  I live in LA so plan to see it again here.

[Ledaero]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 7:42pm

I believe she was sick when they opened? Hopefully she improves with each show.

I'm curious to know more about Dove Cameron and her tendencies for calling out due to illness. I saw her in Clueless at Pershing Square during previews(?) and she was on for Act I and called out sick for Act II. And she seemed to call out frequently for illness reasons for the rest of the run. Is she prone to getting sick easily, does she have medical conditions, is she just super under-trained on how to physically perform 8 shows/week, is she exaggerating illness? I don't have answers obviously, but I'm very curious to know. As a producer, I would never invest in Dove doing live theater for these call-outs alone.

 

[ljay889]

Posted: 6/23/19 at 10:37pm

I still think the first Broadway revival we will see is with Kelli as Margaret.

[LS7188]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 12:56am

Ledaero said: "I believe she was sick when they opened? Hopefully she improves with each show.

I'm curious to know more about Dove Cameron and her tendencies for calling out due to illness. I saw her inCluelessat Pershing Square during previews(?) and she was on for Act I and called out sickfor Act II. And she seemed to call out frequently for illness reasons for the rest of the run. Is she prone to getting sick easily, does she have medical conditions, is she just super under-trained on how to physically perform 8 shows/week, is she exaggerating illness? I don't have answers obviously, but I'm very curious to know. As a producer, I would never invest in Dove doing live theater for these call-outs alone.

"

I'm not sure why she called out  frequently during Clueless and what type of illnesses she called out for. I've only started following her recently and just noticed some of her posts on Twitter and others in the audience posting about how she was sick (it seemed like it was some kind of cold?); she was posting things like, "It's intermission and my ears still won't pop"- things like that. 

[broadwayindie]

Posted: 6/24/19 at 12:12pm

"I still think the first Broadway revival we will see is with Kelli as Margaret."

I'm hoping for Audra as Margaret and someone like Hailey Kilgore as Clara