Piazza Storyline.. kinda weird

[Isabella2]

Posted: 6/19/06 at 11:14pm

Okay, so I watched Piazza for the first time on PBS and loved it but the one thing in the storyline that i thought was a little weird was the whole pony thing. I just thought it was a random thing to make a story about. It didn't seem very real to me. I don't know i've only seen it once... so maybe i'll grow to like it. Has this been discussed before? Does anyone find this odd?

In its defense i'll say that it was really very good with outstanding music and cast. Loved it.
Updated On: 9/6/06 at 11:14 PM

[chinkie azn jai]

Posted: 6/19/06 at 11:21pm

Well, I remember reading that the the condition Clara has is fictional, so that is probably why the pony story is weird to you. I also wouldnt say that its really random, because Margaret telling that story gives some background as to how Clara is the way she is and it gives some character development for both Margaret and Clara.

Hope that makes sense.

[freeadmission]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:03am

What's so weird about it. She got kicked in the head by a pony (Have you ever been kicked by a horse? Does some MAJOR damage, especially if it's out of anger/ as opposed to annoyance.) and it did some pretty serious brain damage.

I don't think it's random, either. It's obvious by the family's dress and Margeret's phone conversations with Roy that they are at least moderatly wealthy. Every little girl's dream is to have a pony, what better excuse than a birthday to rent one for her?

Makes sense to me.

[Ourtime992]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:05am

there have actually been about a dozen threads on this topic, addressing it from a variety of perspectives (what is the nature of Clara's condition? is it plausible? how severe would the trauma be? why is it important in the story? is it the central theme of the story or just a plot twist? etc.). if you're really interested you might do a search for some of the previous threads.

In a nutshell, it is no more "random" a story topic than anything else. It is what makes the Piazza love story more than just another romance set in Italy. It provides the impetus for Margaret's protectiveness, Clara's innocence, Fabrizio's growth to be an emotional protector and provider, etc.

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:27am

I don't think you used the word "weird" enough, Isabella.

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:29am

LitP was based on a novella by Elizabeth Spencer. The musical actually handles the story FAR better than the book does, IMO.

And, Ourtime, I couldn't have said it better myself.

I would be interested in seeing discussions of Clara's condition, so I'll have to search for those threads as well.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:33am

It's an oddball story, period. The movie does what it can with the material but it's much more interesting than the disappointing, boring, and unnecessary musical.





Tootie 'The Most Horrible' Smith
St. louis, MO
Updated On: 6/20/06 at 12:33 AM

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:38am

I won't comment on your thoughts on the musical but, no, the movie's awful. Some of the choices they made had me going "What the heck?" And the guy playing Fabrizio was just plain bad.

[BillFinn]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 12:53am

The pony kicked her in the head and caused her severe head trauma. When Guettel was researching for Piazza, he went to a head trauma specialist for a number of hours. The specialist said, in Clara's condition, anything was game. Brain trauma is something that manifests in an infinite number of ways. It's a wide spectrum.

[whimsical]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 1:40am

I've never seen the movie and I've been trying to find it with no luck. It didn't come up on my blockbuster.com or Amazon search -- what am I doing wrong?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:39am

The movie is excellent, the novella is excellent, and George Hamilton was brilliant as Fabrizio....probably the only role where he actually was believable as a straight man.....Rossano Brazzi, Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux....all fabulous in the movie.

You youngins would not know a good older movie it it rose up and smacked you on your head

[neddyfrank2]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 2:43am

Well Isabella I am sorry that you find this gorgeous piece of theater so wierd, because the story is far from wierd, and it is one of the most beautiful stories that I have ever heard. But I guess we all think different wierd things are wierd, and you think that this wierd thing is wierd while we dont. Now isnt that wierd.

[DG]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:27am

"disappointing, boring, and unnecessary musical."

I find it none of the above.

The concept of something being disappointing means you went in with expectations - and if you're not mature enough to know that leads to nothing, then there's no point in discussing that aspect of your critique.

Whether something is boring or not is completely subjective, and has no meaning to the general audience.

But I must admit a rather masochistic fascination with what you might consider a 'necessary' musical . . .

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:33am

A deformed man obsesses over a chorus girl with an Electra complex...

A barber and his downstairs neighbor turns people into pies...

A dour black woman philosophizes and rants with anthropomorphic appliances...

A green lady flies around on a broom and has all sorts of completely unspecified magic powers and high belt notes....

...and you find the girl injured by a pony implausible and wierd?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:35am

Whether something is boring or not is completely subjective, and has no meaning to the general audience.

Of course it's subjective. It was his post, meaning it's his own opinion, not a Declaration for All the Musical Theatre World.

[DG]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 3:38am

Lizzie - of course, you're right. My point was that this particular person finding something boring means nothing.

[TheEnchantedHunter]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:10am

"The concept of something being disappointing means you went in with expectations - and if you're not mature enough to know that leads to nothing, then there's no point in discussing that aspect of your critique."

So in other words, when you're hungry and you go to a restaurant and order your meal, you'll be perfectly content if the food tastes like ****?

No? Just as I thought. Case closed.


Escoffier
Paris, France

[IssaMe]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:21am

And what the food tastes like could be totally subjective based on your own personal likes and dislikes.

Case NOT closed.

[big_girls_don't_cry]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:39am

yeah the pony thing was alittle strang i saw it in NYC

[EponineAmneris]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 9:52am

A young girl- still maturing and growing physically and mentally- gets kicked by a pony in a VERY vulnerable area of her neck/head... and in that era in time? *Not* a good situation. I find it COMPLETELY plausible, not "weird."


"In a nutshell, it is no more "random" a story topic than anything else. It is what makes the Piazza love story more than just another romance set in Italy. It provides the impetus for Margaret's protectiveness, Clara's innocence, Fabrizio's growth to be an emotional protector and provider, etc."

--- Well said and true, Ourtime992.

"The pony kicked her in the head and caused her severe head trauma. When Guettel was researching for Piazza, he went to a head trauma specialist for a number of hours. The specialist said, in Clara's condition, anything was game. Brain trauma is something that manifests in an infinite number of ways. It's a wide spectrum."

--- Thank you BillFinn

And on the cynical side, yes- it's certainly no more "weird" than... "A deformed man obsesses over a chorus girl with an Electra complex...

A barber and his downstairs neighbor turns people into pies...

A green lady flies around on a broom and has all sorts of completely unspecified magic powers and high belt notes...." ... as PegasusRising pointed out

And I love those shows, too.

Updated On: 6/20/06 at 09:52 AM

[kasim]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:01am

They have the movie sometimes on that old movie channel network.

I cant remember the name of it .... its a bit old of a movie ... i just remember a few months ago i was flipping channels and saw "light in the piazza" and stopped and watched it for 10 min. Actuallly i stopped on the scene where she is calling roy the second time i believe.

[Yankeefan007]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:18am

Clara's mentally challenged in Act 1. During the intermission, she's abducted by aliens. In Act 2, she's normal as a result of this.

Get it now?

[Elphaba]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:27am

"They have the movie sometimes on that old movie channel network. "


lolol, one of the only channels worth watching. It can be seen from time to time on one of two here AMC or Turner Classics, TCM

[millie_dillmount]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:28am

I didn't really like Piazza on TV. If everyone's saying that you need to be in the theater to get the full experience, then the TV recording really did not do it justice at all. I was bored out of my mind and practically falling asleep. I don't know if I'll be spending my money any time soon to see this - maybe the tour.

[kgee30]

Posted: 6/20/06 at 10:30am

The only thing I find weird about this show is towards the end of Act I, when Margaret sings that lullabye to Clara, to help her sleep:

"There's a moon on a hill, and a hidden stream / a lagoon and a red horizon dream / silhouette, set away from time forever / There's a valley beyond the setting sun / where waters shine and horses run..."

Why on earth would you sing about horses to calm a child who was kicked in the head by a pony?