If you were to ask me what Broadway musicals have the most romantic scores, there would be one very obvious choice: Adam Guettel’s The Light in the Piazza. The musical won six Tony Awards including Best Score.
Los Angeles Opera has imported a new production of The Light in the Piazza from London and it is now being performed at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion through October 20th.
Renée Fleming (Margaret Johnson) and Dove Cameron (Clara Johnson) star as a mother and daughter on a trip to Florence, Italy in 1953. While there, Clara meets Fabrizio (Rob Houchen) and it is love at first sight for both. Margaret, however, is very protective of her daughter (for reasons that are revealed later) and she is steadfast in her opposition to them seeing each other.
As the saying goes, love conquers everything, even a mother being over-protective.
The Light in the Piazza is based on Elizabeth Spencer. The book was made into a film in 1962 with Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux and George Hamilton.
This production also stars Brian Stokes Mitchell (Ragtime, Kiss Me Kate) as Fabrizio’s father.
Daniel Evans, so memorable in the Menier Chocolate Factory production of Sunday in the Park with George, directs.
The book was written by Craig Lucas. Kimberly Grigsby conducts.
On opening night there were a lot of young people in attendance, no doubt due to Dove Cameron’s popularity as a Disney star. I’m not sure this is a show they would respond to. It does contain adult themes.
But for anyone wanting to hear gorgeous music, The Light in the Piazza is definitely a must-see.
For tickets go here.
Photo of Dove Cameron and Renée Fleming in “The Light in the Piazza” by Dewynters, London/Courtesy of Los Angeles Opera