[NEohioPAL]Berko review: THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA (Playhouse Square) Rebuttal

dsm smmslt111 at gmail.com
Wed Jan 17 09:09:47 PST 2007 

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Dear Mr Berko (et al),

Perhaps you disliked "The Light in the Piazza" because it is a =20
delicate, sophisticated piece of work without "hummable tunes."  (How =20=

many tunes did one hum after a first viewing of "Pacific Overtures" =20
or "Passion"?)  Or perhaps you dislike it because it doesn't have a =20
big, boffo ending like "Dr Doolitle," one of the worst shows ever to =20
hit the boards (sorry, Tommy), but which got the requisite standing =20
ovation.  Ms Brockman's singing of this extremely difficult role was =20
merely competent, it's true, but her acting was exquisite and deeply =20
felt, even from our seats 2/3 of the way back.  And ALL of the other =20
performances were spot-on, absolutely excellent in both singing and =20
acting, not to mention the creative and evocative sets, lighting, =20
costumes, and staging, or the beautifully crafted book and superior =20
music.

This is merely a difference of opinion from someone with a different =20
sensibility.  If the point of going to the theater is to be =20
manipulated into jumping up and cheering, you're correct, Mr Berko, =20
in warning people off.  I'd just as much like to feel deeply, be led =20
to think along different lines, and go home pondering the intricacies =20=

of the human condition, while celebrating a composer who might be Mr =20
Sondheim's long-awaited heir.

I recommend "The Light in the Piazza" highly, particularly to those =20
who have a sophisticated comprehension of drama and music - =20
contemporary classical as well - or who just want to see a modern, =20
beautifully crafted piece of musical theater.

Folks, it's a gorgeous show.  Run, don't walk, to see it.

Kind regards,
Deborah Magid

On Jan 17, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Roy Berko wrote:

> A dim =91LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA=92 at the Palace
>
> Roy Berko
>
> (Member, American Theatre Critics Association)
>
> --THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
>
> Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
> Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times=09
>
> A rather surprising thing happened at the Palace
> Theatre in Playhouse Square on the opening night of
> the touring production of =91THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.
> During the curtain call following the show, no one
> stood up.  Yes, it was Cleveland, Ohio, the home of
> the automatic standing ovation, and nary a soul jumped
> out of a seat!
>
> =91THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA,=92 Craig Lucas and Adam
> Guettel=92s musical, based on the novel by Elizabeth
> Spencer, tells the story of a mother ((Margaret)  and
> daughter (Clara) traveling through Italy, the
> daughter's romance with a Florentine (Fabrizio), and
> the mother's determined efforts to keep the two apart.
>
>
> Margaret is in a loveless marriage and has brought her
> daughter to Florence, home of art and beauty, to
> escape the mother=92s reality and flashback to a happier
> time. Clara was kicked in the head as a child by an
> errant pony at a birthday party.  Though she has the
> body of a woman, she has the emotions of a 10-year
> old.  Fabrizio is a twenty-year old Italian who, in a
> chance meeting, falls in love with Clara.  As happens
> in all good soap operas, true love wins out in the
> end.
>
> The show garnered six 2005 Tony Awards.  The score by
> Adam Guettel, who is the grandson of Richard Rogers of
> =91SOUND OF MUSIC=92 fame, has been praised for its
> ability to create the mood of falling in love and
> evoking strong emotional feelings.
>
> So, with all these positives, why did the touring
> production receive luke-warm applause from the less
> than sold-out opening night audience?
> 	=95Maybe it was the fact that the play is an intimate
> experience, which was nurtured by the small New York
> theatre in which it was performed, while it was lost
> in the vastness of the Palace.
> 	=95Maybe it was because the role of Margaret was
> portrayed by Jane Brockman, an understudy who gave a
> stiff, one-dimensional veneer to the character and had
> only an acceptable singing voice.
> 	=95Maybe it was because the score, in spite of the
> superlatives that have been used to describe it,
> doesn=92t have a single hummable or memorable song.
> 	=95Maybe it was because the soap-opera/melodramatic
> story line didn=92t evoke the emotional response in the
> audience that it should have because the show is
> almost more operetta than musical theatre.  In fact,
> this show may have given life to a new format in
> theatre, the soap operetta.
> 	=95Maybe because the show failed to live up to the
> image of the traditional musical.  There is no dancing
> or show stopper in this vehicle, no message to carry
> from the theatre..
>
> That is not to say there are not highlights in the
> production.  Handsome David Burnham has a strong and
> well-trained operatic voice and develops a
> well-textured Fabrizio.  And, as Clara, Elena Shadow
> is totally believable as the waif-like woman/child.
> She has a lovely singing voice.  The duo are worth
> seeing.
>
> The full orchestra was excellent.  The sets and
> costumes quite acceptable.
>
> Capsule judgment:  Don=92t Go To See =91THE LIGHT IN THE
> PIAZZA=92 with the expectation of being =93blown away.=94
> It is a pleasant diversion which never reaches the
> level of expectation of a six Tony Award winner.
>
> =91THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA=92 runs through January 28 at
> the Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square.  For tickets
> call 216-241-6000, 800-766-6048 or go on line to
> www.playhousesquare.com.
>
>
> Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from =20
> 2002 through 2006, as well as his consulting and publications =20
> information, can be found at http://royberko.info
>
> Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an =20
> on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World =20
> Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/=20
> neohiopal.  His dance reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com
>
>
>
> ______________________________________________________________________=20=

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.




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<HTML><BODY style=3D"word-wrap: break-word; -khtml-nbsp-mode: space; =
-khtml-line-break: after-white-space; "><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Dear Mr Berko =
(et al),</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Perhaps you disliked "The Light in the Piazza" =
because it is a delicate, sophisticated piece of work without "hummable =
tunes."=A0 (How many tunes did one hum after a first viewing of "Pacific =
Overtures" or "Passion"?)=A0 Or perhaps you dislike it because it =
doesn't have a big, boffo ending like "Dr Doolitle," one of the worst =
shows ever to hit the boards (sorry, Tommy), but which got the requisite =
standing ovation.=A0 Ms Brockman's singing of this extremely difficult =
role was merely competent, it's true, but her acting was exquisite and =
deeply felt, even from our seats 2/3 of the way back.=A0 And ALL of the =
other performances were spot-on, absolutely excellent in both singing =
and acting, not to mention the creative and=A0evocative sets, lighting, =
costumes, and staging, or the beautifully crafted book and superior =
music.=A0=A0</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal =
12px/normal Verdana; min-height: 15px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">This is merely a difference of opinion from someone =
with a different sensibility.=A0=A0If the point of going to the theater =
is to be manipulated into jumping up and cheering, you're correct, Mr =
Berko, in warning people off.=A0 I'd just as much like to feel deeply, =
be led to think along different lines, and go home pondering the =
intricacies of the human condition, while celebrating a composer who =
might be Mr Sondheim's long-awaited heir.=A0=A0</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; =
min-height: 15px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">I =
recommend=A0"The Light in the Piazza" highly, particularly to those who =
have a sophisticated comprehension of drama and music =
-=A0contemporary=A0classical as well -=A0or who just want to see a =
modern, beautifully crafted piece of musical theater.=A0=A0</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; =
min-height: 15px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Folks, it's a =
gorgeous show.=A0 Run, don't walk, to see it.=A0=A0</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; font: normal normal normal 12px/normal Verdana; =
min-height: 15px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Kind =
regards,</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Deborah =
Magid</DIV><BR><DIV><DIV>On Jan 17, 2007, at 11:10 AM, Roy Berko =
wrote:</DIV><BR class=3D"Apple-interchange-newline"><BLOCKQUOTE =
type=3D"cite"><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">A dim =91LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA=92 =
at the Palace</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Roy Berko</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">(Member, American Theatre =
Critics Association)</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; =
"><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">--THE TIMES =
NEWSPAPERS--</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood =
News</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Times--Olmsted-Fairview =
Times<SPAN class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	=
</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">A rather surprising thing happened at the =
Palace</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Theatre in Playhouse Square on =
the opening night of</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">the touring production of =
=91THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">During =
the curtain call following the show, no one</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top:=
 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">stood =
up.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>Yes, it was =
Cleveland, Ohio, the home of</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">the automatic =
standing ovation, and nary a soul jumped</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">out of a =
seat!</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">=91THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA,=92 Craig Lucas and =
Adam</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Guettel=92s musical, based on =
the novel by Elizabeth</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Spencer, tells the story of =
a mother ((Margaret)<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 =
</SPAN>and</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">daughter (Clara) traveling =
through Italy, the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">daughter's romance with a =
Florentine (Fabrizio), and</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">the mother's =
determined efforts to keep the two apart.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Margaret is in a loveless =
marriage and has brought her</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">daughter to =
Florence, home of art and beauty, to</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">escape the =
mother=92s reality and flashback to a happier</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">time. Clara was kicked in the head as a child by =
an</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; ">errant pony at a birthday party.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>Though she has the</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">body of a woman, she has the emotions of a =
10-year</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">old.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>Fabrizio is a twenty-year old =
Italian who, in a</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">chance meeting, falls in love =
with Clara.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>As =
happens</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">in all good soap operas, true =
love wins out in the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">end.</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">The show =
garnered six 2005 Tony Awards.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 =
</SPAN>The score by</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Adam Guettel, who is the =
grandson of Richard Rogers of</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">=91SOUND OF =
MUSIC=92 fame, has been praised for its</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">ability =
to create the mood of falling in love and</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">evoking =
strong emotional feelings. <SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">So, with all =
these positives, why did the touring</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">production =
receive luke-warm applause from the less</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">than =
sold-out opening night audience? <SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</SPAN>=95Maybe =
it was the fact that the play is an intimate</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">experience, which was nurtured by the small New =
York</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">theatre in which it was =
performed, while it was lost</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">in the =
vastness of the Palace. <SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</SPAN>=95Maybe =
it was because the role of Margaret was</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">portrayed by Jane Brockman, an understudy who gave a</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">stiff, one-dimensional veneer to the character and =
had</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">only an acceptable singing =
voice. <SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN class=3D"Apple-tab-span" =
style=3D"white-space:pre">	</SPAN>=95Maybe it was because the =
score, in spite of the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">superlatives that have been =
used to describe it,</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">doesn=92t have a single =
hummable or memorable song. <SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</SPAN>=95Maybe =
it was because the soap-opera/melodramatic</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">story =
line didn=92t evoke the emotional response in the</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">audience that it should have because the show =
is</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; ">almost more operetta than musical theatre.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>In fact,</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">this show may have given life to a new format =
in</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: =
0px; margin-left: 0px; ">theatre, the soap operetta. <SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-tab-span" style=3D"white-space:pre">	</SPAN>=95Maybe =
because the show failed to live up to the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">image of =
the traditional musical.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 =
</SPAN>There is no dancing</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">or show =
stopper in this vehicle, no message to carry</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">from the theatre..</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">That is not =
to say there are not highlights in the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">production.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>Handsome =
David Burnham has a strong and</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">well-trained =
operatic voice and develops a</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">well-textured =
Fabrizio.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>And, as Clara, =
Elena Shadow</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">is totally believable as the =
waif-like woman/child.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">She has =
a lovely singing voice.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 =
</SPAN>The duo are worth</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">seeing.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">The full orchestra was excellent.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>The sets and</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">costumes quite acceptable.</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Capsule =
judgment:<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>Don=92t Go To =
See =91THE LIGHT IN THE</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">PIAZZA=92 =
with the expectation of being =93blown away.=94<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">It is a =
pleasant diversion which never reaches the</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">level of =
expectation of a six Tony Award winner.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">=91THE LIGHT =
IN THE PIAZZA=92 runs through January 28 at</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top:=
 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">the =
Palace Theatre in Playhouse Square.<SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0=
 </SPAN>For tickets</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: =
0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">call 216-241-6000, =
800-766-6048 or go on line to</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">www.playhousesquare.com.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance =
reviews from 2002 through 2006, as well as his consulting and =
publications information, can be found at <A =
href=3D"http://royberko.info">http://royberko.info</A></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Roy's =
theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line =
source. <SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>To subscribe to =
this free service via the World Wide Web, visit <A =
href=3D"http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal">http://=
lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal</A>.<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0 </SPAN>His dance reviews also appear =
on <A =
href=3D"http://www.coolcleveland.com">www.coolcleveland.com</A></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: =
14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">________________________________________________________________________=
____________</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">TV dinner still cooling?<SPAN =
class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; ">Check =
out "Tonight's Picks" on Yahoo! TV.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; =
margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A =
href=3D"http://tv.yahoo.com">http://tv.yahoo.com</A>/</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">_____________________________________</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Winter classes and workshops at Fairmount Center =
taught by top pros - Andrew May, Seth Gordon, Tom Fulton, Mitchell B. =
Fields, Marc Moritz, Dana Hart, Lissy Gulick and Arian Steiner. See <A =
href=3D"http://www.fairmountcenter.org/mayfield/theatre.htm">http://www.fa=
irmountcenter.org/mayfield/theatre.htm</A> for complete =
details.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">______________________________________</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; =
">Neohiopal is SELF-SERVE. If you need to unsubscribe, change from =
digest to one-at-a-time delivery or vice-versa, go on hiatus while out =
of town, switch from mime to plain text or vice-versa, etc. check out =
the FAQS at <A =
href=3D"http://www.fredsternfeld.com">http://www.fredsternfeld.com</A>.</D=
IV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">______________________________________</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">There is a sister site to this list called the =
"NEoPAL Bulletin Board." Occasionally when "hot-button" discussions go =
on more than a day or two, the bulletin board is used: <A =
href=3D"http://groups.yahoo.com/group/neopal/">http://groups.yahoo.com/gro=
up/neopal/</A><SPAN class=3D"Apple-converted-space">=A0</SPAN></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">_______________________________________</DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">Disclaimer: The facts and/or opinions expressed in =
this message are solely those of the person in the "from" or "reply-to" =
header. The fact that this message is posted should in no way be taken =
as an endorsement by the administrator of this list. Subscribers should =
perform due diligence for all goods, services and activities promoted on =
NEohioPAL.</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; min-height: 14px; "><BR></DIV><DIV =
style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; =
margin-left: 0px; ">NEohioPAL mailing list</DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: =
0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A =
href=3D"mailto:NEohioPAL at lists.fredsternfeld.com">NEohioPAL at lists.fredster=
nfeld.com</A></DIV><DIV style=3D"margin-top: 0px; margin-right: 0px; =
margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; "><A =
href=3D"http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal">http://=
lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal</A></DIV> =
</BLOCKQUOTE></DIV><BR><DIV> <SPAN class=3D"Apple-style-span" =
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