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

[Allen White]

I was one of the fortunate people who got to see the show in New York, and 
again last night.  After seeing the NYC production I told people the show 
was "stunningly beautiful", and the performances, especially Victoria Clark 
and Kelli O'Hara, were incredible.

My wife did not see the New York production, and didn't understand what I 
saw in the show.  She was mostly bored, and felt that Margaret was 
completely lost.  On the way out of the theatre I heard others who wanted 
to know why this show won the Tony Award for best musical, because it 
certainly wasn't very good.  (It didn't, but it was nominated for that 
honor - Victoria Clark did win the Tony for Best Actress in a Musical.)

Mr. Berko's review was accurate, because the beauty of the show was mostly 
lost in last night's performance.  I fear much of that was because of the 
understudy not having the range to portray a role as complicated as 
Margaret.  I can say that I love the song "Dividing Day", because of its 
complicated message of love somewhere lost, and I barely recognized it last 
night.

The show requires the woman playing Margaret to have incredible range, both 
in acting and in singing.  Perhaps the woman scheduled to play her has that 
range, but Ms. Brockman certainly does not.  I wouldn't say that you should 
avoid the show, because it's a wonderful show, but last night was certainly 
not representative of that.

Allen White

At 12:09 PM 1/17/2007, dsm wrote:
>Dear Mr Berko (et al),
>
>Perhaps you disliked "The Light in the Piazza" because it is a delicate, 
>sophisticated piece of work without "hummable tunes."  (How many tunes did 
>one hum after a first viewing of "Pacific Overtures" or "Passion"?)  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.  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.  And ALL of the other performances were spot-on, absolutely 
>excellent in both singing and acting, not to mention the creative and 
>evocative sets, lighting, costumes, and staging, or the beautifully 
>crafted book and superior music.
>
>This is merely a difference of opinion from someone with a different 
>sensibility.  If 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.  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.
>
>I recommend "The Light in the Piazza" highly, particularly to those who 
>have a sophisticated comprehension of drama and music - contemporary 
>classical as well - or who just want to see a modern, beautifully crafted 
>piece of musical theater.
>
>Folks, it's a gorgeous show.  Run, don't walk, to see it.
>
>Kind regards,
>Deborah Magid