Arts Today in Stranger Suggests
posted by on April 18 at 9:41 AM
(RAVISHMENT) Born at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre, The Light in the Piazza—based on the classic novella by Elizabeth Spencer—returns for a two-week stint at the Paramount after taking Broadway by storm. Adam Guettel’s lush score and Bartlett Sher’s ace direction won the Tonys, but it’s Craig Lucas’s exquisitely crafted book that gives the show its magical traction. If you think there are no new love stories to be told, you must see The Light in the Piazza. (Paramount, 911 Pine St. 7:30 pm, $25—$72.) DAVID SCHMADER
I saw it last night. It was well acted, the singing was lovely, I thought the lighting and sets were cleverly handled. Overall a well polished, well done show.
But underlying it, the story did nothing for me. It was utterly predictable 1950s pabulum from beginning to end. No new ground here.
The story is what kills me, and makes all the supplementary magic possible, in my opinion. A ravishing romance that hinges on the roles ignorance and blindness and duplicity play in True Love? Effing brilliant, and totally new to me.
(However, last night after the show, I happened to catch the Light in the Piazza TV commercial, and I suddenly understood why friends who hadn't seen the show were shocked at my Suggest. The TV ads make the show look like your grandma's wet dream and not much else. In fact, it's your grandma's wet dream, a literary-theater-lover's wet dream, and a stunningly brilliant work of American art. Go see it.)
Gonna see it on Friday. It better be good!
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