Sarah has written a bit about what she thought about the Piazza broadcast of last night.

I’m still processing.

I’ll watch it again. And maybe again. I recorded it so that I can do such a thing.

Meanwhile, it’s sort of sticking with me, but not as much as some shows. Maybe because, while I was recording it, I wasn’t paying enough attention. It’s funny, but when I’m busy recording I tend to not really watch or listen as attentively as I should.

But I own the CD and I’m glad to have the video of it now. While I enjoyed the CD, I think this is one show that benefits greatly from the visuals. I wasn’t completely satisfied with the lighting, though, and I always struggle with broadcasts of opera and musical theatre; I’d much prefer the camera stay more still, and let me zero in on what I want to see. Instead, the camerafolk determine what is important. They do this with ballet, too, and that especially drives me nuts. I guess I want to see the entire stage, just as I would if I was at the show. Ah well. Call me picky.

The story? Well … I guess it reminds me of a couple of novels I’ve recently read; I was supposed to think something was a bigger problem or had a bigger “ah-hah!” moment or something. That didn’t work that much for me. And to see the girl flip out over what her mother says over the phone as she did … well … I guess it didn’t warrant as big of a response. But again, that may very well be my problem. (Note, though, that I’m careful about what I’m writing here, so as not to give things away. I’m nice that way. But that’s the only way I’m nice. So there.)

I thought Victoria Clark was excellent. More than excellent, really. Very moving. Very believable. Wonderful. To see her during intermission as herself … well … she certainly is someone else when she is being Margaret. Yes. As it should be, of course.

Sarah Uriarte Berry sounded so familiar to me that I had to look her up. Sure enough, she was Maria in The Sound Of Music when we did it here a few years back. (And she was pregnant and I guess the costumers really had a time with making sure she didn’t look pregnant!) I thought she did a great job in PIazza, as did the rest of the cast.

I liked the intimacy of this production. I grow weary of those big dance numbers and huge choruses. I also get tired of the “Disney voice” that seems to be very popular on the stage these days. I didn’t miss that at all.

Sarah, of a glass of chianti fame, was disappointed in not hearing the orchestra well. I guess I am always relieved at this; I have a tendency to think I’m the center of attention and when I go to operas and musicals I’m always a tad bummed but mostly relieved to know that I’m not heard nearly as much as I think I am when I’m in the pit. It reminds me that I’m not the only one folks are listening to. I am, in fact, not listened to at all by many! (I’ll never forget one audience member telling me she didn’t realize there was an oboe solo in Les Mis. I was shocked. Hurt. Humbled. And then relieved.)

I know, I know, I always tell my friends that it’s all about me.

I’m joking. really.

Of course I will admit to being disappointed that there is no straight oboe/English horn book for this show. Sigh.

And that is all about me. 🙂