Reviews

• MGK from BPCA

  Jul 23, 2019

  The Light in the Piazza was a stunningly beautiful production. All of the performances were well nuanced and moving. The lovers were heart-breakingly united in the end and one wondered if perhaps there might be a liason between the parents in trying to assure that the match was made. What a lovely closing night celebration of theatre this was! Such a treat!!

• Alex

  Jul 8, 2019

  This is a good play, but not exceptional. Setting, costumes, acting, and singing were very good, in fact most of the singers were marvellous, but the songs were not great, a bit tuneless. You would not coming out humming anything!

• Pinklady

  Jul 7, 2019

  A modern opera- style musical with talented singers and a great orchestra. The set and period costumes were effective.The plot was thin and unconvincing.

• Rodney Worth

  Jul 6, 2019

  Having the opportunity to see this much lauded production was very special. Enjoyed it. Thank you.

• Sarah Pettican

  Jul 6, 2019

  A perfect night of theatre!!

• MF

  Jul 6, 2019

  High production value. Perfect venue for this piece. First rate casting. Staging appropriate to the RFH space.. I know that musical theatre fans familiar with the recording will be dissatisfied, but this production took Piazza to another level. It was clearly a costly production and as an audience member the ticket price was good value. The first rate singers and orchestra, however, required a better conductor. A Broadway pit conductor was the wrong choice to deliver the musical nuances of this piece. It needed an orchestral conductor. The sound mixing similarly required a FOH team not used to working in proscenium theatres.

• B F

  Jul 6, 2019

  Great seats, great view, lovely show!

• Kim

  Jul 5, 2019

  Renee Fleming is the superstar in this brilliant performance.

• CPino

  Jul 4, 2019

  What a beautiful show! The most amazing cast delivers a charming love story set in Florencia. 40 musicians play the most uplifting music with song that touch the spirit. I have seen it twice already and felt in love once and again. It is a masterpiece.

• Tina Skelton

  Jul 3, 2019

  Loved it, great singing and story.

• Anon

  Jul 3, 2019

  Very interesting Fabrizio was brilliant Story line sometimes not secure enough

• Corey Leigh Pocknell

  Jul 2, 2019

  I knew next to nothing going in, other than the talents of Dove Cameron. I was overjoyed with the story and perfect blending of classical musical with the musical styles. Renée Flemings voice proved why she's as successful as she is and Dove shon more than imagined with the complex role of Clara. Haven't stopped thinking about the night since.

• Bill Hinds

  Jul 2, 2019

  I saw the European premiere of this show a few years ago at Curve, Leicester. It's lost none of it's magic for me. I've read reviews describing the plot as slight, and they may be right; but the themes are heavyweight. No less than love - marital, parental, and romantic. I felt for the mother's dilemma and her anxiety about her daughter's intellectual and emotional capacity to handle marriage and motherhood; ironic given her own failings in both departments. The Italian family's concerns along the same lines are underscored by their own casual infidelities. But the beating heart of this show is the love story of Clara and Fabrizio; strong, pure and moving - we rooted for them from beginning to triumphant end, and if you don't shed tears when Fabrizio sings Love To Me' then you have my pity. From the glorious Ms Fleming to the wonderfully versatile chorus the cast are uniformly brilliant; the music is some of the most beautiful and beautifully played) you will ever hear, and the songs ornament the show perfectly. Perfect is an apposite word - a perfect night in the theatre.

• Paul Harding

  Jul 2, 2019

  A nicely mounted show well worth a visit. All the leads are great - especially Dove Cameron and Renee Fleming - and the ensemble cast are fun and memorable. Staging and costumes are fab. The show's music is a bit un-even in that it can't decide if it wants to be Broadway or Opera but that's a minor quibble - it's still a lovely score. The Festival Hall is fantastic and the views and acoustics superb.

• Musical lover.

  Jul 1, 2019

  I was really pleased to see this story staged. Opera North provided a beautiful Italian serenade to accompany an intriguing story set in 1960's Italy. Loved the characters and the unfolding story translated into music and opera singing by beautiful voices. The Italian characters were realistic and a complete contrast to the American's at that time. The audience obviously really enjoyed it.

• SAAB

  Jul 1, 2019

  Unfortunately the whole show was destroyed for me by the appalling acoustics! The orchestra was too loud, and all the voices were spoiled by microphones at top volume. I have never come across this at the Festival Hall before and I was really dismayed All the voices were screaming - what an appalling waste of talent.

• Maureen

  Jul 1, 2019

  I went to a matinee on the hottest day of the year! The Festival Hall was cool and most welcoming from Box Office to programme seller! The show was more of a light operatta with a full orchestra so the singing had to be of high quality. The plot was complicated and I was glad I had read about it before I went. Renée Fleming was excellent but I was most impressed with Rob Houchen, who not only could act but has the most wonderful voice. He got the biggest cheer at the standing ovation when the cast took their bows. He has a great future!

• Pamela

  Jun 30, 2019

  The score is stunning, the orchestra sublime so the soundscape sets a wonderful dreamlike mood. The set manages to create an intimate focus out of a large concert hall space and the costumes have a wonderful 1950s House of Dior look. Cast are superb. Only minor negative: Renee Fleming is a wonderful actress with a beautiful voice and she struggles with the more MT sounds she needs for the lower part of her range. A tiny niggle in an otherwise gorgeous production.

• Wayne Powell

  Jun 30, 2019

  The shining light by far was Renee Fleming ( how did she allow herself to be involved with this rubbish ). The music was artificial contrived like the story itself that had nothing to say and lacked any intellect input from the audience whatsoever. We came close two walking out it was that bad but remained only out of respect fro Renee Fleming who we believe was trying to carry the whole performance

• Elaine

  Jun 30, 2019

  Although I enjoyed the show overall there were a few things I found disappointing. Firstly I often found it hard to understand the lyrics being sung. I don't know if this was a problem with the mics or just diction but it was frustrating. It didn't seem to be a problem with the dialogue. I couldn't quite sync with the music as some of it was lovely 1950s melodies but the next tune might be quite atonal and modern sounding. I also thought the use of wordless vocal melodies was a bit over done. Some more proper ensemble numbers would have been nice as would a dance number or two but I thought the production itself worked well and the multi faceted use of the single set was effective. The orchestra played very well and most of the cast were very appealing.

• Jeannie

  Jun 30, 2019

  Great performance, really enjoyed the evening.

• Gloria Nakamura

  Jun 30, 2019

  For anyone inspired to attend this show based on love of the film, don't. It is inferior in every way to the movie. That said, many in the audience enjoyed it.

• Rosie Noble

  Jun 30, 2019

  Amazing fantastic performance

• Jay

  Jun 30, 2019

  Dove Cameron is phenomenal

• Christine C

  Jun 30, 2019

  We weren’t sure what to expect having read a rather negative review but were pleasantly surprised. The artists voices were superb, the set, the costumes all so realistic. I felt I was actually there in 50s Italy. And at the end in the wedding scene I had tears in my eyes. We would thoroughly recommend and love to see again. As we are going to Italy in a couple of weeks it certainly put us in the mood

• Moi Billington

  Jun 30, 2019

  Terrific show - cannot recommend it highly enough.

• Lola Reeves

  Jun 30, 2019

  The story was a bit confusing at times seeing as some of it was in Italian but the amazing singing and acting more than made up for it. Dove Cameron was phenomenal. Would definitely recommend whether you know the story already or not.

• P. Hayward

  Jun 27, 2019

  The music was good. The show was very slow and drawn out. One of my colleagues actually fell asleep. Wouldn't want to see it again

• John Wilde

  Jun 27, 2019

  A fabulous glittering star studded joyous night of theatre opera and comedy rolled into one. But and it's a big but it felt soooooo dated so behind the current curve of diversity and inclusion and in particular mental health. Ultimately entertaining but unsatisfying. Special note of the wonderful 35 piece live orchestra.

• Teresa Marshall

  Jun 26, 2019

  Firstly I was frustrated because I couldn't hear a lot of the words and think it would be helpful to have surtitles so we can follow the story especially when they're speaking in Italian. I was sitting in row LL towards the back of the stalls and wonder whether other people couldn't hear also. Also because there was no synopsis in the Programme, another good reason to have surtitles. It shouldn't be too difficult to arrange if they can have them at Covent Garden and The Coliseum! The musical delivery was excellent - the soloists very good as was the orchestra but words please.

• Jill R

  Jun 25, 2019

  Lovely feel good Show. Excellent performances all round although the music didn’t really show off Rene’s voice. Definitely recommend to musical fans.

• Penelope

  Jun 24, 2019

  The singing is excellent; the story, though slight, moves along nicely, and there is a real feeling of summer to it.

• Maggie

  Jun 24, 2019

  Great acting , singing factsstic

• Caballero

  Jun 24, 2019

  The story is quite enchanting and the audience were drawn into the warm piazzas of Florence, full of bustle and local life. The score is unusual and a matter of personal taste. A bit loud. Some of renditions seemed raw and out of tune. On this occasion, we judged the the tenors’ singing to be more pure and melodious. But nonetheless, everyone loved the show, we all stood up and roared our appreciation.

• Doreen Steinberg

  Jun 23, 2019

  This is a wonderful uplifting show. The set was so cleverly done by turning a quite small area into a back street and square in Florence, complete with huge statue. The orchestra was high above this. The singing was beautiful, the music lovely, the characters very well played and the story swept you into the play. Thorough recommend this show.

• Denise

  Jun 23, 2019

  Fantastic show myself and my 13year old daughter really enjoyed it so enjoyable loved Dove Cameron but everyone did well ,not been to a show at the south bank before but was so easy no hanging around all staff so helpful looking forward to visiting again x

• Sue

  Jun 23, 2019

  It may have been because I was right of the back but l thought the singers were trying site hard that it sound like a screech. Very weak story line. It was ok a.nice evening out but glad l only got cheap seats. My friend who was in the much dearer seats loved.it. so go and see it make up ypur own mind. Seats comfortable. Lovely venue.

• Becca

  Jun 23, 2019

  Wonderful performances all round.

• Gill T

  Jun 22, 2019

  This was labelled as a musical. Nowadays you expect some choreography some of the time. However there was none A lot of the dialogue was in Italian so if you can’t speak it or understand it, you’re lost Singers were good but apart from Renee Fleming the others had bad diction so couldn’t hear the words

• Robbo of Reading

  Jun 21, 2019

  My initial reason for booking this production was to fulfill a lifelong ambition to see Renee Fleming live. I have to say when she did sing it was incredible but I felt that she was certainly not the main attraction as suggested. There is a lot of talking and when the cast do sing the tunes are not catchy or memorable. The main characters Clara and Fabrizio give a powerful singing performance but I felt the orchestra were a little lacklustre at times. There is much quasi Italian spoken throughout the performance which coupled with the necessary American accents of Ms Fleming and Ms Cameron make for a rather confused dialect to listen to at times. An interesting and clever set worked well throughout the show. Perhaps it was just me but it did not live up to my expectations of a six times Tony winning production. I would certainly question the review of the New York Times about it being the most romantic score of any love story since West Side Story? Sorry for being an old curmudgeon.

• Peter Friend

  Jun 21, 2019

  Not good. No memorable music. Weak story line. Some good performances.

• Magoo

  Jun 20, 2019

  A lovely evening of fine orchestral music, wonderful singing, tender love story and fantastic performances, stylish costumes and great facilities at The Royal Festival Hall. Particularly enjoyed Renee Fleming's lovely performance.

• Liesel and Jasmine from SA

  Jun 19, 2019

  Amazing

• Maureen Wood

  Jun 18, 2019

  I went to the performance on Sunday and was completely enraptured by the whole show. The singing was beautiful, brilliant and amusing acting and a wonderful orchestra to complete the show. Full marks to everyone Egoe was involved - it was sheer joy!!

• Jim

  Jun 18, 2019

  I wasn't totally convinced by this show as the classical style isn't very commercial or memorable. Cameron Dove sang superbly as the daughter and Renee Fleming was moving as the mother. An acquired taste.

• Sheila Pacak

  Jun 18, 2019

  Wonderful theatre experience. We were sad to hear that Dove Cameron wouldn't be performing that evening but the young lady who stood in for her was exceptional. Well done !!!! Loved every minute of the show.

• Sam

  Jun 17, 2019

  This show left me speechless, this production of ‘The Light In the Piazza’ was easily one of the most beautiful musicals I have ever heard or seen on stage. The whole cast was phenomenal. WOW.

• Antonio

  Jun 17, 2019

  Enjoyed myself lots! But would have been much better if I was sitting closer to stage. But alas can't afford 120 pounds for a ticket. So lots were lost. But well sung and acted. Not sure for those that couldn't stand a bit of Italian It s a huge theatre . And was full and the audience for a Sunday matinee was great

• Sharon Howard

  Jun 17, 2019

  Wouldn't be recommending this to anyone. Wasn't the kind of musical i was expecting and you have to have a relatively good comprehension of Italian to fully understand the story line. More operatic than musical and the orchestra was a big distraction. The balcony was closed and our seats were changed and my view was blocked by the person in front of me so I was quite uncomfortable shifting my position constantly to see what was happening in the diagonal stage. No comparison to West Side Story at all.

• Daniella

  Jun 16, 2019

  Beautiful music. Sound system was very pour when the show opened on 14th June. It did improve slightly. Renee Fleming was excellent. Dove Cameron sang out of tune and struggled with the upper range.She did not explore the subtleties well enough in this part. Alex Jennings was miscast. The rest of the cast were excellent. This fascinating piece is worth seeing but I think they way it was billed was misleading and I feel the venue too was too big for this intimate story