“You can almost hear what everyone’s feeling”—an aside delivered to the audience midway through the show—neatly sums up what is most striking about The Light in the Piazza, playing at the Huntington Theatre. The idea that emotions can transcend language is at the heart of this beautiful, heartbreaking, and heartwarming musical. As characters alternate between Italian and English at any given moment, either we the audience, the characters, or both may not understand the words being spoken or sung, and yet their meaning comes through crystal clear in the intense feeling of it all.
The cast of The Light in the Piazza
A love story of mother and daughter, daughter and new love, and a love letter to Italy itself, the book by Craig Lucas and the lush operatic Tony-winning score by Adam Guettel are high in emotion indeed. Mrs. Johnson brings her 26-year-old daughter Clara on a vacation to Florence. There, Clara meets 20-year-old Fabrizio and the two fall instantly, deeply in love. However, Clara has a secret that even her mother won’t reveal to her completely, one that would make this blossoming relationship nearly impossible. Perhaps.
Sarah-Anne Martinez and Emily Skinner
For the script to ring true and for the musical love story to truly transcend language, the actors must be superb, and superb they are. In fact, many of the cast are Broadway pros, including Emily Skinner, whose singing is as glorious as ever as Mrs. Johnson; her emotional range playing this complex character and her journey is thrilling. Sarah-Anne Martinez imbues her daughter Clara (perhaps the most challenging character to play) with the right mix of pure childlike emotions interweaving with more nuance as the story unfolds. Other standouts are Joshua Grosso, who offers a passionate and earnest nature with charm and sincerity as the first-time lovestruck Fabrizio, and William Michals as his charismatic father Signor Naccarelli, providing a compelling balance of humor and depth.
Joshua Grosso and Sarah-Anne Martinez
The huge cast is glorious, bringing to life this heartwarming and intimate story of love, family, and self-discovery. They are supported by a full orchestra led by music director Andrea Grody, which is a real treat these days when budgets don’t always allow for such a luxuriant sound. We also feel the lushness of Firenzi thanks to the creative team: beautiful and evocative scenic design by Andrew Boyce, costume design by Alex Jaeger, lighting design by Christopher Akerlind, sound design by Megumi Katayama, and projection design by Yuki Izumihara. Tying it all together is expert direction by Huntington’s own Artistic Director Loretta Grecco (of Italian heritage herself).
Emily Skinner
If you are someone who enjoys operatic scores, this show is for you. The challenging and sophisticated score was difficult for me to immediately warm up to. Guettel’s music, for all its depth and beauty, can be dissonant and operatic at times, so it may not appeal to everyone initially. Even as it is less my taste in terms of the overall music and style, I highly recommend this production, which hits all the right notes of that style, balancing the lush, soaring romance with the deeply personal and sometimes fragile human connections that make the story so poignant.
photos by Julieta Cervantes
The Light in the Piazza
Huntington Theatre Company
The Huntington Theatre, 264 Huntington Avenue in Boston
ends on June 15, 2025
for tickets (starting at $29), call 617-266-0800 or visit Huntington
for more shows, visit Theatre in Boston
