Courtesy of Phoenix Theatre

The Phoenix Theatre (now 90 years young) is renowned for its impeccable staging of Broadway’s best. In fact, one of Broadway's best, The Light in the Piazza, is currently on stage at the Phoenix Theatre and will continue performances through March 14.

As expected, the Phoenix Theatre's production of The Light in the Piazza is positively splendid. You still have time to bask in the glorious glow of this multi award winning musical. To miss it would be to miss one of the best musicals of the last decade.

This remarkable, magical musical is based on the beloved 1960 novella by Elizabeth Spencer and its 1962 film adaptation (starring Olivia de Havilland, Yvette Mimieux, George Hamilton and Rossano Brazzi). The Light in the Piazza was written for the stage by Craig Lucas (book) and Adam Guettel (music and lyrics). The original Lincoln Center Theater production was the recipient of six 2005 Tony Awards. It tells the tale of a mother, Margaret Johnson, and her daughter, Clara, touring Italy and revisiting places that she and her husband shared on their honeymoon. Margaret's marriage has long since been a sham. For her it is a desperate attempt to find love lost. For innocent Clara it will be unexpected love found.

Cartell, Kleinman & Shubitz photo by Laura Durant courtesy of Phoenix Theatre

Sadly, Clara has remained a ten year old emotionally as a result of a serious childhood injury. Margaret has spent the years since the accident becoming increasingly isolated from her uncaring husband, balancing her guilt for Clara's misfortune while trying to raise and fiercely protect her daughter from herself and others. In an act of ironic, musical fate, Clara meets and quickly falls in love with Fabrizio, a young, wealthy Florentine. Margaret makes several futile attempts to keep the potential lovers apart but, as the story progresses, she wavers and becomes more and more determined for her daughter to know love despite whatever emotional challenges Clara may face.

                          Photo by Laura Durant courtesy of Phoenix Theatre

Adam Guettel's magnificent neo-romantic score completely captures the heart and soul of Spencer's characters. Guettel's music is contemporary theater at its best. His sound is a startling, mixture of dissonance and traditional melodic lines. He is not afraid to create disturbing notes to reflect his characters' emotions. Depending on who is singing, the score is sung in both English and broken Italian. As one would expect, Guettel's Italian characters are prone to be rather operatic in expressing their inner most thoughts.

The second act opens with the harsh, distressful Aiutami. The song's discordance perfectly relates the Italian family's frustration at their mysterious seeming abandonment by Margaret and Clara. Guettel has given the show some exquisite, quiet moments as well: Dividing Day, where Margaret ponders where and when her marriage began to fail; Clara's breathtaking title number, The Light in the Piazza. Passaggiata is especially noteworthy. This exquisite waltz easily could be a tribute to Guettel's grandfather, Richard Rodgers. If you listen carefully, you can hear the the unmistakable lilt of Rodgers' famous irresistible three/quarter rhythmic pulse.

                        Photo by Laura Durant courtesy of Phoenix Theatre

The Phoenix Theatre's The Light in the Piazza has been beautifully and thoughtfully staged by Karla Koskinen. She has been given a cast that could not be bettered They are, in a word, perfection.

The radiant Jeannie Shubitz is simply marvelous as the over protective, suspicious mother. She plays Margaret as a cynic with a raised eyebrow and a shrug of the shoulders, always masking her heartbreak with a dry sense of humor. The incandescent Kaitlynn Kleinman gives Clara a touching simplicity. She is truly the light in the piazza. Nick Cartell as Fabrizzio is the perfect, youthful romantic lead. Cartell's tenor is beyond breathtaking. Teresa Byrne's performance as the bitter, strident Franca is immensely moving.

                         Photo by Laura Durant courtesy of Phoenix Theatre

The exquisite, wonderfully detailed period costumes are the original Tony Award winning designs of Catherine Zuber. Zuber's clothing for Margaret are themselves important characters in advancing the plot. At the start, Margaret is clothed in drab, neutral tones but as she grows in her self-awareness and her acceptance of Clara's love for Fabrizzio her personal colors become more and more vibrant.

Robert Kovach's lovely, spare stage design was inspired by the Tony winning original designs of Michael Yeargan. Yeargan's rendering of Michelangelo's David is even featured in the opening scenes of this production.

Each time I see The Light in the Piazza it's glow grows more and more intense. The resplendent Phoenix Theatre's exceptional, exhilarating production of Guettel's modern classic is positively luminous.