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The Play Guide for The Light in the Piazza was created by: Shari Wattling Associate Artistic Director Zachary Moull Artistic Associate Want to get in touch? Send an email to zmoull@theatrecalgary.com Connect with us on our Facebook page Tweet us @theatrecalgary #tcPiazza Follow our Instagram @theatrecalgary
The Light in the Piazza runs from April 26 to May 22, 2016 For tickets, visit theatrecalgary.com or call (403) 294-7447
Table of Contents THE BASICS The Company ....................................................................01 Who’s Who? ...................................................................... 02 Time and Place ................................................................. 02 The Story ..........................................................................02 EXPLORATIONS Capturing the Light ............................................................ 03 The Wonders of Florence ................................................... 05 Italy and the Allies in World War II ..................................... 08 Post-War Italy ................................................................... 09 The Light in the Piazza Miscellany ....................................... 09 CONVERSATIONS Conversation Starters ........................................................ 11 Helpful Italian Words and Phrases ...................................... 11 Big Reads from Calgary Public Library ................................. 12 Movie Night in Italy ........................................................... 14 Sources ............................................................................ 15
THE BASICS
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The Company Theatre Calgary presents
THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA Book by Craig Lucas Music and lyrics by Adam Guettel Produced by arrangement with Turner Entertainment Co., owner of the original motion picture Light in the Piazza, based on the novel by Elizabeth Spencer
THE CAST
Priest Margaret Johnson Roy Johnson Signor Naccarelli Tour Guide, Ensemble Franca Naccarelli Clara Johnson Fabrizio Naccarelli Signora Naccarelli Ensemble Giuseppe Naccarelli
THE CREATIVE TEAM
Gab Desmond Susan Gilmour Christopher Hunt David Keeley Marie McDunnough Tracy Michailidis Anwyn Musico Louie Rossetti Kate Ryan Farren Timoteo Michael Torontow
Director Musical Director Set & Costume Design Lighting Design Sound Design Choreographer Voice Coach Italian Coach Dramaturg
Michael Shamata Jonathan Monro Christina Poddubiuk Alan Brodie Chris Jacko Anita Miotti Jane MacFarlane Luigi Riscaldino Shari Wattling
Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager Assistant Stage Manager
Jennifer Swan Carissa Sams Sara Turner
THE BASICS
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Who’s Who? Margaret Johnson: An elegant, practical American woman in middle age Clara Johnson: Margaret’s 26-year-old daughter, young for her age Fabrizio Naccarelli: A charming 20-year-old Florentine Giuseppe Naccarelli: Fabrizio’s older brother Franca Naccarelli: Giuseppe’s wife Signor Naccarelli: Fabrizio’s father Signora Naccarelli: Fabrizio’s mother Roy Johnson: Margaret’s husband, who has stayed back in America Others played by the ensemble, including a tour guide and a priest
Time and Place The Light in the Piazza takes place in the Italian cities of Florence and Rome, during the summer of 1953.
The Story Margaret Johnson and her daughter Clara have just arrived on vacation in Florence when a gust of wind carries Clara’s hat to the feet of Fabrizio Naccarelli, a handsome young Tuscan man. Soon Fabrizio is running into Clara at tourist sites all over Florence, and their friendship leads to love. But as the Johnsons get to know the Naccarelli family and Clara falls more and more in love, Margaret must decide whether or not to share a secret that could destroy her daughter’s happiness.
EXPLORATIONS
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Capturing the Light In the introduction to her novella The Light in the Piazza, American author Elizabeth Spencer writes, “The first time I saw Italy was in August of 1949. Italians were glad to be alive in a life that was possible
to
live,
gladness
filled
the
and air
their and
reached out to all corners.” The warmth and beauty of Italian culture and landscape, along with this sense of awakening to life, inspired Spencer’s writing a decade later, during her first cold and dark winter after moving to Montreal. The Light in the Piazza, so full of the light of Italy, was published in The New Yorker in
The replica of Michelangelo's David in the Piazza della Signoria in Florence (photo by Shari Wattling)
1960. It was released as a novella the following year and was soon made into a Hollywood film starring Olivia de Havilland, George Hamilton, and Yvette Mimieux. After reading the story in The New Yorker, writer-composer Mary Rodgers suggested a musical adaptation to her father, the legendary composer Richard Rodgers (Oklahoma!, South Pacific). The elder Rodgers found the story and the idea “lovely, but not for him.” Almost forty years later, in 1998, she made the same suggestion to her son, composer Adam Guettel (Floyd Collins, Myths and Hymns), who was looking for his next creative project. “The sounds of being in love were waiting to spill out of me,” Guettel later said. “I wanted to find a vessel for those sounds.”
EXPLORATIONS
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At his mother’s suggestion, Guettel read the novella and was instantly drawn to it, sensing that he had “the sounds available” to capture the hope and romance of the characters. Guettel contacted Elizabeth Spencer and inquired about getting the stage rights. “He seemed very eager about it, and he was a very attractive young man,” recalls Spencer, “But he looked much younger than he was, and I thought, ‘He’s too young to do all that.” Thankfully, a bit of research and some CDs of Guettel’s earlier work convinced Spencer to grant permission. After several attempts to find a writing partner, Guettel connected with playwright Craig Lucas (Prelude to a Kiss, Reckless) and they began a threeyear process of adapting the book into a musical. The play premiered at Seattle’s Intiman Theatre in 2003, and then underwent further development before appearing at Chicago’s Goodman Theatre in 2004. The following year, the Lincoln Center Theater invited the production to New York, with Kelli O’Hara, Victoria Clark, and Matthew Morrison in the leading roles. The production was nominated for multiple major theatre awards, receiving six Tony and five Drama Desk Awards in 2005. In 2006, the New York production was broadcast on the PBS television series Lincoln Center Live, drawing more than two million viewers. On accepting the Tony Award for Best Original Score, Adam Guettel remarked, “As a writer, you feel so happy just to have people take your show to heart.” For Elizabeth Spencer, the musical captured the essence of her original story and the sensations she felt in Italy so many decades ago: “Though we’re really worlds from each other, he got it. That’s the amazing thing. The music is just soaring; it catches you up right away. It’s almost miraculous.”
“The sounds of being in love were waiting to spill out of me. I wanted to find a vessel for those sounds.” –Adam Guettel
EXPLORATIONS
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The Wonders of Florence Florence is renowned as the birthplace of the Renaissance and is a popular tourist destination for lovers of art and culture. The capital of the central Italian region of Tuscany, Florence rose to economic power in the 14th century and reached its zenith during the ascendancy of the powerful Medici family, who ruled the city for much of the 15th through 17th centuries. The family’s patronage of the arts and support for new explorations in science and architecture were central to the rise of humanism and the flourishing of ideas that we now call the Renaissance. Here are some of the places and works of art that Margaret and Clara experience during The Light in the Piazza: Piazza della Signoria This public square has been the heart of political, cultural, and social
life
in
Florence
for
centuries. At its centre is the Palazzo Vecchio (Old Palace), which was once the residence of Cosimo I de Medici, the first Grand Duke of Florence, and still serves as city hall today. All around the Piazza della Signoria
stand
statues
by
famous Florentine artists, as well
as
antique
Roman
sculptures. The famous statue of David by Michelangelo stood in this square from 1504 to 1873 when, like many of the original statues, it was moved inside for
The Palazzo Vecchio in the Piazza della Signoria (Colby Blaisdale, flickr)
EXPLORATIONS
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preservation and replaced with a copy. The statue was originally intended for an upper niche in the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore, but upon completion, it was deemed too perfect for display so high up. The Piazza della Signoria was the site of the infamous Bonfire of the Vanities in 1497, when followers of the hardline friar Savonarola burned thousands of books, paintings, and other items that they deemed to be sinful. The friar himself was executed in the square a year later,
after
he
had
been
excommunicated by the Pope. The Uffizi Gallery The world’s finest collection of
Fra Filippo Lippi’s Madonna with Child and Two Angels, part of the Uffizi collection
Italian Renaissance paintings lives at the Uffizi Gallery, alongside an impressive collection of sculptures, drawings, and prints. Masterpieces by the likes of Raphael, Botticelli, Leonardo da Vinci, Michelangelo, and Caravaggio grace its halls. The building was commissioned by Cosimo I de Medici in the 16th century to house magisterial offices (Uffizi means ‘offices’ in Italian), and many of the works on display were once part of the Medici family’s vast private art collection.
Leonardo da Vinci’s Annunciation, part of the Uffizi collection
EXPLORATIONS
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The Duomo One of the largest churches in the world, the Cathedral of Santa Maria del Fiore is nicknamed “the Duomo” for its enormous brick dome, designed and engineered by Florentine architect Filippo Brunelleschi. The massive structure is more than
100
metres
tall
and
contains at least four million bricks. Its completion in the 15th
century
was
a
major
moment in architectural history and is considered one of the landmark achievements of the Renaissance. Piazza della Repubblica A large public square created as a result of a late-19th century The Duomo, with Giotto's Campanile in the urban redevelopment plan, the
foreground (Shari Wattling)
Piazza della Repubblica is home to many shops and cafés. It has been a favourite meeting spot for artists and writers since the early 20th century, and today it is a lively public gathering place. Piazzale Michelangelo A hilltop square overlooking Florence and the valley of the Arno River, the Piazzale Michelangelo’s stunning panoramic views make it popular with tourists and locals alike, especially at sunset.
Florence at sunset from the Piazzale Michelangelo (Steve Hersey, flickr)
EXPLORATIONS
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Italy and the Allies in World War II In 1939, Benito Mussolini, the fascist Prime Minister of Italy, chose to align Italy's forces with Germany and Adolf Hitler. Italy joined the war against the Allies in 1940 and were soon in battle on several fronts. After German and Italian forces were defeated in North Africa, Allied troops crossed over to Sicily in July 1943 and took the island in thirty-nine days. The loss of Sicily, along with food shortages and frustration with the Nazi presence, led to growing frustration with the regime. Mussolini was removed from office and arrested. Italy signed an armistice with the Allies, allowing Allied forces to
Florentines cross the Arno using the ruins of the Ponte alla Grazie in August 1944 (Capt. Tanner, British War Office)
cross to the Italian mainland. Germany sent several army divisions into Italy and took control of the country’s central infrastructure. The Allies made slow progress north towards Rome, liberating the city in June, 1944. As the German forces retreated northwards, they caused much death and destruction in central and northern Italian cities. Florence was liberated by the Allies on August 4, 1944. Many of the city’s buildings were damaged, and almost all of its bridges were destroyed to slow the Allied advance across the Arno River. Only the historic Ponte Vecchio was spared, reportedly on Hitler’s orders. The fighting contined in Italy until the German surrender in May, 1945.
EXPLORATIONS
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Post-War Italy Italy bounced back quickly after World War II, thanks in large part to emergency support from the Allies and assistance from the Marshall Plan, the American aid initiative to help rebuild the economies of Western Europe after the devastation of the war. During the two decades after the war, Italy would develop into a modern economic powerhouse, known in particular for producing luxury goods such as fashionable clothing and elegant automobiles. These post-war years were a time of modernization and urbanization in Italy. Many people from rural and southern parts of the country, where there was less industrial development, migrated to the large cities of the north. With city life came social change. Birth rates started to fall after the war, and Roman Catholic church attendance, while still at 70% in the 1950s, began a steady decline as well. All the same, Italian society at the time of The Light in the Piazza was still traditional by many standards: for example, laws permitting divorce weren’t passed until 1970.
The Light in the Piazza Miscellany Intellectual Disability in the 1950s In The Light in the Piazza, Margaret tells the audience that her adult daughter Clara is “very young for her age” – and she has a doctor’s diagnosis to back up this assessment. Today, our society takes an inclusive approach to people with intellectual and developmental disabilities, and programs like special education are viewed as a public responsibility. But in the early 1950s, there were fewer support services available and less public acceptance. As well, some attitudes were still informed by the eugenics movement of the first half of the 20th century, whose proponents advocated for the segregation of people with disabilities into custodial care facilities and discouraged them from marrying and having children.
EXPLORATIONS
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Winston-Salem Winston-Salem is one of the largest cities in North Carolina and a historic centre of the tobacco industry. The R.J. Reynolds Tobacco Company, founded in 1875, is one of the leading cigarette manufacturers in North America. The company’s prominent place in Winston-Salem led to the nickname “Camel City” after the famous brand of cigarettes. In the 1950s, nearly a third of the city’s workforce was employed in the tobacco industry. It’s also one of the most devout cities in the United States, with the largest religious affiliations being Baptist and Methodist. Van Johnson Van Johnson was a matinee idol who reached his peak popularity in the 1940s. Known for his freckle-faced boy-next-door image, Johnson was a heartthrob for many young girls and at one point rivalled even Frank Sinatra. Johnson frequently appeared in musical comedies and war films, starring alongside performers such as Judy Garland and Gene Kelly. The Roman Forum Located between the Palatine and Capitoline hills, the Forum was the political, financial, and religious centre of ancient Rome. Some ruins on the site date all the way back to the 7th century BCE. Efforts to excavate and preserve the Roman Forum began in the 18th century and continue
to
this
day.
The
Triumphal Arch of Septimius Severus, a white marble arch erected
in
203
CE
at
the
northwest end of the Forum, is one
of
the
best
preserved
structures. The famous Roman Colosseum and other major tourist sites are nearby.
The Roman Forum, with the Arch of Septimius at centre (Carla Tavares, Wikimedia)
CONVERSATIONS
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Conversation Starters
Do you believe in love at first sight?
What makes two people well matched for each other?
Did your parents approve of your first love?
Is it hard for parents to start letting children make their own decisions?
Have you ever had a transformative experience while travelling or otherwise away from home? How were you changed?
If you could travel to any place in the world, where would you go?
Is starting a romantic relationship while travelling abroad a good idea?
What’s the biggest misunderstanding you’ve faced due to a language barrier or cultural difference? How did you handle the situation?
The Light in the Piazza is set in 1953. Do you think any events or decisions would happen differently if the story took place today?
Helpful Italian Words and Phrases Aiutami (ay-YOO-tah-me) – Help me Amarmi (ah-MAR-me) – Love me Andiamo (an-DYAH-mo) – Let’s go Bacio (BAH-chio) – Kiss Bella (BELL-ah) – Beautiful Bene (BEH-nay) – Good Capisce (cah-PEESH-ay) – Do you understand? Ciao (chow) – Hello/Goodbye Firenze (fee-REN-say) – Florence Grazie (GRAHT-zee-ay) – Thank you Mi dispiace (me dees-PYAH-chay) – I’m sorry Luce (LOO-chay) – Light Passeggiata (pah-se-JAH-tah) – A leisurely walk Ragazzo/Ragazza (rah-GAH-zo/za) – boy/girl Si (see) – Yes
CONVERSATIONS
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Big Reads from Calgary Public Library By Rosemary Griebel
The Light in the Piazza, by Elizabeth Spencer Novella, 1960. This novella, which tells the story of a mother and daughter intoxicated by the beauty of Florence in the 1950s and the more tragic tale of dark family secrets, inspired the 1962 movie and award-winning Broadway musical.
Under the Tuscan Sun, by Frances Mayes Memoir, 1996. Prolific author and gourmet Mayes recounts the purchase and renovation of an abandoned Tuscan villa and life in the Tuscan countryside. Also included are dozens of seasonal recipes from Mayes’ traditional kitchen and garden.
Beautiful Ruins, by Jess Walter Novel, 2012. In 1962, on a rocky patch of Italian coastline, a young innkeeper spies a woman approaching in a boat and learns that she is an American starlet who is said to be dying. What unfolds is a dazzling rollercoaster of a story spanning 50 years. Gloriously inventive and constantly surprising, Beautiful Ruins is an awardwinning novel of flawed yet fascinating people navigating their lives while clinging to improbable dreams. Click on the book covers to check availability at Calgary Public Library!
CONVERSATIONS
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La Bella Figura: A Field Guide to the Italian Mind, by Beppe Severgnini Non-fiction, 2006. More a primer on Italian culture than a travelogue, this book is designed to reveal the authentic Italian soul beyond the stereotypical image. The author offers insight into everything from shoe shopping to train travel to help the reader understand why Italy, as Beppe says, "can have you fuming and then purring in the space of a hundred metres or ten minutes."
The Italians, by John Hooper Non-fiction, 2015. With a contemporary focus, Hooper draws upon his experience as a journalist in Italy to explore the country's culture and character from medieval times to the present. How did a land that spawned the Renaissance also produce the Mafia? Why does Italian have 12 words for coathanger but none for hangover? Brimming with fascinating insights unavailable in guidebooks, The Italians will surprise even the most die-hard Italophile.
Passion on the Vine, by Sergio Esposito Memoir, 2008. Esposito's luscious accounts of the food and wine that are so much a part of Italian life, and his poignant and often hilarious stories of his relationships with his family and Italian friends, make Passion on the Vine an utterly unique and enchanting work about Italy and its culture.
CONVERSATIONS
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Movie Night in Italy These films set in beautiful Italy will get you set for a vacation to Florence:
Roman Holiday Dir. William Wyler, 1953. In this classic romantic comedy, Audrey Hepburn plays a princess from an unnamed country who slips away from her entourage and goes on adventures through Rome with an American reporter (Gregory Peck). The screenplay, which won an Oscar, was coauthored by blacklisted screenwriter Dalton Trumbo under a pseudonym.
La Dolce Vita Dir. Federico Fellini, 1960. Fellini’s stylish masterpiece follows a journalist who tries to lose himself in the dolce vita (sweet life) of post-war Rome while searching for meaning. It won the Palme d’Or at Cannes and is one of the most critically acclaimed films of all time.
A Room with a View Dir. James Ivory, 1985. Adapted from E.M. Forster’s 1908 novel of the same name, A Room with a View tells the Edwardian era story of a sheltered young Englishwoman who falls in love while on holiday in Florence. Starring Helena Bonham Carter and Maggie Smith.
Tea with Mussolini Dir. Franco Zeffirelli, 1999. This semi-autobiographical film by the great opera and film director follows the childhood of an Italian boy raised in a circle of American and British expatriate women in Florence before and during World War II. Starring Cher, Judi Dench, and Maggie Smith.
Under the Tuscan Sun Dir. Audrey Wells, 2003. The film adaptation of the popular memoir by Frances Mayes, which chronicles the journey of an American writer who moves to Tuscany and renovates a dilapidated villa. Starring Diane Lane and Sandra Oh.
CONVERSATIONS
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Sources Cipriette, Elena. “10 of the Best Movies on Italy.” Walks of Italy, Jan 16, 2014. www.walksofitaly.com/blog/all-around-italy/movies-on-italy Di Palma, Giuseppe. “The Economic Miracle.” Encyclopedia Britannica Online. www.britannica.com/place/Italy/The-economic-miracle Green, Jesse. “A Complicated Gift.” New York Times, July 6, 2003. “Guettel and Lucas Step into the Light with Rapturous Results.” Rodgers and Hammerstein Music Library, Oct 1, 2003. www.rnh.com/news/637/Guettel-And-Lucas-Step-Into-the-Light-WithRapturous-Results Kivesto, Lois. “Statues and Stories.” In house programme for The Light in the Piazza, Shaw Festival, 2013. Nesbit, W. and D. Philpott. “The Plight of Individuals with Cognitive Disabilities: Social and Educational Facets of an Arduous Evolution.” The Morning Watch 36:1-2 (Fall 2008). www.mun.ca/educ/faculty/mwatch/Nesbet%20and%20Philpott%20The %20Plight%20of%20Individuals.pdf “The Light in the Piazza.” Playbill, Lincoln Centre Theater production, Oct 2005. Saunders, Anne. “World War II in Italy.” The Florentine, May 5, 2011. Woods, Byron. “Elizabeth Spencer and the Musical Adaptation of The Light in the Piazza.” Indy Week, Feb 7, 2007.