October 6 - November 1, 2009, extended to 15th. Centaur Theatre Company presents:
The world premier of "IN PIAZZA SAN DOMENICO"
By STEVE GALLUCCIO Directed by ROY SURETTE
Finally got to see this on Friday the 13th, 'lucky me', closing weekend. I had heard very mixed reviews so -mostly that it has a great set design with some good performances, and that what it lacked in plot it was made up for in funny one liners. Well this is all true and then some.
"From the author of Mambo Italiano comes a light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining comedy about love, lust and misunderstandings, inspired by Feydeau, Goldini and Sophia Loren. It’s a burning hot August in Naples, 1952 – “earthquake weather” and the citizens of Piazza San Domenico are all stirred up when Carmelina Benevento suddenly faints upon hearing some bad news about her fiancé, Guido. A series of conspicuous sightings between people provoke gossip. Misinterpretations ensue as the players contrive their own schemes and desperately try to keep face. But love and earth tremors have a way of setting things straight."
The set design of John C. Dinning is fabulous, as is the lighting of Luc Prairie, and the costumes designed by James Lavoie, although somewhat elaborate for the characters in this era and this location, are very nice too. And this is where the compliments end. As for the play itself, there is absolutely no sustaintable plot to speak of, and even less character development. Due to an questionable amount of miss casting and an obvious lack of direction most of the few one liners are dropped, literally on the stage floor, and much of the meager text is lost in 'translation'. The vocal accents selected to be played by the whole cast doesn't help to deliver the much need punch to the little camp humor that there is in the text. The performances seemed very forced overall as there is so little here for the cast to work from, making what could have been good camp into very bad burlesque. The performances of Jocelyne Zucco (Marisa) and that of Carl Alacchi (Severino) contribute the most to the play and they have taken the over the top approach to their comedic delivery and it works for them most of the play, but there i just isn't enough for even them to save this one. A piece more justifiable on a community festival out door summer theatre stage, but not worthy of Centaur.
"From the author of Mambo Italiano comes a light-hearted and thoroughly entertaining comedy about love, lust and misunderstandings, inspired by Feydeau, Goldini and Sophia Loren. It’s a burning hot August in Naples, 1952 – “earthquake weather” and the citizens of Piazza San Domenico are all stirred up when Carmelina Benevento suddenly faints upon hearing some bad news about her fiancé, Guido. A series of conspicuous sightings between people provoke gossip. Misinterpretations ensue as the players contrive their own schemes and desperately try to keep face. But love and earth tremors have a way of setting things straight."
The set design of John C. Dinning is fabulous, as is the lighting of Luc Prairie, and the costumes designed by James Lavoie, although somewhat elaborate for the characters in this era and this location, are very nice too. And this is where the compliments end. As for the play itself, there is absolutely no sustaintable plot to speak of, and even less character development. Due to an questionable amount of miss casting and an obvious lack of direction most of the few one liners are dropped, literally on the stage floor, and much of the meager text is lost in 'translation'. The vocal accents selected to be played by the whole cast doesn't help to deliver the much need punch to the little camp humor that there is in the text. The performances seemed very forced overall as there is so little here for the cast to work from, making what could have been good camp into very bad burlesque. The performances of Jocelyne Zucco (Marisa) and that of Carl Alacchi (Severino) contribute the most to the play and they have taken the over the top approach to their comedic delivery and it works for them most of the play, but there i just isn't enough for even them to save this one. A piece more justifiable on a community festival out door summer theatre stage, but not worthy of Centaur.
With: Carl Alacchi, Christina Broccolini, Guido Cocomello, Ellen David, Mara Lalli, Michel Perron, Vittorio Rossi, Jocelyne Zucco.
Set Design by John C. Dinning; Costume Design by James Lavoie; Lighting Design by Luc Prairie; Stage Manager: Luciana Burcheri; Assistant Stage Manager: Sarah-Marie Langlois; Assistant Director: Adam Blanshay.
.
Posts
No comments:
Post a Comment