MovieChat Forums > Light in the Piazza (1962) Discussion > Musical?

Musical?

posted 19 years ago by phan_of_hobbits
7 replies | jump to latest

Hey everyone!

I am an avid fan of listening to Broadway soundtracks, and I just got "The Light in the Piazza." Normally, the soundtracks will give you an extermly specific and detailed description of what's going on with every song; this one did not. So, while I enjoy it, I am very confused as to what is going on. I would really appreciate it if someone wouldn't mind just answering some of my questions..

- What's up with "The Joy You Feel?" Fibreccio's mother is telling Clara to take a lover, because he'll find someone prettier?

- Why is everyone freaking out in Aiutami?

- Is Octect the wedding? If so, why does Clara start screaming at someone? Do they actually get married? Do we assume they live happily ever after?

- What's going on with Clara's mother? Why did she return to Italy? Did she have "history" there? Does she fall in love again?

Please answer these if you can. I would greatly appreciate it.
<3

Have you forgotten your angel, that has a mug of beer inside this Took?

[–] DryToast 19 years ago

"The Joy You Feel" is sung by Fabrizio's sister-in-law, and her cynical advice is from the point of view of her own unhappy marriage to Fabrizio's brother.

I have made enough faces.

[–] phan_of_hobbits 19 years ago

One mystery down..

Thank you very much!

Have you forgotten your angel, that has a mug of beer inside this Took?

[–] DryToast 19 years ago

"Octet" is not the wedding. We are at the Naccarellis' home and Clara is practicing her Latin with the priest. Clara yells at Franca because Clara suspects that Franca is making moves on Fabrizio. (This is of course set up by Franca's "The Joy You Feel" in Act I and related to your other question.) It also demonstrate's Clara's social awkwardness due to her "disability."

The wedding happens at the very end.

Nobody dies.

There does seem to be an attraction between Margaret and Signor Naccarelli, but the song "Let's Walk" is as romantic as it gets between them.

If you listen to the Signora Naccarelli's English section of "Aiutami," she explains what everyone is arguing about. (I am assuming you have the booklet with the lyrics that came with the CD.)

Margaret was previously in Italy with Roy. The present trip seems to be an attempt to shield Clara from the awkward experience of coming-into-womanhood in the United States with her alleged disability, but I am not sure whether this is actually explicitly stated.

Mind you, I get the impression that Margaret's and Roy's perceptions of Clara's disability might not be entirely accurate, which of course is what makes the story so poignant.

I have made enough faces.

[–] phan_of_hobbits 19 years ago

Thank you so much!

Have you forgotten your angel, that has a mug of beer inside this Took?

[–] GerrysAngel 19 years ago

I will answer every one of your questions.

1. Its Fabrizios sister in law, Franca, who sings "The Joy You Feel". She and her husband, Giuseppe (Fabrizio's brother) are having a fight because Giuseppe was eyeing another woman or slept with another woman, not sure. She's trying to scare Clara.
2. Claras mom, Margaret, takes Clara to Rome because she doesn't want Clara to marry Fabrizio. When Fabrizio finds out Clara left he freaks out. Aiutami means help me in Italian (its in the song).
3. Octet is when Clara is about to be baptized into Catholosism (sp?). When she freaks out its cause she sees Franca kissing Fabrizio passionately on the lips and she goes "crazy". It's not the wedding. The wedding is during Fable at the very end of fable, when the mom goes may it last forever etc thats when Clara walks down the aisle. Yeah you assume they live happily ever after.
4. Clara's mom returns to Italy because she and her husband Roy travelled there before Clara was born and it has a lot of importance to them. In my opinion it signifies innocense etc. I dont think she falls in love again but she does realize her husband is having an affair so she leaves him.

Hope this helps :). Feel free to email me at [email protected] if you have any more questions.

[–] yetisphere 19 years ago

Obviously, do not read this if you don't want anything spoiled, but there is an excellent and comprehensive synopsis of the musical available from the link below:

http://www.broadwayworld.com/board/readmessage.cfm?thread=853320#1110645

[–] Nameless-3 19 years ago

1. Franca is not really advising Clara to take a lover: she's warning her of what COULD happen in a marriage, what has happened to her.

2. Everyone is Freaking out because Margaret and Clara have left without a goodbye because Margaret caught Clara and Fabrizio about to, presumedly, have sex. Fabrizio is really the only one freaking out: Giuseppe is mocking him, Franca and Signor Naccarelli are trying to comfort him, and Signora Naccarelli is just observing cooly.

3. Octet is not the wedding, it's durring one of Clara's latin lessons (she is converting to Catholicism so she can marry Fabrizio.) Franco, trying to make Giuseppe jelous, kisses Fabrizio, which leads to the Tirade.

4. Margaret and her husband Roy, who appeares in the musical only durring phone conversations back home, had their honeymoon in Florence and Rome. That's why Margaret has come back. There is an attraction between Margaret and Signor Naccarelli, but it never goes farther than a single kiss.

The Nameless

I am not what I am