by Cari Lynn Pace

Sonoma Arts Live invites the audience to join a mother and daughter as they sightsee in Florence, Italy in this musical with lyrics by Adam Guettel based on Craig Lucas’s book. The stage, designed Laurynn Malilay and Sandra Ish, overflows with statuary, fountains, lush plantings, and a live band directed by Sherrill Peterson.

The Light in the Piazza features an operatic style of dissonant harmonies and chromatic shifts in the music. Although this is a challenge to sing, the production features some outstanding voices who could sing a telephone book and make it sound lyrical.

Daniela Innocenti Beem is Margaret Johnson, mother to her irrepressible daughter Clara, played by Emma Sutherland. These veteran performers carry the music to new heights as they solidly propel the story.

Clara has fallen for Fabrizio, a handsome Italian youth played by Malcolm March, and he is smitten with Clara. Mother does her best to distract and separate the two, while Fabrizio entreats Clara with a solo totally in Italian. Whether you understand Italian or not, you will still understand his earnest longing.

Fabrizio is confronted by his Papa, a solid role by Tim Setzer, and his playboy brother Giuseppe done by Drew Bolander. Giuseppe’s wife Franca (Evvy Carlstrom-March) sings Clara an amusing warning about marriage from her experience. “His eyes will settle on a woman who is younger, prettier…”  It’s amusing to realize that both actors Malcolm and Evvy are husband and wife in real life.

But Clara is lovestruck and agrees to marry while Mother frets about telling the secret she knows must be told.

The Light in the Piazza features a supporting cast of delightful and well-acted characters. Mike Pavone nails his role as Clara’s father on the long-distance line, and Brandy Noveh is wonderful and warm as Fabrizio and Guiseppe’s Mama. Thaddeus Louviere does double duty as the tour guide and the priest.

The voices soar and the characters are marvelously acted in splendid costumes designed by Allison Sutherland. The music, well handled by Sherrill Peterson and three strings, may be difficult, but the challenges of this production are met by Sonoma Arts Live.

Playing through May 10, 2026 on the Rotary Stage in Andrews Hall in the Sonoma Community Center, 276 E Napa St, Sonoma.

Click HERE for more information and tickets.

Photos by Katie Kelley

Cari Lynn Pace is a long-time Bay Area theatre critic whose reviews were regularly featured in the Marinscope Community Newspapers.