| This was one of those fairly rare occasions where I went into a show not knowing anything about the story or the music. But I knew some of Adam Guettel’s previous stuff, plus was familiar with all the cast, of course, and I’d heard some great things from other people who had seen it, so I was actually really excited to get a chance to see it.
The sets and lighting are fantastic, and immediately put you in the right frame of mind for the rest of the evening. The music also helps to transport you – the score is not your typical musical comedy style, but almost a bit more operetta-ish, which works perfectly for a story set in Florence. I loved the small touches of the set decoration, like the leaves blowing around in the background, and the way that other cast members would walk along in the background during the outdoor scenes – it really made it feel like a living, breathing space. |
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 Krista and a sign for the show at the stage door |
And what makes the story come alive even more were the wonderful characters. Margaret is a fantastic character, and a wonderful guide to the world of the show. Clara is not a typical romantic lead, and all of the Italian family are given their own stories and motivations, so they truly feel like real people and not as background to the main story.
Of course the realization of these characters is helped enormously by the talented cast. I’ve been a fan of Victoria Clark for a long time, and she really outdoes herself as Margaret. Utterly winning, the audience is firmly with her throughout the show, and watching her struggle over the right course to choose for her daughter is really what makes the piece so engaging. I loved Matthew Morrison as Fabrizio, his youthful exuberance and energy were just perfect. And all the rest of the cast as well – I could single out each one, really. They were all wonderful. And it’s especially great when there’s a cast like this, so many of whom I have seen in other roles, but they all completely convinced me in their current roles too. One of my favourite parts of the show was how the Italian family communicated in Italian – and yet nothing was lost on the audience. Through the use of body language, gesture and tone, you can easily follow what’s going on – and of course, it sets up the wonderful moment in the opening of the second act when the song is actually explained for the audience. The music, as I’ve mentioned briefly, is quite different from what you’ll hear in other Broadway shows right now, and is really beautiful. I was so happy when it won the Tony for Best Score, since it was completely deserved. I found this show as a whole a completely fulfilling and enjoyable night of theatre. I know it will never have the crowds of a Spamalot, but I think the people who choose this show instead are the richer for it. |
Me and Matthew Morrison
The cast: (in order of appearance)
| Margaret Johnson | VICTORIA CLARK |
| Clara Johnson, her daughter | KELLI O’HARA |
| Fabrizio Naccarelli | MATTHEW MORRISON |
| Signor Naccarelli, Fabrizio’s father | MARK HARELIK |
| Giuseppe Naccarelli, Fabrizio’s brother | MICHAEL BERRESSE |
Franca Naccarelli, Giuseppe’s wife |
SARAH URIARTE BERRY |
| Signora Naccarelli, Fabrizio’s mother | PATTI COHENOUR |
| Roy Johnson, Margaret’s husband | BEAU GRAVITTE |
| Tour Guide | FELICITY LaFORTUNE/td> |
| Priest | JOSEPH SIRAVO |
| Ensemble | DAVID BONANNO DAVID BURNHAM LAURA GRIFFITH PRUDENCE WRIGHT HOLMES JENNIFER HUGHES FELICITY LaFORTUNE MICHEL MOINOT JOSEPH SIRAVO |