Romance Radiates at Huntington's 'Light in the Piazza'; Lyric Stage's 'Hello, Dolly!' Steps High"

The Light in the Piazza, Huntington Theatre, mainstage, Boston, through June 15. 617-266-0800 or huntingtontheatre.org

Romance is at its radiant best at the Huntington Theatre. Company artistic director Loretta Greco has staged the multiple Tony Award-winning Adam Guettel-Craig Lucas musical "The Light in the Piazza" with loving care. Parenting a vocally rich cast and an inspired design team, she has staged a revival as breathtakingly beautiful as the lush original production at Lincoln Center.

Lucas' affecting book-based on a novel by Elizabeth Spencer-smoothly takes young tourist Clara Johnson on a 1953 odyssey of self-discovery as she and her mother Margaret visit the famed Italian city of Florence-known in Italian as Firenze. While the story focuses on the budding romance of Clara and Fabrizio-the son of a well-to-do haberdasher, it also deals insightfully with Margaret's growth from a protective mother to one who is prepared to give her blessing to her daughter's love and eventual marriage. Along the way the musical artfully deals with Clara's challenges (after having been injured significantly in the show's back story). In a supportive manner that resonates just as forcefully in the present day.

Under Greco's sharp direction, Lucas' book and Guettel's lyrical score feature as much artistry as the Firenze statues that grace Andrew Boyce's eye-catching scenic design. Sarah-Anne Martinez captures all of the wonder and charm of Clara as she falls in love with not only the city they visit, but also the sincerely passionate Fabrizio. Both Martinez and Emily Skinner as Margaret share the joys of their visit with exuberant vocal harmony. Skinner persuasively moves from well-meant concern for Clara to an understanding of the need to embrace her growth as a young woman. Her rendition of the vivid closing solo "Fable" is as touching in its own way as that of Tony-winning Victoria Clarke on Broadway. Joshua Groseo is a revelation as deeply caring and committed Fabrizio-particularly as he wholeheartedly accepts Clara without judgement. Daniel Pelzig's nuanced choreography catches the rhythm of Firenze as Italians promenade around the Huntington Stage. Christopher Akerlind strikingly varies the opening lighting of the musical as if to foreshadow the evolution of Clara's situation. Music director Andrea Grody and her very talented orchestra richly capture the beauty of Guettel's joyous score.

Let the music and magic of Firenze take hold of you at the Huntington. You will never forget the joy you feel at the company's enchanting "Piazza."

Hello, Dolly!, Lyric Stage Company of Boston, through June 22nd. 617-585-5678 or Lyric Stage.com

Many theatergoers may be more in love with the very lively Jerry Herman score of "Hello Dolly!" than with the musicals book by Michael Stewart based on the Thornton Wilder play "The Matchmaker." In fact, some musical buffs may feel that the show's storyline-in which a variety of madcap situations affect many of the characters- is starting to show its age. Still, a close look at Dolly's own closing insights about money and the need to share it should serve as a resonant insight that still has an impact.

No matter how silly some of the events in the show may seem, the latest local revival by the Lyric Stage Company of Boston possesses a spirit and a high stepping energy that are worth all theatergoers' attention. Under Maurice Emmanuel Parent's energetic direction, Aimee Doherty's wonderfully fresh portrayal of the title dynamo is alone very much worth the price of admission. Possessing a strong voice as well as a special gift for stage comedy, Doherty makes the most of Dolly's amazing resilience and resourcefulness. Novice theater students would do well to study her technique and timing during a sequence in which Dolly calmly continues to eat her restaurant turkey while all others around her are being arrested. Her rendition of "Before The Parade Passes By" combines strong phrasing and spunky determination. Michael Jennings Mahoney has all of Cornelius Hackl's adventurousness and demonstrates impressive range on the timeless second act winner "It Only Takes a Moment" with sweet voiced Kristian Espiritu as hat shop owner and love interest Irene Molloy. Choreographer Ilyse Robbins fires up all of the dance numbers-with Jackson Jirard and Sean Keim outstanding in acrobatic configurations. Janie E. Howland does her best to capture both Yonkers and New York City. Kelly Baker's period costumes are exquisite.

Old fashioned sentiments notwithstanding, Lyric Stage's high stepping revival gives "Hello Dolly!" an auspicious return.

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