The Light in the Piazza
Synopsis
ACT I
In summer, in the late 1950s/early 1960s, Margaret Johnson and her daughter, Clara, are tourists in Florence (Firenze), Italy, a long way away from their home of Winston-Salem, NC. While marveling at the sights and history, Clara’s hat is suddenly carried away by a breeze and ends up in the hands of a young, Italian man, Fabrizio Naccarelli. Sparks fly between Clara and Fabrizio. Margaret, oddly, runs a very strong interference between the two young people.
Everywhere Margaret and Clara visit over the next few days, Fabrizio pops up. He even shows up with his father, a successful men’s clothing store owner. A date is made, reluctantly by Margaret, to meet the father and son for cocktails later in the day.
At cocktails, Fabrizio and Clara wander off on a walk while Signor Naccarelli charms Margaret in an effort to give the two young people some privacy.
Several weeks later, Margaret and Clara visit the Naccarelli apartments above their shop off of the famous Ponte Vecchio. Clara chats with Franca, the wife of Fabrizio’s philandering brother, Giuseppe. She is shaken by Franca’s assessment of relationships and has a panic attack. Meanwhile, Signor and Signora Naccarelli are trying to convince Margaret to allow Clara to stay to be with Fabrizio: a good young woman for a good young man. Margaret cautions them to move slowly. Fabrizio slips Clara directions to a meeting spot by a fountain to meet him later that night.
Back at the hotel, Margaret calls her tobacco tycoon husband, Roy. Roy coolly insists that Margaret end any potential relationship between Clara and Fabrizio. He then rather abruptly hangs up. Margaret realizes that any deep affection between herself and Roy has vanished and wonders when it happened.
Clara has snuck out to meet Fabrizio but gets lost and has a hysteria attack. Margaret, UConn discovered that Clara is gone, finds her and brings her back to the hotel. She puts Clara to bed and explains to us that when Clara was 12, they hired a pony for her birthday party. The pony kicked Clara in the head and stunted her emotional growth but not her physical growth. Since then, there have been several young men who Margaret has had to gently chase off. Margaret goes to the hotel bar for a drink. Fabrizio, terrified that Clara has forsaken him, finds her hotel room. He and Clara admit their love for each other and he proposes marriage to her. Margaret returns from the bar and checks in on Clara, only to discover Clara and Fabrizio in bed together.
ACT II
Margaret has whisked Clara to Rome to get her away from Fabrizio. Clara is devastated and angry.
Meanwhile in Florence…
…Fabrizio is desperately searching for Clara. He turns to his family for help and Signora Naccarelli explains to the audience that life is about risk and that that is the only way to live a full life!
Flashback to Rome…
…Margaret and Clara have a fight wherein Clara confronts her mother about her failed marriage to Roy. Margaret abruptly slaps Clara which seems to raises a moment of clarity for Clara. She explains that she doesn’t understand art and mythology. She understands what she feels and that is her love for Fabrizio. Margaret de idea, without Roy, to return to Florence and allow Clara and Fabrizio to marry.
Margaret and Signor Naccarelli agree to terms of marriage including a substantial dowry that will need to come out of Margaret’s savings.
Clara is converting to Catholicism. Days pass and the family seems content until one day, Giuseppe comes home late. Franca, who has been drinking, flirts with Fabrizio. Clare, seeing this, has a meltdown which culminates in Clara throwing a glass of wine in Franca’s face. All are appalled with the exception of Franca who admires Clara’s willingness to fight for Fabrizio. Franca and Giuseppe begin to rediscover the initial spark of their love and the scene ends with a salute to the young lovers.
The next day is the wedding rehearsal where the paperwork will be signed. As Clara is signing her name to the contract, Signor Naccarelli notices something on the document that disturbs him greatly. He grabs his family and storms out of the church. Clara is devastated, sensing that this is her fault. Margaret tells us the complete story of Clara’s accident and the guilt that she, Margaret, feels. She then has an epiphany and runs off to put things right.
Margaret approaches Signor Naccarelli in his shop. She tries to barter with him but is stymied when he explains that Clara, at 26, is too old for his 20 year old son. Margaret offers him a substantially larger dowry but even that cannot assuage his ire. Finally, Margaret asks for him to simply go for a walk with her.
They walk and review their lives, loves, and losses. They come to an agreement that Clara and Fabrizio will begin married the next day.
Margaret calls Roy to tell him that Clara is getting married. They argue and Roy threatens to get on the next plane for Florence but Margaret warns him not to. She, effectively, ends their marriage. Clara, meantime, has heard Margaret arguing for Clara to have the opportunity for a normal life, even if she is “handicapped”. Confused, she runs out.
Fabrizio discovers Clara at the church. She tells him that they cannot marry because there is something wrong with her. He explains to her what he finds beautiful about her, simple things that he considers miraculous. Margaret and the family arrive for the wedding.
Margaret cynically speaks of love, reflecting on her current status. Then, however, she realizes that it is different for everybody and that perhaps Clara can make it work. Margaret realizes that her genuine love is her blessed daughter.