The Light in the Piazza (Southbank Centre)

I loved this tonight. An exceptional cast in an exceptional show, with Molly Lynch absolutely owning the part of Clara in her second show. Very moving.

Some spoilers follow. . .

Renee Fleming knocked it out of the park tonight. I've seen her in quite a few operas, and have generally felt that she exerts such control over her voice that she never completely lets go. Well, she lets go here, giving the most passionate and emotional performance I've seen her give, ever. I find her performance as moving as that of Victoria Clark, though I agree with couldileaveyou that Clark was funnier, being more sardonic and quick-witted in her delivery. But the fact that Fleming gets less laughs in no way hurts this piece, as she is a perfect dramatic anchor in a cast filled with funny people.

Alex Jennings is urbanely knowing and funny; Liam Tamne is irrepressible bulldozer funny, Celinde Shoenmaker is a wild combo of urbane and untamed funny (like a mash-up of Lady Gaga wisecracks and Megan McKenna uncontrolled emotionalism); and Rob Houchen, well, Rob Houchen, wow, he's such an effervescent energising Romeo you'd think he's fuelled by speedballs, possessing a thrilling performance cocktail of inflamed exhilarating ups and lingering loving downs.

It's a superb showing for Houchen, and he's matched by Lynch, with both performers feeling five years more youthful and exciting than their Broadway counterparts. Both Houchen and Lynch, in their romantic scenes, seem to float on air.

There's a strange and wonderful symmetry for me witnessing Molly Lynch's second show as understudy, as I also saw Natasha Barnes' second understudy show in "Funny Girl," at the Menier, and I also saw both rock and rap off each other as Bronte sisters in "Wasted" at Southwark Playhouse. And if Barnes became a star at the Menier, I feel Lynch becomes just as much of a star tonight at the Royal Festival Hall. Stunning singing and acting combo, effortlessly believable in a difficult role.

The orchestra are visible, upper stage left, visibly balanced by a giant headless male nude stage right, and as the statue draws the inquisitive eye, the luscious full sound draws the ear right back again.

This musical has a strange plot I'll refrain from spoiling, but I think it works on an operatic and emotional level better than as some kind of naturalistic drama. Give yourself to these funny people, and give yourself to the pent up dramatic tension, and I think you will have a marvellous time.

4 and a half stars from me. :-)

So I saw this one last Friday. Whilst I don't regret seeing it, I am always open to see new things, I am extremely happy that I waited until the offers started coming in for this one. Today tix especially have great prices right now.

I found it a very charming old fashioned piece. The set was lovely, costumes great. I found it funny how they differentiated between Firenze and Rome - using the large naked statue. The story is quite thin but I really enjoyed the occasional funny bits, all the Italian family bits even thought they were spoken / sung through in Italian!

Singing was superb, all had great voices including Dove Cameron.

However despite all these it wasn't my fav show. I didn't like any of the songs. It was really unfortunate especially as everyone had such great voices.

Word of warning to anyone picking up tickets, the RFH is complete chaos - queues a mile long that the staff keep rearranging every time they end up blocking another entrance because there are nowhere near enough people staffing the ticket collection!

Seems fairly busy though!

Not if you booked through TodayTix or another agency!

Stalls seem to be packed, slips not so much though I wish I was sitting there as it's probably a better view than the rear stalls, which seem to be in a different postcode to the stage! Can't really complain for £15, but should have brought opera glasses!

I was in SS stalls yesterday and bought my mini binoculars, very handy they were too!

TodayTix are doing rush tickets now! I thought it would do rush but the discounted seats in advance have been removed.

Went on Sunday and overall I enjoyed it.

Some drama in the box office area with young girls upset after finding out that Dove Cameron was not performing. Then before the show started, the producer came on stage to announce the Cameron was suffering from mccutcheonitis or something, and she wouldn't be performing. He was clearly fed up and didn't even try to hide it. He then said that Molly Lynch would be on instead. She was okish considering the circumstances but clearly underrehearsed.

The show itself is very good and the orchestra sounded glorious. Renee Fleming was on top form and sang wonderfully. The rest of the cast were no more than adequate. Some of the Italian accents were atrocious, a tad OTT and ridiculous at times. The set is a bit basic, but I guess they wanted something uncomplicated for just 20 performances.

I would give it 3.5 stars. Really glad the show came to London even if this production is nowhere near as good as the Broadway one with Victoria Clark.

Great view from the front row with plenty of leg room. Glad I got the tickets with the TodayTix offer. Quite a few empty seats and lots of people bragging about getting their tickets for free thanks to papering sites.

This sounds like a perfect storm!

Those people will be in the bad books... First rule of papering sites, never talk about papering sites!

I paid for this one. When I have been lucky the advice has been tell people about the show but not about how you got the tickets! Hard to enforce I guess.

I’ve been hearing that there is a lot of Italian dialogue in this and I don’t speak Italian lol! How long are the Italian section?

there isn't that much tbh. Dont feel you need a babel fish!

It really reminds me of Martine McCutcheon, about 20 years ago, in My Fair Lady. The understudy played more shows than that CCTV-star.Please, give those good parts to real actresses and not to dressy fashion dolls.