A slice of piazza life

By Walter J. Lyng

In many ways, In Piazza San Domenico may be the perfect play to start off the Centaur’s new season. Written by Mambo Italiano scribe Steve Galluccio, this new light and fluffy play totally lacking in pretension may well go on to find the same kind of success with a broad section of the Montreal audience, much as its predecessor did.

Taking place in 1952 Naples, the play recounts the story of how one broken engagement ripples throughout friends and family, affecting all of their respective love lives in a different way. Harkening to classic Shakespearean comedies, miscommunication is heavily used as a device to drive the characters’ increasingly bizarre actions. All the while, their paths continually cross in the common space of the titular piazza. 

There are many standout performances in this play and one senses that the actors are genuinely having a good time with each other. Christina Broccolini is good as the play’s central character, whose rocky relationship with ex-fiancé Guido (played understatedly well by Guido Cocomello) motivates everything from the constant nagging and worry of her widowed mother (Ellen David), to the infidelity of family friends Tonino and his wife Marisa (Galluccio vets Michel Perron and Jocelyne Zucco).

The piazza itself is beautifully rendered into a rather complex and large set piece, which captures many of the architectural details of similar Italian squares. As much a character in this play as the actual actors, John C. Dinning’s impressive set design may lead to a boost in Italian tourism.

Director Roy Surette does a good job maintaining some order amidst the comedic chaos and his efforts come out in a noted way in the final act in which all characters are on stage at once.
Complete with an intermission, In Piazza San Domenico is a little longer than it needs to be, but never really drags. The upside, however, is that during the break, patrons can take a look at the Viva L’Italia photo exhibition. Designed to complement the play, this exhibition displays photos of Italian-American celebrities taken by famed paparazzo Ron Galella.

For both the play and the photo exhibition, a trip down to the Centaur is well worth it.

In Piazza San Domenico runs until November 1. The Viva L’Italia photo exhibit is open to all for free until December 6.