THEATER REVIEW:’Light in the Piazza’ flickers

Should you venture into the Orange County Performing Arts Center during the engagement of “The Light in the Piazza” (through May 13), here’s a bit of advice: Take a crash course in Italian.

This musically melodramatic stage version of a 1962 romantic movie — which hit Broadway stages in 2005 — is set in Florence and most of the local characters speak only in their native language, at least to one another.

Not that they leave much doubt as to what they are thinking and feeling — that’s left to author Craig Lucas, who has adapted Elizabeth Spencer’s novel about a middle-aged American woman and her daughter in a life-changing visit to Italy.

Lucas, whose work has appeared on several occasions at South Coast Repertory, employs an abundance of whim and caprice to navigate the show’s lovers through the obligatory rough passages in their romance.

“The Light in the Piazza” focuses on Margaret Johnson (Christine Andreas), the wife of a North Carolina executive, checking out the Italian atmosphere with her daughter Clara (Katie Rose Clarke), who’s ever so slightly unbalanced from — no kidding — being kicked in the head by a pony as a youngster. Clara encounters a dashing young Italian, Fabrizio (David Burnham), with impeccable charm and a gleaming smile that could light up the piazza by itself. Love blossoms, but Mama is having none of it. She dedicates her first act to keeping the pair apart, but changes her approach during the second with equal vigor to reuniting them after the requisite setback.

All three leading players possess superior voices — bordering on operatic — which tend to elevate the material somewhat.

Other Florentines — Fabrizio’s contentious family members — ignite the situation. David Ledingham is strong as the young man’s proud father, as is Diana DiMarzio as his mother. Jonathan Hammond scores as Fabrizio’s elder but irresponsible brother, and Wendi Bergamini is particularly effective as the latter’s excitable wife, excelling vocally on her solo, “The Joy You Feel.”

The production — directed by Bartlett Sher with musical staging by Jonathan Butterell — moves smoothly despite the language difficulties.

There is, indeed, light in this piazza, though it comes from the music of Adam Guettel rather than Lucas’ adaptation of a long-ago chick flick.

Check it out, but brush up on your Italian beforehand.

IF YOU GO

WHAT: “The Light in the Piazza”

WHERE: Orange County Performing Arts Center, 600 Town Center Drive, Costa Mesa

WHEN: Tuesdays through Fridays at 7:30 p.m., Saturdays at 2 & 7:30, Sundays at 1 & 6:30 until May 13

COST: $20 to $70

INFO: (714) 556-2787 or go to www.ocpac.org