“Piazza’s” Resnik, Florence and Rodriguez.

Man, those dashing, accented Italians. How are you going to resist them, really?

It’s the idea that drives The Light In The Piazza, the melodically soaring, operatic and romantic musical from Craig Lucas and Adam Guettel now being given a more stripped down treatment over at Arena Stage’s Crystal City facilities. But despite the minimalist, “chamber” style of director Molly Smith’s production, which scales back on set and orchestration, the show still strikes an exaggerated, melodramatic tone that can verge on over-the-top.

For those who missed it back when the tour was in town, Piazza focuses on a mother and daughter pair on vacation in Italy. The daughter gets swept off her feet by a handsome native, naturally, but it doesn’t mean all is paradise. The mother has reservations, and they aren’t just of the traditional this-is-happening-too-fast variety.