Passion- Page 2

[Demitri2]

Posted: 7/31/20 at 1:18pm

The night I saw PASSION I stage doored the show afterward. I wanted to ask Donna Murphy if her make-up changed in the final scene. She said yes and that her face make-up was lightened. I told her she looked truly beautiful and she smiled and said that was the effect she was after. A moment later Marin Mazzie was standing next to me when a small woman stepped on my foot as she was walking down the street and apologized profusely. I immediately recognized her. And so did Mazzie who turned to me and asked me if I knew who had just stepped on my foot. I said, "Uh-huh." It was Chita Rivera. Quite a memorable evening. 

[SporkGoddess]

Posted: 7/31/20 at 4:55pm

Passion is my favorite Sondheim show! I absolutely love it. I haven't seen the show live, but I have seen the filmed versions with Donna Murphy and Patti LuPone. I mainly love it for the score, but the story is also just very interesting and I like how it explores the ideas of passion and love.

I personally feel that the success of the show depends on the actress playing Fosca and how well she can convey the character. IMO Patti came across as very undignified and just extremely annoying in her portrayal (and it didn't help that Audra McDonald was just so likeable as Clara). I didn't connect to her at all like I had to Donna's Fosca, who I found much more dignified and sympathetic. I haven't seen any other actresses in the role, I'd be interested to see Judy Kuhn as was discussed above. 

Funny enough, I showed my DVD of the filmed Broadway production to my husband and expected him to absolutely hate it because, let's face it, Passion is not a musical for everyone. He ended up loving it because the music was so good.

[henrikegerman]

Posted: 7/31/20 at 5:08pm

I recall it being outstanding in one respect.  It was the first Broadway show I had then seen in a very long time that was truly well sung.  
I did not like the staging at all.  While Donna Murphy moved me and everyone else, the show failed to move me and apparently failed to move the rest of the audience.  The music didn't interest me much at the time but I now I appreciate some of the score.  I found the staging particularly gimmicky... with it's tin soldier quality in the camp scenes. 

Most critically, I did not believe Fosca's impact on Giorgio.  Now that I'm (MUCH) older I'd like to see it again.

But all this is tangential  I am forever finding that Sondheim's shows perpetually demand reexamination. It has happened more than once that a Sondheim show I had never quite "got" ultimately became luminous and powerful to me in the right creative hands.  Maybe some day that will happen to me with "Passion."

Updated On: 7/31/20 at 05:08 PM

[GetUp&LiveIt]

Posted: 7/31/20 at 6:26pm

Did anyone see the recent production at Signature in VA? Natascia Diaz was a brilliant Fosca. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suLSf1kJFcg

Signature also just put out a new virtual show and it features a brief clip of Natascia singing one of the songs and Natascia talking about the role and the show

[BCfitasafiddle]

Posted: 7/31/20 at 10:43pm

"Did anyone see the recent production at Signature in VA? Natascia Diaz was a brilliant Fosca. 

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=suLSf1kJFcg

Signature also just put out a new virtual show and it features a brief clip of Natascia singing one of the songs and Natascia talking about the role and the show"

 

What a great video!!

[L_Ash826]

Posted: 8/2/20 at 12:12pm

Yes, I saw the Signature production at Signature in VA as well and totally agree, Natascia Diaz was excellent. Moving and nuanced, very impressive. Steffanie Leigh's Clara was also great. I was not a fan of Claybourne Elder's Giorgio, who seemed stiff and stilted, and came across as not particularly interested in either Clara or Fosca.

[rattleNwoolypenguin]

Posted: 8/3/20 at 7:34am

I know the point is it’s not....but I wish it was funnier

It’s so relentlessly serious that’s my one real issue