'Passion'-ate Misses

Passion starring Ana Gasteyer and directed by Gary Griffin at the Chicago Shakespeare Theatre on Navy Pier is a difficult production to wrap one's head around. Gasteyer is Fosca, the stricken love-lorne invalid who focuses her obsessiveness on a young soldier (Giorgio) played by Adam Brazier. The soldier is already otherwise engaged in an affair with a married woman, Clara, played by Kathy Voytko.

Both Fosca and Giorgio fall victim to an obsession with each other that is their passion.

Gasteyer portrays Fosca as a manipulative child-like woman who has been once burnt by a previous lover. She controls Giorgio with her insistence and uses her condition to wear down the distance that he places between them. While an effective approach to the character, I wondered if Gasteyer had been more mature in her portrayal of Fosca, say as a Dame Judi Dench would be, if the story would have evoked more emotion from the audience. Perhaps we would find more pity for her as a more hardened and desperate woman. As a character who has had a stunted love-life, I placed the turmoil that Fosca undergoes more in the line of a high school girl who is desperate to be accepted, and unsure of herself as a person.

Fosca may be a shut-in due to her condition, but she is portrayed as an obsessive reader, and should have more experience to draw upon from her thirst for knowledge and the literature she consumes than the person that she seems to be portrayed as being. Gasteyer is by far the most absorbed cast member in her performance of Fosca. She is thought provoking, and mesmerizing in her craft. Her co-star's character needed to be flushed out a bit more to uncover his depth and dimension. He seemed lost to himself as a character who should have been struggling with more turmoil over his predicament. More often than not, he seemed to be a simple, good soul when he should have been degenerating as a person due to his inner conflict. In modern day, it is a medical management that would keep him sane and balanced in such a happy-go-lucky way.

Another most disturbing element needs to be mentioned; the use of the balcony as an appropriate viewing gallery. Throughout the production, my sight line was completely blocked by the rail that surrounded the balcony. These seats should not be used as the actors faces were completely blocked making the performance that more difficult to appreciate.

Passion, with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and Book by James Lapine is located upstairs at Chicago Shakespeare Theatre Oct 2- Nov 11, 2007.  The box office can be reached at 312.595.5600 or visit www.chicagoshakes.com. Please make sure of your seating location before purchasing tickets.
 

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