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Post by stevej678 on Oct 7, 2021 9:03:44 GMT
Directed by Michael Strassen, the revival will play at the Hope Mill Theatre in Manchester from 5 May to 5 June 2022 for 37 performances. Tickets are on sale now at hopemilltheatre.co.uk/events/passion |
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873 posts
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Post by juicy_but_terribly_drab on Oct 7, 2021 9:41:30 GMT
Man I was hoping this wouldn't be a Sondheim I desperately wanted to see live because what I've heard of Henshall's voice recently has not been encouraging to say the least. I love Passion for its score and I don't want to hear it butchered, hopefully since it's not too demanding a role vocally she'll be able to pull it off.
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2,850 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 7, 2021 9:56:12 GMT
I'm more concerned about her acting tbh, most of her credits are in musical comedies and this role requires great subtlety, it's not the Les Miz or Miss Saigon kind of Musical Theatre Acting™️. I think she'll be fine vocally, her voice might be a shadow of her former self but it's not a demanding part and a smoky voice can help define an interesting Fosca. I wonder if they are thinking about a potential London transfer, but I doubt she can sell a West End run on the strength of her name, and the show has never been an audience's favourite.
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264 posts
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Post by squidward on Oct 7, 2021 10:28:31 GMT
Fosca appears to be green in this version. I wonder if Giorgio will be a flying monkey?
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287 posts
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Post by singingbird on Oct 7, 2021 10:33:21 GMT
Great choice of show - one of the least performed and most exquisite of Sondheim's shows, and the Sondheim/Lapine collaboration that everyone always forgets about. Having just seen Ruthie as the snake in Children of Eden, I heard nothing to suggest she can't sing this.
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5,149 posts
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Post by Being Alive on Oct 7, 2021 10:39:17 GMT
Think she'll be fine vocally as it's not a big sing - massive shame her voice is nowhere near what it once was these days.
Agree I'm not sure about her acting-wise, but it's a Sondheim I've never seen so I'll likely go.
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910 posts
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Post by karloscar on Oct 7, 2021 11:26:41 GMT
It'll depend on who they cast as Giorgio which is the most difficult role to make believable.
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594 posts
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Post by og on Oct 7, 2021 11:46:34 GMT
Please please please orchestrate this with more than two keyboards and a tin whistle
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4,177 posts
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Post by anthony40 on Oct 7, 2021 11:53:20 GMT
She hinted at this a West end Live
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8,107 posts
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Post by alece10 on Oct 7, 2021 11:56:01 GMT
I guessed it would be Passion when it was posted here about a Sondheim musical with Ruthie a couple of weeks ago.
My least favourite of his shows I'm afraid.
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 7, 2021 12:24:28 GMT
I LOVE Passion. its such a tricky show to get right and for the audience to believe.
I admire the brave programming of hope mill
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637 posts
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Post by AddisonMizner on Oct 7, 2021 20:37:55 GMT
Booked! This is a Sondheim that I have wanted to see live for a very long time. Also quite excited by the casting of Ruthie Henshall.
I have been re-listening to the score this evening, and it really is beautiful.
On a side note, is the sheet music for Michael Ball’s “No One Has Ever Loved Me” from the original London production available commercially?
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Post by Deleted on Oct 7, 2021 21:50:06 GMT
Will definitely be interesting to see if Henshall can act this. Previous Foscas have been Donna Murphy, Patti LuPone, Maria Friedman, Elena Roger, Judy Kuhn and many others... all these women with different talents and strengths. Will be curious to see where Ruthie fits in this pantheon. I'm sure she'll be great. Booked my ticket already.
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8,107 posts
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Post by alece10 on Oct 8, 2021 12:01:13 GMT
I really don't like the poster. Looks like Ruthie has been beat up and has a black eye.
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185 posts
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Post by boybooshka on Oct 8, 2021 12:29:49 GMT
That's exactly how I felt when I left the theatre after watching this at the Donmar.
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 8, 2021 12:46:55 GMT
I really like the poster as it takes it away from its romantic trappings that is often used in the advertising.
Yep, she looks like a victim of domestic violence, I wouldn't put it past the Count Ludovic... Or maybe she selfharms. I think the text is open to interpretation.
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2021 14:17:42 GMT
I wouldn't put it past the Count Ludovic... Austria, Count Ludovic of Austria... I love Passion. It has a gorgeous score that really does work better after a few listens. The various themes and motifs and the orchestration are excellent. As much as i like the show, I still don't buy the ending. Personally i cant see how you can love someone who has stalked you, and caused you pain and anger. But then this is a musical and not real life. The song added for London just seems to make his declaration of love too OTT and I'm not sure many productions have used it since. |
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 8, 2021 15:05:42 GMT
No one has ever loved me was cut during previews on Broadway. An audio is on the dvd extras.
The hat books state sondheim likes it but Lapine doesn't.
The Chatalet production used the song. Generally the songs stays in its room most days, reading.
I really like it, a big bold passionate statement that helps depicts G's journey.
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Post by jaffe on Oct 8, 2021 15:41:39 GMT
I must admit to falling asleep seeing the Broadway production - at two different performances...But came to the score through the Terry Trotter recording, Passion in Jazz. The musical penny finally dropped and it's certainly in my top five of Sondheim and I've managed to see some great performances.
The I Love Fosca version of No One Has Ever Loved Me has also been performed in a variety of productions - Tokyo, Melbourne and at the Kennedy Center. Lapine thinks it's OTT, but I wonder if that says more about him as a director..
Anyway, tickets booked (twice).
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Post by Deleted on Oct 8, 2021 17:04:37 GMT
No one has ever loved me was cut during previews on Broadway. An audio is on the dvd extras. I never knew that. I had always thought that it was written for London, to flesh out what wasn't in the original production. Interesting. Thank you!
Of the other productions i've seen, Original, 2013 revival, Lincoln Centre, it wasn't included. Was it in the Donmar?
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2,850 posts
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Post by couldileaveyou on Oct 8, 2021 17:57:17 GMT
No one has ever loved me was cut during previews on Broadway. An audio is on the dvd extras. I never knew that. I had always thought that it was written for London, to flesh out what wasn't in the original production. Interesting. Thank you!
Of the other productions i've seen, Original, 2013 revival, Lincoln Centre, it wasn't included. Was it in the Donmar?
They had No One Was Ever Loved Me (https://red-winged-monster.tumblr.com/post/664414736637640705/red-winged-monster-david-thaxton-giorgio) but not the I Love Fosca version |
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Post by inthenose on Oct 8, 2021 18:24:46 GMT
Passion is only Sondheim musical I've seen live in a theatre (Donmar) and not enjoyed. I've never listened to the cast recording prior or since, so maybe it's a grower? But I remember that night after the desperate scramble for a ticket, and I couldn't wait for it to finish after only 20/30 minutes.
I went for the draw of Elena Roger, phenomenal in Evita and Piaf, and was sorely disappointed by all of it.
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Post by ThereWillBeSun on Oct 8, 2021 21:43:31 GMT
Passion is only Sondheim musical I've seen live in a theatre (Donmar) and not enjoyed. I've never listened to the cast recording prior or since, so maybe it's a grower? But I remember that night after the desperate scramble for a ticket, and I couldn't wait for it to finish after only 20/30 minutes. I went for the draw of Elena Roger, phenomenal in Evita and Piaf, and was sorely disappointed by all of it. Same. But I was younger when I saw it and didn’t do my research beforehand, maybe that’s why I didn’t get as much out of it. I’m pretty sure that was the first production I ever saw at the Donmar! |
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19,676 posts
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Post by BurlyBeaR on Oct 9, 2021 6:28:26 GMT
If it’s necessary to do research on a show before seeing it, it’s not a show I want to see.
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4,961 posts
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Post by Someone in a tree on Oct 9, 2021 8:50:15 GMT
If it’s necessary to do research on a show before seeing it, it’s not a show I want to see. I don't think you need any prior knowledge to the show before seeing it. As, with any show its a personal thing to familiarise yourself with the music beforehand. |
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