So you didn't feel like you disliked the creator's prior works whatsoever? You had no sense before going that you may like this piece as much or more than you had their earlier works? Audiences at great (and awful) pieces of theatre are sharply divided, but the entire audience reacted with derision towards the piece of crap they had paid to see? Wow. I hope you didn't have to work hard to see the first preview of a show by several people you feel such derision for.
A8, I realize that even attempting a rational discussion with you is akin to masturbating with a cheese grater, but your constant belittling of people whose opinions differ from your own makes me wonder if you're a direct descendent/modern day example of Leviticus, another kill joy control freak.
You really should limit your input here to relating your own thoughts, and avoid attempted conversation with others. In fact, you cannot have any kind of intelligent discussion with someone else for the simple reason that you don't listen....
A8, when someone called you a "dick" a couple of pages ago, most of us agreed. We simply thought it rude to pile on by repeating the opinion.
So there's really no reason for you to prove that poster right in post after post after post.
There are few here who are more willing than Eric to exchange views with others and even adapt his own opinions based on the input. But since he is one of the last who still takes your posts seriously, I suppose you have to make a special effort to abuse him.
If indeed you did attend the first preview of PASSION (I attended the first previews of SWEENEY and MERRILY), you must know that first previews are more about expectations raised by previous works than they are about what is actually on stage. I assure you the audience with whom I attended a performance shortly after opening was decidedly mixed: even my own party of two was divided between my husband (found the show annoying) and myself (loved it).
I didn't love the show then, but I've warmed to it over the years, my favorite being the recent Donmar production in London with Evita's much maligned Elena Rogers, who tackled the role with humor, and, oddly enough, warmth (without changing a word) making her the greatest Fosca I've ever seen (including Patti and DC's Sondhiem Celebration's Judy Kuhn, who I will be seeing again this spring at CSC.)
I loved the Donmar production and wish it hadn't just had a limited run as I would have seen it again if I'd had the chance. It was one of the most beautiful things I'd seen in the theatre. David Thaxton fully deserved his Olivier Award for his performance and (the unjustly "maligned" IMHO) Elena Roger was sublime.
Passion is one of my favourite shows by Sondheim, and the redemption brought by the arc of Fosca's character has touched me deeply everytime I've seen it or worked on the material. I must say I'm partial to Donna's interpretation of her, probably because she doesn't try to make the character likeable in any way, yet allows us to grow to love her, the same way Giorgio does. I've seen the Donmar production, and although I thought it was beautifully put together and almots perfect musically, I couldn't connect as much with Elena Rogers's interpretation, as the humour and energy she brought to the character made her almost calculating in my eyes, instead of overwhelmed by obsession. I absolutely understand how it can be a difficult show to be receptive to for some. I guess you either love it or hate it. But I don't think you can be indifferent to it (Donna's recounting of people stopping her in the street to tell her how much they hated Fosca is a good example of it... I think for such passionate response to be generated, people have to be deeply disturbed by the material...)
Art can do many things. It can break your heart, it can piss you off, it can offend you, it can educate you....and it can make you think. To me, PASSION is a work of art. Everybody who sits in a theatre and experiences that piece is absolutely entitled to feel however it makes them feel.....and the fact that the show is still so challenging and beautiful and horrific and difficult is testament to the quality of the show. The intelligent posts, both pro and con in this thread speak volumes to the fact that PASSION is a great piece of Theatre.
I saw Passion onstage and to this day, I remember Donna's first entrance down the long staircase. Her performance was haunting. I enjoyed the show and think the score is wonderful. At times, I thought Jere Shea faded away. When I saw the production when it was shown on PBS, I thought he was very good. I saw the Patti production when it was shown on PBS. I thought she was awful. She was told old for the role, looked like a grandmother and played the role as a melodramatic Sicilian fishwife.
After Eight, you hate everything, so your comments are worthless. I can't figure out if your name refers to you staying up past your 8 p.m. bedtime, or the only shows you like were written before 1908, or once you reached age 8 your mind closed.
It's the complete show as performed on Broadway. It was, unlike the previous two Lapine/Sondheim shows, taped without an audience, and on film, however. Usually I dislike when stage productions are taped without an audience, it just feels odd to me for some reason, but it suits Passion (or maybe they just didn't want the performance ruined by tons of lderisive laughter :P ). I believe they filmed it over two days immediately after the show closed--and it had its premier at a few film festivals before PBS finally aired it and it eventually ended up being released. The filming was also directed by Lapine himself, unlike the filming of Sunday or ITW.
I hated this show. Hated, hated, hated, hated, hated this show. Hated it. Hated every simpering, stupid, vacant, audience-insulting moment of it. Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.
Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.
Isn't that the belief of every show? I don't think any insult was implied, especially when plenty of people loved the show. I hated Spring Awakening, but I can't imagine feeling insulted that the creators thought people might like it. Every show that gets produced is from a result that people believe enough in the project to invest in it and get it produced. It's no worse a sensibility than every single other show that has ever been produced. I totally get hating a show, but I don't get that anyone is being duped or insulted or anything.
Passion opened on Broadway just as I was beginning my musical theatre obsession. It was also one of the first Sondheim shows I discovered. I remember watching it on the Tony Awards that year and being intrigued, so bought the cast album.
I was completely enraptured with this show from the word go, and as an awkward, confused teenager, it really spoke to me. I never saw Fosca as a crazy woman and identified with her completely.
I understand that this show repulses many, but for me it was musical theatre heaven and a key for me discovering that musicals were more than Pop Opera and fluff. I adore the DVD and Donna Murphy's performance still breaks my heart whenever I revisit it. Each time I listen or watch I'm discovering new things. I hope the revival next year opens more eyes to this haunting and unique show.
And we get it After Eight, you don't like Sondheim. Have a cup of tea and put on They're Playing Our Song. It will all be okay!
Ahhh...totally didn't catch that reference. Though admittedly, I'd only ever heard a reference to that infamous review once before. Whatever. Passion rocks. You guys suck.
and...
well....
I just don't want to talk about it!
*quickly turns and runs from the room sobbing dramatically*
Hated the sensibility that thought anyone would like it. Hated the implied insult to the audience by its belief that anyone would be entertained by it.
Oh, if only I could be so insulted every month!
How interesting that those of us who love the show seem to have no problem understanding why others do not. Yet those who dislike the show demand that all of us share their disdain.
Gaveston, that's a good point. I guess that's why I, pretentiously or not, feel that people who have such a knee jerk HATE filled reaction are somehow taking it personally and it makes them uncomfortable. I've seen plenty of theatre I have really, really not liked, but I've never felt that the creators were insulting me as an audience member. Sure, maybe I've felt they were inept at what they were doing, but to take something so personally that you have to meet it with derision just seems to be, well, taking it awfully personally.
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joined:10/31/11
Posted: 6/4/12 at 02:54am