Kad said: "And yet Groff starred in Merrily We Roll Along, one of the floppiest flops to ever flop.
I'm not a fan of Passion but if it's being revived with stars like Erivo and Groff, it will do well."
Merrily was not exactly Passion. In the intervening years since it originally flopped, a number of songs became well known, there had been a successful production in London that had been successful in Boston as well, the same director was mounting it again, it had humor. Franklin Shepherd was the lead and a plum role.that was perfect for Groff.
Passion is a dirge, devoid of humor, and not a melodious song in the score IMO . It verges on 'atonal Sondheim'. When I originally saw it, about 50 people in the 2/3 filled orchestra had walked out before the performance was over; it clearly has limited appeal. It is essentially a vehicle for Fosca, which is why I could see Erivo wanting to be in it. But as a followup to Merrily and JIT, it makes no sense to me, unless it is a limited engagement by a son-profit subscription company, e.g., Rounabout or MTG or Lincoln Center in the Newhouse.
