Happy 20th Passion!!- Page 2

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 8:42am

The CSC Recording made me realize how much I love the score, and not just the original cast album (if that makes sense.) There is only one point where I truly miss the augmented original's orchestrations.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 9:09am

"Not every thread has to contain newsworthy or urgent information."

The first four months of this year marked the 50th anniversary of Dylan, Fair Game for Lovers, Rugantino, Any Wednesday, A Murderer Among Us...

I have personal knowledge that at least one member of BWW loved some of these shows as much, and probably far more than those who love --- and constantly trumpet --- you-know-who's. Yet neither that person, nor anyone else on this board started a happy birthday thread about any of them, and justly so. It would have been of no relevance. If everyone here were to hail the 10th, 15th, 20th, 25th, 32nd, or 48th birthday of every show from A Date With April to Einstein and the Polar Bear and beyond, the whole board would be clogged day-in-day-out with such threads. Let's face it. These "announcements" are just an excuse to keep the propaganda going, and a bad excuse at that.

"I've been obsessed with listening to Bridges for the past week,"

You've certainly used your time wisely and well.

You know, time is a precious commodity. You're never going to get that week back.









Updated On: 5/10/14 at 09:09 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:19am

If I went into a Chinese restaurant even though don't like Chinese food and then complained that there was Chinese food on the menu, that would make be boorish and stupid.

If I then told the diners there that they were all wrong and that Chinese food was awful, they would most likely think me rude and unwelcome there. They would probably advise me to avoid all Chinese restaurants in the future, unless I just enjoyed drawing attention to myself in a rather childish manner.

If I did a similar thing, repeatedly, on a Broadway messageboard, I'd be After Eight.

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:24am

I swear, I've tried and tried to love the show PASSION. Friends I respect absolutely adored the original production. When we saw it back in '94, we simply could not be convinced that either Georgio's OR Fosca's love was the real thing. Some lovely passages could not make up for an unconvincing primary thesis for us.

Fast forward to 2013. I rushed down to the CSC revival to try to understand what I had been missing all these years. Sadly I saw the post-Laura Benanti cast, which I feel created a very unbalanced triangle between the leads. Once again, I admired the lovely performances, especially Judy Kuhn's. I admired the paired down orchestrations. But heaven help me, it all remained at arm's length-- the story simply did not work for me. The thesis Sondheim and Lapine strove valiantly to convince us of did not move my cold hard heart. Go figure.

[Kad]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:25am

Well, it's more like the person would actively seek out Chinese restaurants specifically in order to complain about them.

[ClydeBarrow]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:31am

"I've been obsessed with listening to Bridges for the past week,"

You've certainly used your time wisely and well.

You know, time is a precious commodity. You're never going to get that week back.



I could be wrong in saying this but I don't think anyone has ever asked AfterHate to comment on the choices they make in life. Someone likes something and they choose to enjoy that. Get over yourself and your constant vitriol that you feel the need to spew. I know that you're old as fvck so I can't wait until the day that we no longer have to be bombarded by your bullsh!t.

[mjohnson2]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 11:41am

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 12:56pm

" But heaven help me, it all remained at arm's length-- the story simply did not work for me. The thesis Sondheim and Lapine strove valiantly to convince us of did not move my cold hard heart. Go figure."

I don't like every Shakespeare play (I know I'll get in trouble for the comparison--whatever.)

After8 was "A Date With April to Einstein and the Polar Bear" a real show? If it was, I am SURE you saw it, and I want to hear more about it! Please make a birthday subject for it!

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 2:17pm

"Ha, ha ha. People were snickering, groaning, and jeering at it out loud in the theatre."

Actually, thy is only half-true. Because of a lack of Out-of-Town Try-Outs, the Passion that appeared during early previews (which I'm sure you saw) is radically different from what the show is now. After editing and removing some elements that could be perceived as camp, the show achieved the goal of having the audience remain silent ( although sometimes the "Gossip" scenes earned a few chuckles). From an audio, I can determine this to be true, compared to the first preview.

"I take it your entire post was a put on, so divorced is it from any and all reality.

Good job."

Thank you. I am sure when the next thread on Hello, Dolly! appears, we can talk about a show we both admire, and actually have an enjoyable experience and learn something, rather than one you have an animosity towards, and have us both arguing about yet another Sondheim show.

Updated On: 5/10/14 at 02:17 PM

[WhizzerMarvin]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 2:19pm

Eric, Both seeing and listening to the CSC production really made me fall in love with the piece in a way I hadn't before too. :)

The fact that After Eight thinks you started this thread as a means of propaganda is hilarious and rather paranoid.

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 2:37pm

Thanks Whizzer, and everyone :)

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 2:44pm

It's time for AfterEight to be blocked from the boards by the mods who are so anal about everything BUT his incessantly demeaning, insulting, condescending, obnoxious, occasionally cruel posts. I

[EricMontreal22]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 3:59pm

We have moderators?

To bring it back to Passion--at the time, did people expect it would win the Tony? Were there conversations about "Disney vs Broadway?"

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 5/10/14 at 7:53pm

Whatever happened to Jere Shea?

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 12:02am

"at the time, did people expect it would win the Tony? "

Are you serious? Of course.

How could one have possibly thought otherwise?

They would give an award to Disney over Sondheim?

They would give an award to Disney over SONDHEIM??!!

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 12:16am

Don't stop now! Keep going!

[tazber]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 12:24am

I liked Passion from its debut, but I also found a love for it with the CSC recording.

It's such a rich and emotional piece of theater.

Happy anniversary to a classic.

And why even bother being bothered by AE? He's just a troll. Ignore him, block him, but don't let him get to you.

He's just a hateful, ignorant, closed-minded fool.

Updated On: 5/11/14 at 12:24 AM

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 1:47am

More Chinese, After8?

[devonian.t]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 1:54am

I described my first listen to Sunday in the Park in a previous thread. Over here in the UK, in those days, we had relatively little info when the cast recordings arrived, so our context was limited as we listened to each story playing out.

With Sunday I was quite confused, but Passion spoke to me immediately and strongly.

As with Into the Woods, I was later slightly disappointed with the design of the physical production, but I found Passion a rapturous experience- especially the last 15 minutes. So often musicals try to demand responses that they haven't earned, but I believe Sondheim skilfully lays the groundwork in Act 1 which pays off in Act 2.

I saw the Elena Roger production a few years back and her Fosca was devastating and so fully realized. She was so tiny, too, that you thought she could break at any moment. The rest of the production was clunky but she was thrilling.

I've often thought Passion would transfer really well to the movie screen.

[Sally Durant Plummer]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 2:29am

"Sadly I saw the post-Laura Benanti cast, which I feel created a very unbalanced triangle between the leads."

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but I don't believe Miss Benanti has ever played Fosca in an actual production of Passion. I know Miss Kuhn was the original Fosca in the CSC revival, and although Miss Erico fell ill, Miss Luker kindly stepped in.

[After Eight]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 6:22am

"More Chinese, After8?"

You're taking my order?

How kind of you!

One vegetable lo mein, please.

I hope my fortune cookie tells me I won't have to endure more musicals like Passion, Sunday in the Park With George, Marie Christine, Fun Home, and others of that ilk.

[FindingNamo]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 11:21am

Add 'em up, AfterEight, add 'em up!

[Someone in a Tree2]

Posted: 5/11/14 at 11:41am

"although Miss Erico fell ill, Miss Luker kindly stepped in."

My apologies, Sally-- thank you for the correction. It was Melissa Errico I meant to write, who was out of the CSC production by the time I saw it. Amy Justman did her level best as Clara but the balance between the leads was very off for me.

Laura Benanti's dazzling turn as Fosca strolling around Times Square last year for her web show was probably what put her name in my mind re Passion.

[someone.else's.story2]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 8:10pm

Passion remains my favorite Sondheim (though I know many dislike it). One interesting note, I saw it a few times and really fell in love after seeing it multiple times. I noticed on Amazon (when purchasing the DVD a few years back) that within the polarizing feelings about this show, numerous people did mention that they fell in love with the material only after seeing it a few times. Thought this was interesting :). And I'm sure that Fosca may still be off putting if you hated her after the first viewing.

I can't believe it's been 20 years. Ack...time goes so quickly!

[WicaS]

Posted: 5/12/14 at 8:43pm

Such a beautiful score...