If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast? — Page 2

"Isn't Clara supposed to be older? She regrets not giving Giorgio her youth and discusses getting a grey hair during her letter."

I've never gotten the impression that either woman is supposed to be very old. Clara talks about her young son and him being the reason she can't leave her husband at that point, since she doesn't want to lose the child. I've always taken the gray hair to be just a slightly vain woman's freak out that she is losing her youth sooner than she thought. After all there is a very large aspect of the show that does deal with beauty and the importance of appearances for a woman in that time period.

As for Fosca, the doctor does state that he believes her to be in her 20s (I know he says an exact age he thinks her to be, but I can't remember the number). Though I don't necessarily feel that Fosca needs to be played by someone that young, since she is not supposed to be attractive and we can assume her illnesses have aged her beyond her years.

Donna Murphy was 36 when she played Fosca on Broadway and Marin Mazzie was 34 when she played Clara (and I don't think she looked young at all). I think Kate Baldwin would be a good Clara.

I have a hard time even thinking about who would play Fosca because I can never shake Donna Murphy's portrayal of the character from my mind. So, so perfect.

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I think both Audra and Norm would make those songs sound glorious, but I can't imagine Lillias White singing this score. I don't think that the tone and style of the show would mesh well at all with her vocal style.

Why would anyone revive Passion? What a dreadful show. During previews, the house manager had to restructure the ushering staff stations because so many people were flying through the fire doors (no intermission). We'd lose literally dozens of audience members every night. The reviews came out & suddenly (the very next performance) people were standing & cheering "Bravo!" (whether it should have been "Brava" or "Bravi" is a different thread). Proof of my hypothesis that NYers are very pliable in their opinions. Scary.

Elena Roger, David Thaxton

Knowing 'Passion' beforehand and then seeing the Donmar revival production was an eye-opener, and everything about that cast - the leads in particular - was perfect, their voices, the age differences, their looks, the height, the acting, the direction that centred it all on Giorgio, and then the small claustrophobic space of the Donmar... I can't even imagine it with different faces anymore and I must agree with all the critics who said that they don't think it will ever be done better than that.
So, yes. David Thaxton and Elena Roger. It's not going to happen (and I wouldn't be able to catch it on Broadway anyway), but still.

Updated On: 5/21/11 at 04:53 PM

I love Sutton Foster...the girl just sparkles. She wouldn't automatically be somebody I'd think of for a heavyish Sondheim like this one, but sometimes casting against type can really pay off. I think Lea Salonga's voice is extraordinary but, having seen her in Saigon and Les Mis, I really don't rate her as an actress....she looks either blank or angry. I would like to see Daphne Rubin-Vega as Fosca, Michael Esper as Giorgio and Kelli O'Hara as Clara.

fosca - toni colette ( good actor and singer plus she resembles the original fosca in the movie 'passione d'amore" where sondheim based the musical on)

giorgio - patrick wilson

clara - celia keenan-bolger

Updated On: 5/26/11 at 03:28 PM

I don't like the thought of Sutton Foster as Fosca at all, but I could definitely see her as Clara. Daphne Rubin-Vega seems like she'd be fantastic as Fosca. Not that I think the two should be paired together for this role, just as two separate thoughts.

LOTS of great casting ideas here, especially the all-black cast.

Seriously, I think Aaron Lazar would make a fine Giorgio, but I'll second the hilarious notion of Jackie Hoffman as Fosca, and add Daniel Radcliffe as Giorgio, and Nina Arianda as Clara to round out the three-ring circus.

I was lucky to see the original PASSION a few times and found it to be perhaps the most moving musical I've ever seen.