If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?- Page 2
If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#25If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 12:44pm
"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.
#26If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 12:49pmDon't forget that Passion also takes place during the 1800s, when a woman of 30 might actually believe that she's old and her youth is gone.
When I see the phrase "the ____ estate", I imagine a vast mansion in the country full of monocled men and high-collared women receiving letters about productions across the country and doing spit-takes at whatever they contain.
-Kad
#27If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 12:54pm
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.
#28If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 2:33pm
How about an all black cast?
Audra as Clara
Lillias as Fosca
and
Norm Lewis as Giorgio.
"Whenever I get gloomy with the state of the world, I think about the arrivals gate at Heathrow Airport. General opinion's starting to make out that we live in a world of hatred and greed, but I don't see that. It seems to me that love is everywhere. Often it's not particularly dignified or newsworthy, but it's always there - fathers and sons, mothers and daughters, husbands and wives, boyfriends, girlfriends, old friends. When the planes hit the Twin Towers, as far as I know none of the phone calls from the people on board were messages of hate or revenge - they were all messages of love. If you look for it, I've got a sneaky feeling you'll find that love actually is all around."
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#29If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 2:52pmI 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.
SporkGoddess
Broadway Legend Joined: 7/27/05
#30If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 4:10pmI love Audra, but her Clara is so warm and loving that it's hard to see why Giorgio would leave her for Fosca, IMO. And I think Norm is too old for Giorgio, isn't he?
Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!
Okayfine
Stand-by Joined: 6/2/08
#31If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 10:07pmWhy 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.
#32If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 10:39pmPassion is one of the only Sondheim musicals that I can sit and listen to/watch (since it's on DVD) all the way through. It is absolutely beautiful, and definitely his most underrated work.
PortalGamer
Chorus Member Joined: 4/29/11
#33If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/5/11 at 11:12pmElena Roger, David Thaxton
Chorus Member Joined: 12/31/69
#34If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/6/11 at 9:40pmOkayfine, havign seen the preview version of Passion and the final version, I do believe that while the changes made were almost all smaller details, it does show what a difference such details can make. It obviously isn't a show for everyone although as a major fan I do buy into the belief that those who don't take to it, or even laugh at it, just find the extreme emotional intensity uncomfortable, and it says more about themselves than the show. :P
Ugly Duckling
Stand-by Joined: 7/30/10
#35If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/21/11 at 4:53pm
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
pinoyidol2006
Broadway Star Joined: 5/3/11
#36If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/21/11 at 6:59pm
I think Audra McDonald AND Laura Benanti would be awesome for me.
As a side note, I'm a big fan of Lea Salonga and Sutton Foster. So, whenever people make "who should be cast" threads, I immediately think of them. Well, I thought Lea wouldn't really fit Clara well, but she might make an acceptable Fosca. Anyway, thoughts on Sutton Foster as Fosca? I've never seen/heard her in a dramatic role, so I want to read people's opinions.
I like your imperturbable perspicacity.
ajh
Broadway Star Joined: 5/6/11
#37If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 8:29amI 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.
dreaming
Broadway Legend Joined: 4/24/09
#38If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 9:33amAaron Lazar as Giorgio, Elena Roger as Fosca and Kelli O'Hara or Erin Davie as Clara.
#39If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 3:28pm
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
#40If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:50pmI think Daphne Rubin-Vega would act the hell out of Fosca.
A little swash, a bit of buckle - you'll love it more than bread.
#41If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 4:58pmI 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.
AEA AGMA SM
Broadway Legend Joined: 8/13/09
#42If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 5:03pm
For my taste I prefer a more classical sound for Clara. Sutton just seems a bit too brassy/belty for me.
Daphne would be a rather interesting Fosca. She would certainly give the score quite a different edge.
egghumor
Broadway Legend Joined: 3/9/11
#43If there were a Passion revival, who would be cast?
Posted: 5/24/11 at 5:49pm
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.
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