PASSION Original London Production

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 3:05pm

In the original London production of Sondheim & Lapine's PASSION, Giorgio (Michael Ball) sings a longer, different version of No One Has Ever Loved Me. Has this (and some other small changes in the show) ever been used in subsequent productions/is it available?

Side note - did anyone see the original London production w/ Ball and Maria Friedman? How was it?

Updated On: 12/17/11 at 03:05 PM

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 3:26pm

The beautiful longer version was cut during previews of the Broadway production. It can be heard as an outtake on the DVD of the original production.

Michael Cerveris sang it in the DC production.

Updated On: 12/17/11 at 03:26 PM

[chewy5000]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 9:00pm

The song is discussed in the (very interesting) commentary on the DVD.

[CATSNYrevival]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 9:40pm

Umm... Michael Ball didn't get naked did he?

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 11:46pm

what is this DVD of which you speak??

[ljay889]

Posted: 12/17/11 at 11:52pm

http://www.amazon.com/Stephen-Sondheims-Passion-Original-Broadway/dp/B000093NR3/ref=sr_1_1?s=movies-tv&ie=UTF8&qid=1324183837&sr=1-1

[SondheimFan5]

Posted: 12/18/11 at 12:01am

are there any recordings of the other version of the song (the beautiful one that Michael Ball did) out there on the web?

[06s091]

Posted: 12/18/11 at 4:24am

The only recording of the song I know of is Michael Ball's on the London cast recording.

[abitoftap]

Posted: 12/18/11 at 5:46am

I was a long way back...but I think MB had pants!

I remember lots of burnished gold backdrop stuff. Maria (my hero) was really convincing although I must admit the more recent Donmar production hit the reasons why this guy destroys his life more convincingly.

I enjoyed it less than the Donmar version.

[Scripps2]

Posted: 12/18/11 at 8:00am

I mostly agree with tap (^) but think I saw MB's butt: Helen Hobson lifted the sheets briefly to give his groupies a flash of it.

The Daily Mail ran stories prior to the show's opening about how he was having liposuction in preparation for the role.

The Donmar was definitely a more satisfying production.

[fosca3]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 9:48pm

I saw it -- and I remember seeing Michael Ball's butt too (cuz it surprised me, it was the first bare bottom I'd ever seen on stage)

I DEFINITELY remember how much I loved it -- I thought it was beautiful, and it made me cry. I thought MB was absolutely perfect as Giorgio, he broke my heart

[Dubliner]

Posted: 12/22/11 at 10:02pm

I saw this production towards the end of its run. There were only a few rows of people in the audience which seemed so unfair for such a beautiful piece. I wasn't mad on the production. The design was overly fussy with lots of burnished copper but an awful lot of curtains and drapes. There was a rusty copper conservatory that looked great but I also remember a hideous cut out moon that was suspended for the garden scene. Michael Ball was stunning (and he wore pants) but I found Maria Friedman really stilted and peculiar (she however got all the acclaim instead of Ball which I've never understood). There was a beautiful Christmas Carol in the score that was not put on any of the recordings and I think was cut for last year's revival. The Donmar production was vastly superior and more intense and focused with a magnificent Elena Roger. Strangely enough I was more moved by the original production even though I thought the Donmar's to be flawless.

Updated On: 12/22/11 at 10:02 PM