Passion for Elena

Well, I caught the show at the Donmar this weekend, and whilst I have reservations about the clunky physical production, Elena Rogers' performance as Fosca was stellar!

Having seen Donna Murphy and Maria Friedman in the role, her portrayal was a revelation- she didn't just act the role, she totally inhabited it, showing a deep understanding of the psychology of such a woman. Fierce, flirtatious, funny, manipulative, self-pitying and deeply intelligent, she made Fosca a complex, real figure. Sadly, David Thraxton couldn't match her and I couldn't really see the slow surrender to Fosca's passion. Scarlett Strallen, whilst singing beautifully, seemed a little out of her depth- Clara is another complicated woman, but there seemed very little inner life there.

Beautiful orchestration, lovely lighting- unbearable tense moment when the duel came- now it is just a gunshot sound effect, thank goodness!

Overall an enjoyable night, principally for the joy of watching a top-class actress at the top of her game!

Agree about David Thaxton - his performance as Giorgio gives the character real depth. As for Elena Roger, she is sensational as Fosca. I find her the most mesmerising of actresses. She has captivated me in everything I've seen her in.

What I loved about Thaxton is his youth. I've never seen Georgio played so young before. I'm guessing he's probably too young to lead a regiment, but it totally works in his seduction by Fosca. He is young and in love with love, and this scary woman completely feeds a youth's natural narcissism and naivety. Plus, the way Elena creates her, she smiles more than any Fosca I've seen, is more readily flirtatious. I've seen most every major Passion (except for Friedman/Ball) and its the best Passion I've witnessed.

Saw it this weekend as well.

I absolutely loved this production -- Holbee, I think you summed it up beautifully. Casting Thaxton and Strallen so young solved a lot of questions I've had about the piece in the past, and both were fantastic. I also preferred Strallen's voice to Marin Mazzie on the Broadway recording.

I also though David Birrell was particularly exceptional with such a limited character. Great cast across the board.

Huh. I don't think I've seen him act too much in that last scene... Those are actual tears and that's actual shaking and that's as raw and uncomfortable as you'd expect from a mental breakdown, when an actor still has to keep some control despite being shattered... so I never thought of that moment as being very acted, not after those 100 minutes, in fact that scene, to me, is the most heartbreaking in its honesty. I don't envy him. It feels very genuine and natural to me, if anything. Of course I wasn't there on Saturday night - I'm sorry that it didn't come across that way to you.

David Birrell is truly great as the Colonel, although I've noticed, having seen him before and after his injury-inflicted weeks off, that he plays him more aggressive now. When I saw it in September, there was a certain quiet sadness about him in the confrontation, when he has found the letter Fosca asked Giorgio to write, that I really liked. Ross Dawes, by the way, who stepped in for those three weeks in the interim, was absolutely brilliant!

Updated On: 10/26/10 at 06:07 AM

Highly doubt it will.