Sondheim's "Passion" - could it be updated?

Why shouldn't we be able to relate to stories that take place in a historical setting? I'm not saying it can't be updated -- I don't know the show well enough to really have a stance on that -- but I don't like the idea that an audience can't grasp a story that's set in the past. It can, but it's not that simple. Connecting with the audience is about much more than that.

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I finally saw the DVD recently after having the Cast Recording and VD for a while. I enjoyed the "ideas" of thw show and some of the music, but it didn't impact me like most other Sondheim shows. My point? Although transferring the setting to WW2 would make it slightly more interesting, I don't think it would change why I could not get into the show from the beginning. Does that make sense? it's just my opinion

I'm not sure it would be effective. One of the crucial elements of the story is the social custom of the period and lack of options for single women. Updating it to WWII would lower the stakes, especially for Clara and Giorgio, making their decisions and motivations far more selfish and indulgent. The idea that Clara and Giorgio's lives would potentially be permanently destroyed should they be together would be far less believable. And then there is the issue of Italy's role in WWII. Do you really want the image of Mussolini hovering over a cast of characters for which the audience should find some sympathy?

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Best to think about it now rather than have a critic think about it after a performance!

But don't stop with the ideas. Even misguided thoughts show some initiative and creativity. Perhaps you can find something in the staging and design that you might feel would assist the audience much in the same way?

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I was going to say, the Mussolini thing really would complicate the storyline. And as a military man, Giorgio would likely be out fighting elsewhere in Europe, not stationed in a small Italian town where there's nothing to do but gossip.

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Updated On: 4/1/09 at 02:29 PM