Thursday , March 28 2024
Stephen Sondheim and James Lapine's 1994 production is revived in a musically satisfying, minimalist production by the DOMA Theatre Co.

Theater Review (LA): Passion

In what could just as easily be called Obsession, Passion is one of the more unusual entries in Stephen Sondheim’s canon. It doesn’t have any crowd-pleasing songs to speak of or peculiarly endearing characters (like Sweeney Todd‘s Mrs. Lovett). It’s the story of a withdrawn, terminally ill woman’s all-consuming desire for a handsome soldier, and it can be intriguing or tedious, depending on the viewer’s temperament. Much of the music is lovely (it won the Tony Award for Best Musical when it played on Broadway), but it’s not an easy show to like.

Based on Ettore Scola’s 1981 film Passione d’Amore (and Tarchetti’s 1869 novel Fosca), Passion opens in 1863 Milan, where Giorgio, a young army captain, is in bed with his lover, Clara, and he has bad news—he’s being transferred to a remote outpost and doesn’t know when they will be able to see each other again. They make a devoted promise to write each other regularly, continuing their love affair through words.

At his new post, Giorgio is introduced to Colonel Ricci, the commanding officer, and Dr. Tambourri, the regiment’s physician. Their conversation is interrupted by a horrifying scream, and Ricci explains that the sound emanates from his cousin, Fosca, who is very ill. The doctor tells him that she suffers from an illness brought on by a mental torment that is manifesting itself physically and will result in her death.

Learning of her love of books, Giorgio offers to lend the doctor some of his for her to read. When she returns them, he’s taken aback to meet a feeble and somewhat homely young woman, but her plight brings out feelings of pity in him. She is so starved for affection that she interprets this pity as love. He confesses to her that he already has a lover in Milan, but she scoffs at the authenticity of their affection when he adds that the woman is already married. She continues to develop their romance in her own mind, following him wherever he goes and insisting that the two of them are meant to be together.

Repelled by her urgent advances, he avoids contact with her as long as possible. Tambourri tells him that she has become gravely ill as a result, and that a few kind words from him would make all the difference. Reluctantly, he goes to her bedside and soon finds himself inextricably trapped in the woman’s clutches, a result of her emotional blackmail and his own weak will.

The transformation of pity into love is one of Passion‘s recurring themes, but it remains a bleak and challenging affair. It’s really all about the music, and fortunately, in this department, Hollywood’s DOMA Theatre Co delivers. The performers are all strong, particularly the leads.

Nathaniel Reynolds, as Giorgio, delivers a strong baritone, and Melissa Cook’s soprano makes for an attractive Clara. Lindsay Zana especially impresses as Fosca, a role that requires not only singing ability but also the acting chops to convey the character’s pitiful countenance and haunted obsession. All of them handle Sondheim’s wordplay with skill.

The production, under the direction of Marco Gomez, is a minimalist affair, emphasizing mood and music over elaborate scenery. A darkened stage, a few props and a small bedroom set are enough to suggest the story’s settings. Much of the mood is conveyed aurally with various effects, and musical director Brian Michael delivers a satisfyingly full orchestral sound with drums, keyboards and synthesizers providing the musical accompaniment.

Gomez also gets a lot out of his small cast. Perhaps it’s a bit too small—one of the soldiers has been recast as a maid so that the performer (Corinne DeVries) can handle all of the female supporting parts, which results in some unintentional humor.

Passion runs Fridays and Saturdays at 8 p.m. and Sundays at 3 p.m. until September 11th at MET Theatre-Mainstage, 1089 North Oxford Avenue, Hollywood. Reservations can be made by calling (323) 960-4443 or online.

Photos by J. Hawke

 

About Kurt Gardner

Writer, critic and inbound marketing expert whose passion for odd culture knows no bounds.

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