Post by Talissa on Jun 4, 2004 9:57:43 GMT 11
Look! I told you I could write short reviews 
Though Passion perhaps isn’t one of Sondheim’s better works, it still gives plenty to think about, and the actors showed the growth, changes and faults in the characters well, especially Giorgio (Damian Humbley) and Fosca (Adelle Gregory).
Of the three leads, it was Justine Schnellbeck’s Clara who was the most constant in terms of character. Despite the cloyingly sweet opening song between Clara and Giorgio, Happiness, there was a sense of manipulativeness that was present from the start. Justine herself had a clear soprano voice that was well-suited to the peculiarities of a Sondheim score.
Damian’s Giorgio was at first very naïve and sweet, growing appropriately. His discomfort, beneath a thin veil of politeness, when first faced with Fosca was well-presented, and he moved from love to concern to torment smoothly. This was well partnered with a strong, clear tenor voice. I wasn’t at all disappointed by his performance.
Adelle played Fosca’s mad desperation and obsession well, giving her just the right balance of pitifulness and repulsiveness. Her character was convincing even in her eyes, perhaps the hardest place to show convincing madness. A commendable job.
The performance seemed to be given without microphones, as suited the size of the venue, but there were times when it was a struggle to pick up anything over the volume of the orchestra. And the screen right behind the heads of the back row of audience was particularly distracting, causing a few heads to turn in annoyance during the course of the performance. I understand the necessity of having the conductor visible especially during a Sondheim performance, but was there nowhere else it could go?
And a note about the show itself. The moments of chorus seemed a bit contrived and awkward at times, seemingly added just to give the show some chorus. The worst of these was in the finale, when everyone was standing around Giorgio singing Fosca’s words. That was just strange.
Though Passion perhaps isn’t one of Sondheim’s better works, it still gives plenty to think about, and the actors showed the growth, changes and faults in the characters well, especially Giorgio (Damian Humbley) and Fosca (Adelle Gregory).
Of the three leads, it was Justine Schnellbeck’s Clara who was the most constant in terms of character. Despite the cloyingly sweet opening song between Clara and Giorgio, Happiness, there was a sense of manipulativeness that was present from the start. Justine herself had a clear soprano voice that was well-suited to the peculiarities of a Sondheim score.
Damian’s Giorgio was at first very naïve and sweet, growing appropriately. His discomfort, beneath a thin veil of politeness, when first faced with Fosca was well-presented, and he moved from love to concern to torment smoothly. This was well partnered with a strong, clear tenor voice. I wasn’t at all disappointed by his performance.
Adelle played Fosca’s mad desperation and obsession well, giving her just the right balance of pitifulness and repulsiveness. Her character was convincing even in her eyes, perhaps the hardest place to show convincing madness. A commendable job.
The performance seemed to be given without microphones, as suited the size of the venue, but there were times when it was a struggle to pick up anything over the volume of the orchestra. And the screen right behind the heads of the back row of audience was particularly distracting, causing a few heads to turn in annoyance during the course of the performance. I understand the necessity of having the conductor visible especially during a Sondheim performance, but was there nowhere else it could go?
And a note about the show itself. The moments of chorus seemed a bit contrived and awkward at times, seemingly added just to give the show some chorus. The worst of these was in the finale, when everyone was standing around Giorgio singing Fosca’s words. That was just strange.