Stephen Sondheim's Passion (1996)

Sondheim's Masterpiece!

This is undoubtably Sondheim's masterpiece. An almost 2 hour rhapsody beautifully sung, acted, staged and filmed.
This is a must for every Sondheim fan!!! February 19, 2007

I love this work...

I love all Sondheim but this is my favorite.
The one thing that would make my life perfect (well,almost) would be if the concert performance from Jazz at Lincoln Center were also released on DVD so I could have both, with their different emphasis, to enjoy.
Till then this is the more "human", the other walks into catholic mysticism, of the two great performances and it's devastating.


January 2, 2007

True Passion

I have had the recording of Stephen Sondheim's Passion for quite some time now. I love Sondheim, but I never could really get into the music very much. The notes and tempos are extremely irregular and are veyr hard to remember, so it seems you are hearing it for the first time every time you listen to it. But then I saw this DVD and I realized the brilliance of the music and the show itself. It plays perfectly into the story. I shouldn't be able to remember the music very well, I shouldn't think it is light and fluffy. It's not at all. My God, this show tore me apart when I saw this. I had no idea how wonderful it was. It is a perfect example of how actors are not just voices, they are people who bring these characters to life. Sondheim's lyrics and James Lapine's book are exquisite and work so well together, you'd think they were written by the same person. The music flows in such a way I would have never imagined listening to the recording.

Donna Murphy! She brings one of the most brilliant performances to the stage that I have seen in years. She tore me up inside, made me cry, made me laugh even. I couldn't bear to watch yet she entangled me and made me watch. She's also got an amazing voice to match. I am absolutely in love with her now. Jere Shea is also very good. His voice is pure and melodic and perfect. His acting is very good too, I was surprised. Marin Mazzie is also perfectly convincing as the woman who loves her torrent afair yet wouldn't sacrifice a thing for it. Again, a beautiful voice.

This show is also very clever is its staging. The soldiers entrances are always a treat to see. Just the way everything worked together in the show as one is something rarely seen. In this show, something hit home with me and with others I have talked to. Unconditional love, without pretense, without care of sacrifice, true passion is what is shown. Think Shakespeare in Love: if he had written this play instead to show the true nature of love, he would have most difinitively won the bet. If you would like to enjoy the soundtrack, you need to see this first. June 8, 2005

How Can Anyone Not Like This Show?

First, I must say that comparing Sondheim shows to each other is ridiculous. Would you tell a plumber that you liked his sink installation in one house more than in another? Each piece is completely different and should be judged on its own merits.

Passion explores the themes of love and beauty from a darker perspective than we are accustomed. The performances are quite good--particularly Donna Murphy's portrayal of Fosca. With the DVD, you get a chance to get closer to Fosca and experience the emotions with her. Ms. Murphy is able to find beauty in desperation. She convincingly takes her character on the immense journey from self-loathing to the belief that she is worthy of love. Her portrayal is nothing short of astonishing.

Marin Mazie looks and sounds lovely, and Jere Shea seems to start out a little wooden (although he is paying a soldier and wooden is a desirable trait in soldiers) but has some beautiful and heartfelt moments at the end of the show.

If you are a fan of Sondheim, love stories, or excellent acting, this CD is well worth the price. I guarantee that you will think about the show long after it has ended--and that's the mark of good writing. May 25, 2005

Sondheim's Worst!

Normally, I love Stephen Sondheim's work. I consider Company, Follies, Night Music, Sunday in the Park, Pacific Overtures, Into the Woods, Sweeney Todd, and even the much derided shows Anyone Can Whistle and Bounce. But this one is...BAD. Yes, I just criticised Stephen Sondheim. I literally could not finish the show. The story is weak, the script sounds like it was done by Andrew Lloyd Weber (from me, that's as low a blow as you can get) and the lyrics, usually Sondheim's showcase, are clumsy and ineffective. The whole show has a breathy, affected air which ruins any pretense of true passion. The only good thing about the show is the logo. April 22, 2005

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