[NEohioPAL]Berko review: PASSION (Beck Center)

[Roy Berko]

Somewhat passionless ‘PASSION’ at BECK

Roy Berko
(Member, American Theatre Critics Association)

--THE TIMES NEWSPAPERS--
Lorain County Times--Westlaker Times--Lakewood News
Times--Olmsted-Fairview Times	

Choosing to do a Stephen Sondheim musical, as Beck
Center has done in their present selection of
‘PASSION,’ is often an invitation for frustration.  
Unlike his mentor, Oscar Hammerstein II (‘SOUND OF
MUSIC,’ ‘OKLAHOMA,’ ‘THE KING AND I’), Sondheim
doesn’t write easily singable music.  Taking on
Sondheim, means taking on complex polyharmonies,
angular harmonies and intricate melodies.   This means
the show has to be cast with excellent voices and
supported by a talented full orchestra. 

Also, because Sondheim is meticulous in his character
descriptions, both in dialogue and lyrics, and creates
challenging dramatic roles, the director must also
cast for acting talent and physical types.

‘PASSION,’ which is based on Ettore Scola's film
‘PASSIONE D'AMORE,’ is set in Italy in the mid-1800s. 
The story revolves around Fosca, a physically ugly and
psychologically fragile woman, and her obsessive love
for Giorgio, a handsome soldier.  Giorgio, who loves
and is bedding the married Clara, is initially
repulsed by Fosca, but is kind to her.  The kindness
is misconstrued by Fosca, and her obsession becomes
compulsive.  The result is a play of passion,
manipulation and physical and psychological illness.

According to Sondheim, ‘PASSION’ is about "how the
force of somebody's feelings for you can crack you
open, and how it is the life force in a deadened
world." 

The book is written by Mansfield, Ohio’s James Lapine.
 Much like other Sondheim Lapine collaborations (e.g.,
‘SUNDAY IN THE PARK WITH GEORGE,’ “INTO THE WOODS’)
dialogue is woven into the songs, thus creating an
operetta-like vehicle.

‘PASSION’ opened on Broadway in 1994.  Like many
Sondheim shows, it was critically acclaimed, but
failed to find popular appeal.  The show ran only 280
performances, making it the shortest-running show ever
to win the Tony Award for Best Musical.

Beck’s production is flawed.  Victoria Bussert, the
director of Beck’s ‘PASSION,’ has cast some excellent
voices.  But, unfortunately, some of her performers do
not have the physical presence or acting skills to
carry out the Sondheim burden.  And, in spite of their
playing effectively, Nancy Maier’s small orchestra
doesn’t create the lush necessities of the music.

On the positive side, though she is much too
physically attractive to portray the “ugly” Fosca,
Sandra Simon has a glorious voice and acts the role
with passion.  She is believable in her obsession.

Jared Leal has an excellent singing voice but has
neither the physical presence nor the acting skills to
develop the complex Giorgio.  This appears to be yet
another of Bussert’s casting of former or present
members of her Baldwin Wallace musical theatre program
in non-school productions.  

I greatly admire Ms. Bussert for the quality of her
program, and the success of her students in the
professional theatre world, but her casting of these
young people in roles for which they may not be mature
enough  or suited for, has become a bane for some
local theatres with which she has contact.  There
appears to be a mix-up between her professional and
educational life.  Leal, for example, played the role
of Fosca in a BW student production of ‘PASSION.’ 
Therefore, he plays it when Bussert directs the show
at Beck.   Sorry, there are many local performers who
better fit the role, but may not have been given the
opportunity because of the BW pipeline.

Jodi Dominick, another BW graduate, has an excellent
singing voice, but does not have the maturity nor the
requisite beauty to portray Clara.  Much of the
supporting cast are also BW students or products.

Is this saying that Bussert should not use BW students
and graduates in shows she produces off campus? 
That’s not what is intended.  But, there is a line
that should be drawn between the BW educational
program and the outside world.  They are not one in
the same.   If Ms. Bussert wants an outlet for her
talented students maybe she should reinvent the Berea
Summer Theatre and open an equity theatre that would
allow her students, supported by local and imported
professionals, to gain public exposure and
professional experience in an appropriate setting. 
Many colleges have such summer theatre programs.

CAPSULE JUDGEMENT:  ‘PASSION’ continues Beck’s recent
reputation for undertaking challenging scripts. 
Sondheim is not easy to produce.  The Beck production,
though acceptable, is light on passion, and falls
short of being a compelling evening of theatre.

‘PASSION’ runs through May 6 at The Beck Center for
the Arts in Lakewood.  For ticket information call
216-521-2540.




Roy Berko's blog, which contains theatre and dance reviews from 2002 through 2007, as well as his consulting and publications information, can be found at http://royberko.info
      
Roy's theatre and dance reviews appear regularly on NeOHIOpal, an on-line source.   To subscribe to this free service via the World Wide Web, visit http://lists.fredsternfeld.com/mailman/listinfo/neohiopal.  His reviews also appear on www.coolcleveland.com

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