Reader Reviews
Passion (Bridewell Theatre, Inner London)
Back to Show Details| Score | Comment | Date |
 | Congratulations to the Bridewell for undertaking the challenge of presenting this difficult Sondheim work. Although not all aspects of the production are successful it was well staged and there were some good performances from the cast. Great new arrangements of the score. Fabulous orchestra playing - USER: Whatsonstage.com (193.32.176.177) | 30 Mar 04 |
| what a great shame, a very hard working cast esp in smaller roles but yet again a musical with non singers! poor miss Burt, she acted everyone off the stage but the voice was not there, why? her leading man was also no dashing lead and found the songs out of his range. a decent size band was a great help however. act two was better but all in all poor and rather low in passion. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.13.129.151) | 29 Mar 04 |
| Loved this show. I had seen the original West End production nad love Maria Friedman unreservedly but was completely bowled over by Claire Burt. What an astonishingly heart rending performance, which did place the others in the shade a little but not to the detriment of the whole show. The intimate Bridewell suited the production far more than a huge theatre and the chorus hit exactly the right note of boredom and noseiness. If the Bridewell continue with productions of this calibre theyt MUST deserve our support. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.44.49.48) | 23 Mar 04 |
| A wonderful show given a very worthy production (leagues better than the histrionics of the West End version). Clare Burt is extraordinary - should definitely be up for acting awards for this performance - mesmerising and heartbreaking. Some of the other actors struggle to match her, but the male ensemble and the band are terrific. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.190.222.22) | 22 Mar 04 |
| I love this show, but was reduced at the interval to having to defend it to my friends, who on the evidence of this production assumed it must be an irredeemable disaster. To anyone else who has suffered through this, IT'S THE PRODUCTION, NOT THE SHOW! I didn't believe the "sensitive and artistic" Giorgio had ever seen a book, let alone actually read one. The acting of the rest of the soldiers and particularly the woefully underpowered doctor is just awful. And some of the directorial decisions are so bad (actors in drag camping it up in the normally heart-rending flashback sequence) it almost looks like deliberate sabotage. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (62.244.178.30) | 17 Mar 04 |
| This is the most operatic of Sondheim's shows and benefits from being produced here as a 'chamber' piece. It has some lovely music, but unfortunately it has a somewhat implausible story. This is a very welcome revival, though it has to be said that two of the three leads are underpowered - only Clare Burt as Fosca really inhabits her role. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (172.169.60.191) | 17 Mar 04 |
| Expected more from this production. On the plus side, it works superbly in an intimate space and is generally well staged,with very strong performances from Clare Burt and David White as the Colonel.The harmonic singing from the soldiers is also great. However, on the minus side, Kate Arneil and especially Mark Carroll are dreadfully miscast, lacking the acting and singing chops for these crucial roles. The soldiers are indeed too young and camp and, in general, were obviously cast for their aforementioned singing abilities rather than any acting skills.It is in a section involving these performers that Carol Metcalfe's otherwise well-judged production slips, the at least partially finance-based decision to have the soldiers portraying the mother, mistress etc. in the flashback (and them ruthlessly camping these roles up)robbing this sequence of most of its considerable power. In another pivotal role, the actor playing the Doctor gives possibly the weakest performance of the evening. That I still came out of the Bridewell inspired and pleased to have gone is proof to me of what a magnificently written piece it is to be able to triumph over the odds at times! Go for the brilliant writing of Sondheim and Lapine, the outstanding orchestra, the performances of Burt and White, some strong choral singing, a (largely) slick and imaginative staging from Carol Metcalfe and the intimacy of the theatre itself. The flaws are very many, but just to have "PASSION" back in London is justification for a 3-star rating! - USER: Whatsonstage.com (80.3.160.5) | 17 Mar 04 |
| Good show. Lovely intimate theatre space in central London. The actress playing Fosca was superb with the other leads not as strong. Naked singing at start was strangely distracting. Male chorus were very good with loads of enthusiasm. Music was excellent. An enjoyable evening. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (195.102.142.238) | 12 Mar 04 |
| Or rather NOT so superbly cast - Clare Burt is fabulous Fosca - a much subtler and more touching performance than Maria Friedman BUT Giorgio and Clara dont come close to matching her - surely Giorgio is supposed to be dashing and virile and much more charismatic than the other weary soldiers (thogh they are a little too young and camp in this production) in the batallion but sadly Mark Carroll is none of these things. He is not a good enough actor or singer which really unbalances the production. Also the nudity at the beginning of the show would be fine if you would ever for a second want to see his body ...... also Kate Arneil is sweet but not really a strong enough singer. Go see it for Clare Burt and to hear this beutiful score played briliantly. - USER: Whatsonstage.com (217.34.10.193) | 11 Mar 04 |
| Fantastic - so much better than the West End Production a few years ago. Superbly cast and directed. A favourite musical in a favourite theatre - USER: Whatsonstage.com (212.159.50.58) | 10 Mar 04 |
