“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."—Stephen Sondheim
For its 20th year
anniversary celebration, The Philippine Opera Company is inviting everyone to a
romantic journey into and through the many shades and mysteries of love as it
proudly presents a new production of PASSION - the 1994 Tony Award for Best Musical
from September 14 - 29 at the Carlos P. Romulo Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati
City.
From the Music and
Lyrics by Stephen Sondheim and book by James Lapine, and based on the 1981
Italian film ‘Passione d'amore’, discover the power of love in PASSION with the
wondrously complex landscape of the human heart as the subject of this
haunting, intensely emotional one-act chamber opera that many consider to be
Sondheim's deepest and most powerful evening of musical theatre.
Directed by Robbie
Guevara, PASSION is about a man's relationship with two women in a steamy tale
of desire and rejection, romantic selfishness, of that terrifying
relentlessness that can be found in people who have not learned how to love.
Synopsis
Italian officer Giorgio
is engaged in an exciting affair with a married lover, Clara, when he's
transferred to a provincial outpost. There, his commanding officer Colonel
Ricci and the company doctor Tambourri encourage his friendship with Ricci's
ailing cousin Fosca, as she's desperately in need of friendly companionship. At
first pleased to be of help, Giorgio is pained by Fosca's unwanted advances and
her attempts to turn their relationship into a romance. In frustration, he
turns his back on her, but through his dealings with both women in his life,
learns some deep lessons about love and commitment.
Characters
CLARA –A married Milan
socialite who is having an affair with Giorgio. Beautiful, shallow and rhapsodically in love with Giorgio, yet
also melancholy given the confines of her situation.
GIORGIO BACHETTI - A
pensive, well-respected, good-hearted young army Captain in the Italian
military who is in love with Clara.
FOSCA - The ugly, thin,
and reclusive cousin of Colonel Ricci. Very sickly and unattractive, she is
deeply emotionally damaged. Smart, well read, and bold. Her desire to be loved
teeters between longing and desperation. A deranged, lonely woman who develops
an unhealthy obsession for the handsome soldier Giorgio.
COLONEL RICCI – The
formal and righteous commander and the cousin / guardian of Fosca. His demeanor
is typically one of love and benevolence.
LUDOVIC - A handsome man
who pretended to be an Austrian Count so he could marry Fosca and steal her
money.
DOCTOR TAMBORRI - The regiment's attending physician. Though aloof at times, he sincerely cares for
Fosca.
LIEUTENANT TORASSO - The
cook and an Army Lieutenant. Given to laughter and perhaps a bit overweight, he
has a lovely singing voice and is quite aware of the business of others.
MAJOR RIZZOLI – Major in
the army.
SERGEANT
LOMBARDI - Army Sergeant. Has no talent for cooking but remains
determined. He is impish and can be found gossiping.
LIEUTENANT BARRI - Army
Lieutenant. Quick witted and in possession of a razor sharp tongue, he is an
avid gambler.
PRIVATE AUGENTI - Army
Private and mail carrier. The youngest among the group, he has a genuine and
sweet disposition.
Cast
The lead cast of PASSION are as follows: SHIELA
VALDERRAMA-MARTINEZ (Fosca), VIEN KING (Giorgio) and Jasmine Fitzgerald
(Clara).
The supporting cast members include: Lorenz Martinez (Doctor
Tambourri), Raul Montesa (Colonel Ricci), Noel Rayos (Lt. Torasso).
The ensemble is composed
of Jonel Mojica (Major Rizzolli), Lorenzo Mendoza (Pvt. Augenti), Jos Jalbuena
(Ludovic), Timothy Racho (Sgt. Lombardi), Joshua Cheng (Lt. Barri), Vyen
Villanueva (Fosca’s Father) Lorraine Lisen (Mistress) and Jasmin Salvo (Fosca’s
Mother).
The artistic team of
PASSION is composed of Karla Gutierrez (Artistic Director – Philippine Opera
Company), Robbie Guevara (Director), Daniel Bartolome (Musical Director and
Conductor), Jason and Jo Tecson (Set Designers), Shakira Villa
Sykes (Lighting
Director), Zenaida Gutierrez (Costume Designer), Myrene Santos (Hair and
Make-Up Designer), Venger S. Marquez (Vocal Coach); Sunshine R. Domine
(Production Manager).
Background
The sweeping romantic
score of PASSION which Sondheim describes as “one long rhapsody” will be
performed by the Philippine Opera Orchestra under the baton of musical
conductor Daniel Bartolome.
PASSION opened on
Broadway in 1994 and won four Tony Awards: Best Musical, Best Book of a
Musical, Best Original Score and Best Performance by a Leading Actress in a
Musical.
Major productions: London (1996), Germany
(2011), Sweden (2016); Off-Broadway revival (2013) and London revival (2010).
Other productions include: St. Louis (1996), Sondheim Celebrity (2002),
Minnesota Opera (2004), Netherlands (2004), Lincoln Center, New York (2005),
Chicago (2007), Melbourne (2014), Paris (2016), Virginia (2018), and Italy
(2019).
Experience an
exceptional theater treat with PASSION and learn about what love is, what it
means to be in love, what we look for in love or what love can be.
The schedule of
performances of PASSION are as follows:
September 14, 20, 21, 27
and 28 --- 8 pm
September 15, 21, 22, 28
and 29 --- 3 pm.
Venue: Carlos P. Romulo
Auditorium, RCBC Plaza, Makati City.
Total running time: 105
minutes
Call TicketWorld at
8919999 or Philippine Opera Company at
0917-6452946 for
show buying, sponsorship and fundraising opportunities.
Follow Philippine Opera
Company on Facebook and Instagram.
#poc2019 #pocturns20
#pocishome #pocpassion2019
“Passion” is presented
through special arrangement with Music Theatre International (MTI) New York.
Media Raves
"Close enough to
singe your soul." -- The New York Times
“Exultantly dramatic,
this is the most thrilling piece of theater on Broadway.” – The New York Post
“Fall for the ravishing
music in ‘Passion.’” -- The Washington Post
“For any Sondheim fan,
it’s a must; for anyone who has not seen Passion before, it can be a
revelation.” -- DC Metro Theater Arts
“Passion is not “just
another love story,” as Giorgio and Clara innocently sing at the show’s
opening. It’s a Sondheim work after all, with all the intelligence, complexity
and exceptionally elegant agility with dialogue and music one would expect from
the maestro.” -- TheatreScene.com
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