DreamCast: PASSION

Passion is not the type of musical I usually gravitate towards. Upon first glance, it seems emotionally intense & potentially boring. Apparently, I'm not alone because it is the shortest-running musical to win the Tony for Best Musical. But this musical is Stephen Sondheim at his best & the quality of musical production outweighs the seemingly simple plotline. The writing & music lives up to the title: the music is brilliant & beautiful and I love the acknowledgement of the power of writing letters, especially love letters.

 

Jennifer Ehle as Clara
I loved her in Possession, Sunshine, and
(of course) Pride & Prejudice.
Clara is a part that could easily become
the over-simplified, period, lovestruck blond,
but I've never seen Jennifer Ehle create a shallow character.
In my mind, she is the plays the quintessential
female oppressed by the constraints of a different era.

Jeffrey Dean Morgan as Giorgio

I loved him on Grey's Anatomy & in Vicky Cristina Barcelona.

Those two roles are quite dissimilar from each other,
but both incorporate elements applicable to Giorgio's character.

This role would be great for him as an actor

because it would allow him to play the role of a

weaker man that those in which he's usually cast.

Also, he's hot.

Charlotte Gainsbourg as Fosca

She played my favorite movie-version of Jane Eyre,

which is a role that shares some of
the reactionary traits that Fosca must display:

dealing with being pigeonholed due to gender,

the result of being openly judged due to appearance,

and the effect of isolation on one's person.

Fosca is a similar character to Jane Eyre, except that she is

physically ill, slightly crazy, & more emotionally aggressive.

Just another love story, that's what they would claim.

Another simple love story. Aren't all of them the same?

Unhappiness can be seductive. How quickly pity turns to love.