Overview
Synopsis
It is 1863. At a remote outpost in Italy, Captain Giorgio Bachetti and his beautiful lover Clara engage in a passionate relationship through letters, only reuniting through brief moments during Giorgio’s leave. But while he is at the outpost, Giorgio meets Fosca, the sickly and unattractive cousin of his superior officer. Focsa becomes obsessed with Giorgio and falls desperately in love with him. Giorgio refutes her advances, but cannot stay away from her, and finds himself understanding and appreciating her devotion to him. While he does love Clara, she is in Milan, and is married to another man. Giorgio realizes that he must make a choice and decide what kind of love he wants to have in his life. Will he continue the happiness of letters and an occasional reunion with the beautiful and devoted Clara? Or will he give in to the unrestrained passion of the sickly and obsessive Fosca?
Often performed in only one act, Passion is Stephen Sondheim’s adaptation of the 1869 novel Fosca, by Igino Ugo Tarchetti, and the 1981 Ettore Scola film Passione d’Amore. Its trademark Sondheim sound mixes layered vocals with a complex storyline of passion, devotion, and the ultimate cost of true love.
Show Information
- Book
- James Lapine
- Music
- Stephen Sondheim
- Lyrics
- Stephen Sondheim
- Based on the Play/Book/Film
- Based on the 1869 novel Fosca, and the 1891 film Passione d'Amore
- Category
- Musical
- Age Guidance
- Mature Audiences (M)
- Number of Acts
- 2
- First Produced
- 1994
- Genres
- Drama, Romance
- Settings
- Period, Multiple Settings
- Time & Place
- Milan, Italy, 1863, military outpost
- Cast Size
- medium
- Orchestra Size
- Medium
- Dancing
- Musical Staging
- Licensor
- Music Theatre International
- Ideal For
- Chamber Opera, College/University, Community Theatre, Large Cast, Mostly Male Cast, Professional Theatre, Regional Theatre, Star Vehicle Female, Star Vehicle Male, Includes Young Adult, Adult, Mature Adult, Late Teen Characters, Medium Cast
Context
Plot
Characters
| Name | Part Size | Gender | Vocal Part |
|---|---|---|---|
|
Lead |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Lead |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Lead |
Female |
Mezzo-Soprano, Alto |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone, Tenor |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Supporting |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor |
|
|
Featured |
Female |
Soprano |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Baritone |
|
|
Featured |
Male |
Tenor, Baritone |
|
|
Ensemble |
Either Gender |
Soprano, Mezzo-Soprano, Alto, Tenor, Baritone |
Songs
- Happiness - Clara
- First Letter - Clara and Giorgio
- Second Letter - Clara and Giorgio
- Third Letter - Clara, Giorgio and Soldiers
- Fourth Letter - Clara
- I Read - Fosca
- Transition (#1) - Giorgio
- Garden Sequence - Giorgio, Clara and Fosca
- Transition (#2) - Soldiers
- Trio - Fosca, Giorgio and Clara
- Transition (#3) - Soldiers and Attendants
- I Wish I Could Forget You - Fosca
- Transition (#4) - Soldiers
- Soldier's Gossip (#1) - Soldiers
- Flashback - Colonel Ricci, Fosca, Mother, Father, Ludovic, Mistress and Ensemble
- Sunrise Letter - Clara
- Is This What You Call Love? - Giorgio
- Soldiers' Gossip (#2) - Soldiers
- Nightmare - Ensemble +
- Transition (#5) - Rizzolli
- Forty Days - Clara
- Loving You - Fosca
- Transition (#6) - Woman, Man
- Soldiers' Gossip (#3) - Soldiers
- Christmas Carol - Torasso +
- Farewell Letter - Clara
- Just Another Love Story - Giorgio and Clara
- No One Has Ever Loved Me - Giorgio
- The Duel
- Finale - Giorgio, Fosca and Ensemble
A song with an asterisk (*) before the title indicates a dance number; a character listed in a song with an asterisk (*) by the character's name indicates that the character exclusively serves as a dancer in this song, which is sung by other characters.
Monologues
Scenes
Key Terms
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Videos
Quizzes
Themes, Symbols & Motifs
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Quote Analysis
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Guide Written By:
Cindi Calhoun
Theatre teacher, director, writer, and seamstress