REVIEW: Passion at the Hope Mill Theatre, Manchester

Ruthie’s back and brimming with Passion!

Passion is a musical with music and lyrics by Stephen Sondheim. Stephen Sondheim was the legend that musical theatre lost late last year at the age of 91. The composer behind the complicated and clever lyrics of Company, Into the Woods and of course West Side Story – to name but a few – was rightly one of the most celebrated names in musical theatre throughout his career, but it is easy to see why his show Passion didn’t really take off like his others.

The story follows a young Italian soldier, Giorgio (played by Dean John-Wilson) who is having an affair with young married girl Clara (Kelly Price) and believes wholly that he is in love with her until the ailing Fosca – a relative of his superior – comes along and begins to pursue him relentlessly. At first, he is flattered and merely tries to ignore the advances made by the older woman, but as he exchanges letters with his mistress back home – staged beautifully as a series of seamlessly integrating songs – the show really starts to beg the question – what exactly is love? Is there a line between adoration and obsession? 

INTERVIEW: Michael Matus, about to star in The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit at the Hope Mill Theatre

Michael Matus is currently in rehearsals for The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit at the Hope Mill Theatre. His other credits include The Split (Sister Pictures/BBC), Richard III(UK Tour), ‘King Lear’(The Duke Of York's Theatre), ‘Broken Glass’ (Watford Palace), ‘The Wizard of Oz’ (The Crucible Theatre) ‘The Roman Actor’(RSC), ‘Endeavour’ (ITV), A Midsummer Nights Dream (The Globe), Phantom of the Opera(Her Majesty's Theatre), Oklahoma! (Chichester Festival Theatre), Women on the Verge of a Nervous Breakdown (West End), The Sound of Music (Regents Park), Imagine This (West End) and Lend Me A Tenor (West End), to name only a handful!

You’re about to star in The Astonishing Times of Timothy Cratchit at the Hope Mill Theatre this Christmas season. Tell us a bit about the show. 

It’s tiny Tim at 16, looking for work, wanting to break free from uncle Srooge, his crutch and explore the world, filling the void left by the loss of his Dad. He meets a circus troupe and things get wild.

And you’ll be playing Grimaldi, can you tell us a bit about the character?

Grimaldi leads the circus troupe. He’s vain and selfish, an impossible man with an incredible talent and energy. He meets Timothy and they form an inseparable bond.

This is a new musical written by Allan Knee, whats the process like for you as an actor working on a new musical?

I love it. It’s about adding/taking away from the canvas. It’s a huge privilege being at the inception of a show, and also the pressure to get it right is thrilling and addictive.