“Jill Gardner, in powerful voice, connected on a deep and visceral level with the title character, offering us a Floria Tosca that continually rose above a one-dimensional diva. Her Tosca might be high-maintenance and annoyingly jealous, but Gardner infused her interpretation with strength and determination. The line between fierce acting and melodrama can be thin, but Gardner never stepped over it. My favorite moment of hers: when her character reels at the brutal Scarpia’s carnal request that she give herself to him in exchange for her lover’s life. I felt in that instant the raw power of a woman unafraid to take control of her own life.”

Excerpted from a review of TOSCA by Donald Munro of FresnoBeehive.com
Read the full review here…