Maria Callas is teaching a master class. She's glamorous, commanding, larger than life and drop- dead funny. Callas' first 'victim' is Sophie, an overly-perky soprano, dressed all in pink. Sophie chooses to sing one of the most difficult arias, the aria which Callas made famous. Callas stops her. And now what has started out as a class has become a platform for Callas. She glories in her own career, and flat-out seduces the audience. Callas eventually reduces the poor Sophie to tears. But there are also plenty of laughs going on especially between Callas and the audience. As soon as Sophie starts singing, though, Callas mentally leaves the room and goes into a monologue about her own performance of the aria and the thunderous applause she received at La Scala. Callas wakes up and sends Sophie off with a pat. The next two sessions repeat the same dynamic, only the middle session is with a tenor who moves Callas to tears. She again enters her memories and we learn about Callas' affair with Aristotle Onassis; an abortion she was forced to have; her first, elderly husband whom she left; her early days as an ugly duckling; the fierce hatred of her rivals; and the unforgiving press that savaged her at first. Finally, we meet Sharon, another soprano. With Sharon singing, Callas is genuinely moved, for the young singer has talent, but Callas tells her to stick to flimsy roles. Sharon is devastated and spits back every nasty thing you've ever heard about Callas; she's old, washed up, she ruined her voice too early in her career, she only wants people to worship her, etc. Sharon rushes out of the hall and Callas brings the class to a close with a beautiful speech about the sacrifices we must make in the name of art. Tony Award winner 1996.

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