Bridges' intensely intimate staging makes for haunting production
Review by Lauren Whalen
Robert James Waller's novel The Bridges of Madison County was a runaway bestseller in the early 1990's, followed by a hit movie adaptation starring Clint Eastwood and Meryl Streep. Despite a book by Marsha Normanand score by Jason Robert Brown, however, the 2013 Broadway musical version fared less well, running less than 3 months before closing (though it did win Tony Awards for best score and orchestrations). I spoke with a friend who saw the Broadway production, who said that the story's intimacy was lost in a large Broadway house. Thankfully, the new production at Marriott retains the story's romantic, intensely personal aura, with lovely staging, a strong sense of
The Bridges of Madison County is the story of Francesca Johnson (Jeff Award-winner Kathy Voytko), who emigrated from war-torn Naples, Italy with her American soldier husband, Bud (Bart Shatto) after the war in the 1940's. Now it's 1965, and the couple live with their two children on a farm in Winterset, Iowa. Bud and the kids are headed to the Indiana State Fair, but Francesca begs off, craving rare peace and quiet. Enter Robert Kincade (Nathaniel Stampley, also a Jeff Award-winner), a photographer for "National Geographic," who stops at the Johnson farm to ask Francesca for directions. What follows is a whirlwind four-day affair, and a choice for Francesca that could change the lives of her entire family.
I've never read Waller's book, nor did I see the movie (watching Clint Eastwood take a shower wasn't a priority for my teenage self). With that in mind, I found Norman's script honest and poignant, with more than a dash of down-home humor and respect for all of the characters, including Francesca's well-meaning, utterly Midwestern husband Bud. Everyone, from Francesca and Robert to their nosy but supportive neighbor Marge (Wydetta Carter) feels like a real person to someone who grew up in a farm town with many similarities to Winterset. (Like Francesca's daughter Carolyn, at least one of my grade-school classmates raised and showed steers.) It's always refreshing and pleasant to see farmers and their families as human, rather than hick stereotypes. Brown's music and lyrics, as always, are phenomenal, radiating longing in every note and providing narrative and character development all their own. Francesca and Robert reveal their respective histories, reflect on their growing feelings for one another and express their tortured love through Brown's heartfelt music, lyrics and gorgeous orchestrations.
Director Nick Bowling, supported by music director Ryan T. Nelson, stages with care and concern for even the most minor characters, utilizing innovative set design by and Anthony Churchill's picturesque projections. (Bowling is an Iowa native, and it shows.) Sally Dolembo's costumes are colorful and vivid, accurately reflecting mid-60's heartland chic, and Patti Garwood conducts a small but mighty orchestra. Every actor in is well cast and solid: supporting role standouts include Brooke MacDougal as Francesca's tomboy daughter Carolyn, the delightful, funny Carter as neighbor Marge and Terry Hamilton as Marge's gruff but patient husband George. With a permanently creased brow and well-worn baseball cap, Shatto's Bud is the quintessential farmer: devoted to work and family, always ready to help a neighbor, but not always well-versed in matters of the heart. would not work without two dynamic leads with red-hot chemistry, and thankfully Voytko and Stampley are more than up for the task. Both have extensive credits in Chicago and New York, and bring everything they have to two fully-realized individuals, stronger together than apart, but ultimately ill-fated.
The Bridges of Madison County is well worth the jaunt outside of Chicago. The story is simple, the direction stellar, the music hauntingly beautiful and the actors stunning. Though the ending verges slightly into melodrama (even with the romantic storyline in mind), this is an intimate, almost otherworldly musical, the likes of which I haven't seen in a very long time.
The Bridges of Madison County continues through August 13th at Marriott Theatre, 10 Marriott Drive, Lincolnshire (map), with performances Wednesdays 1pm & 8pm, Thursdays and Fridays 8pm, Saturdays 4:30pm & 8pm, Sundays 1pm & 5pm; with select Thursdays at 1pm. Tickets are $50-$60, and are available by phone (847-634-0200) or online through their website (check for availability of ). More information at MarriottTheatre.com. (Running time: 2 hours 45 minutes, includes an intermission)
Photos by Liz Lauren
Kathy Voytko (Francesca), Brooke MacDougal (Carolyn), Tanner Hake (Michael), Bart Shatto (Bud), Wydetta Carter (Marge), Terry Hamilton (Charlie), Emily Berman (Marian, Ensemble), Nathaniel Stampley (Robert), Danni Smith (State Fair Singer, Ensemble), Phoebe Gonzalez (Chiara, Ensemble), Nick Cosgrove (Paolo, Ensemble), Allyson Graves (Older Carolyn, Ensemble), Shea Coffman , Johanna McKenzie Miller, Brandon Springman (Ensemble),
Understudies: Johanna McKenzie Miller (Francesca, State Fair Singer), Allyson Graves (Carolyn), Nick Cosgrove (Michael), Shea Coffman (Bud, Charlie), Danni Smith (Marge, Marian), Brandon Springman (Robert, Paolo), Emily Berman (Chiara)
Patti Garwood (keyboard), Dave Belden , Madeline Capistran (violins), Elena Spiegel, Dominic Johnson (violin, viola), Audrey Snyder (cello), Corey Richardson (acoustic guitar, mandolin), Dave Saenger (acoustic and electric guitar), Trevor Jones (acoustic and electric bass), (drums, percussion)
behind the scenes
Nick Bowling (director), Jeffrey D. Kmiec (set design), (lighting design), Sally Dolembo (costume design), Anthony Churchill (projections design), Robert E. Gilmartin (sound design), Sally Weiss (properties design), Angela M. Adams (stage manager), Deya Friedman (production manager), Patti Garwood (musical supervisor), Jason Robert Brown (orchestrations), Geoff Josselson (NY casting director), Ryan T. Nelson (music director), William Carlos Angulo (musical staging), Allyson Graves (dance captain), Terry James (executive producer), (lead artistic director), Aaron Thielen (artistic director), Peter Marston Sullivan (associate artistic director), Liz Lauren (photos)
Tags: 17-0638, Aaron Thielen, Allyson Graves, Andy Hite, Angela M. Adams, Anthony Churchill, Audrey Snyder, Bart Shatto, Brandon Springman, Brooke MacDougal, Chicago musical theater, Chicago Theater, Corey Richardson, Danni Smith, Dave Belden, Dave Saenger, Deya Friedman, Dominic Johnson, Elena Spiegel, Emily Berman, Geoff Josselson, Jason Robert Brown, Jed Feder, Jeffrey D. Kmiec, Jesse Klug, Johanna McKenzie Miller, Kathy Voytko, Lauren Whalen, Liz Lauren, Madeline Capistran, Marriott Theatre, Marsha Norman, Nathaniel Stampley, Nick Bowling, Nick Cosgrove, Patti Garwood, Peter Marston Sullivan, Phoebe Gonzalez, post, Robert E. Gilmartin, Robert James Waller, Ryan T. Nelson, Sally Dolembo, Sally Weiss, Shea Coffman, Tanner Hake, Terry Hamilton, Terry James, Trevor Jones, William Carlos Angulo, Wydetta Carter
Category: Jason Robert Brown, Lauren Whalen, Marriott Theatre, Musical, Video, YouTube
