You read the book, saw the movie or both? And so you wonder what you'll gain by seeing the musical version of The Bridges of Madison County?
Hint: It's the music. The evocative score and the songs, many of which have fine lyrics, are so good, in fact, that they could pass for hits in the best of all possible worlds.
The Arkansas Repertory Theatre opened the regional premiere of the musical Friday night. It's the final Rep show for Producing Artistic Director Robert Hupp, who's leaving shortly for a similar position in Syracuse, N.Y.
Hupp certainly earns his keep with this swan song, which not only has a well-known tale to tell, but seems at times akin to a ballet of cast and crew deftly moving set pieces and props around in amazingly synchronized timing, never colliding.
Joan Hess and her amazing voice portray Francesca, an Italian war bride in 1965 Iowa on a farm with her husband, Bud (Noah Racey), and their two teenagers, Carolyn (Julia Nightingale) and Michael (Henry Nettleton).
When Bud and the kids go off to Indiana for a 4H competition, temptation arrives in the form of Robert (Michael Halling), a handsome photographer for National Geographic who has been checking out the area's covered bridges and stops to ask for directions. Hess does a remarkable job of juggling tensions and passions, plus an accent that manages to reveal 20 years of Midwestern wear and tear. Halling is also intense as a professional who never before took time for love before his travels took him to Iowa.
For comic relief, a nosy neighbor and her wise husband come and go smoothly: Marge (Ann-Ngaire Martin) and Charlie (Timothy Shew), who deliver two of the show's most memorable songs, "Get Closer" (Marge) and "When I'm Gone" (mostly Charlie).
Other fine numbers, mainly sung by Halling, Hess or both, are "Home Before You Know It," "Wondering," "Falling Into You," "Who We Are and Who We Want to Be" and "It All Fades Away." Cory Goodrich, playing Marian, Robert's first wife, recalls early Joni Mitchell in "Another Life."
A 10-person orchestra helps richly bring to life Jason Robert Brown's songs, lyrics and orchestration. Marsha Norman adapted Robert James Waller's novel. Rep set designer Mike Nichols has done his usual superb work with an abstract design mixing a bridge with a farmhouse.
The Rep cast crosses that bridge again Wednesday through Sunday nights, with matinees on Sundays, through May 1 at the theater, Sixth and Main streets, Little Rock. Ticket information is available by calling (501) 378-0405 or online at therep.org/attend.
Metro on 04/10/2016