The Bridges of Madison County, Signature Theatre, Arlington, VA
Mark Evans (Robert Kincaid) and Erin Davie (Francesca Johnson) in The Bridges of Madison County. Photo credit: Daniel Rader.
Amazing, when you think about it, how much of our lives can be traced back to chance meetings, to finding ourselves in a place or with people unexpectedly. We may think we plan, but much of life is happenstance.
As Francesca sings in “Always Better,” the final number:
You could have driven into someone else’s driveway.
You could have tried to find the bridge another day.
I could have gone off to the Fair,
Or locked the door, or washed my hair….
A chance encounter incites the action of The Bridges of Madison County, the 2014 musical version of the best-selling 1992 novel by Robert James Waller, which also served as the basis for the acclaimed 1995 film starring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood. Marsha Norman is responsible for the book and Jason Robert Brown for the music and lyrics. As with the last show I reviewed, Moulin Rouge!, I was unfamiliar with the source material. I had, however, seen a couple of promos online for the current production at Arlington’s Signature Theatre.
Simply put, Signature’s The Bridges of Madison County is one of the best productions I have seen in years. It’s not quite perfect – the second act is a little too “busy” for my taste – but it is an enchanting, romantic, sexy love story featuring fascinating, three-dimensional characters and a ravishing score, beautifully performed by an appealing and talented cast. Signature’s intimate theatre space is the perfect venue for this intimate musical.
We meet Francesca Johnson in rural Iowa in 1965. As a young woman in Naples, she saw it mostly destroyed by a war that also took away her first real love. She met a young American soldier whom she enchanted and saw an opportunity to escape Naples and be taken care of. Together, they have built a home, a life among the farmers of Iowa’s Madison County, with two children.
Francesca is planning a restful weekend as husband Bud is driving teens Michael and Carolyn to Indianapolis for several days, where Carolyn will be showing her award-winning steer, Stevie. After they depart in a recognizably chaotic scene, a blue pickup truck turns into the driveway of the Johnson home. Robert Kincaid is a photographer for National Geographic on assignment to photograph the seven covered bridges in the county. He has photographed six but is unable to find the seventh. Francesca offers to show it to him, then offers to make dinner for him. They share glasses of brandy from a bottle that had been sitting in a cabinet far too long. She learns that Robert had recently photographed her home town of Naples.
Francesca realizes that there is a deeper connection with Robert than she had first thought. She goes to town to buy a new dress, then tracks Robert down at the seventh covered bridge. He gives her a copy of the issue of the magazine with the Naples pictures. She invites him to dinner again at the farm. As she is preparing, Bud calls with news from Indianapolis: Carolyn’s steer has made it to the finals, so they will be staying in Indianapolis an extra day. After dinner, Robert and Francesca dance to a song on the radio before she leads him upstairs to bed.
Mark Evans (Robert Kincaid) and Erin Davie (Francesca Johnson) in The Bridges of Madison County. Photo credit: Daniel Rader.
As Francesca and Robert awake together, we see what is happening in Indianapolis and a neighbor couple notes that Robert’s pickup is still at Francesca’s. Robert asks Francesca to leave Madison County and join him. She is tempted and fantasizes about running into Robert’s waiting arms, but weighs what she will lose if she leaves her family. He will be watching for her before he leaves at 6. Bud and the kids return from Indianapolis. After a family argument, Bud insists that the family go out to eat in town. Robert sees Francesca with the family and they exchange meaningful looks, but each goes in a different direction.
The years go by and we catch glimpses of life events – Carolyn gets married and has a baby, Michael graduates from medical school, neighbor Charlie dies, then Bud. In what seems like a completely different world, Robert retires and burns some of the pictures he had kept. We learn that he had alerted his secretary to look out for a call from Francesca.
Alone, Francesca learns that Robert has died when she receives a package, a letter from Robert and a copy of the picture he took of her at the covered bridge. Francesca reflects on her life, but has no regrets about the choices she made.
Mark Evans is a charismatic leading man, ideally cast both physically and vocally. He portrays the subtle evolution of Robert, who symbolically moves from behind the camera to being inside the frame; he has made the transition from life observer to life participant. Also notable is that Evans, who is from Wales, demonstrates a consistent, very American accent.
Erin Davie is a perfect partner for him. They have romantic chemistry, with palpable sexual tension as Robert and Francesca fall in love. We understand what it is that attracts their characters to each other, but also the vulnerability beneath. Their voices blend beautifully. Their duet “A Million Miles” is filled with heartbreaking emotion.
The last time I heard two such amazing vocalists together was in last year’s Kennedy Center production of Guys and Dolls: Steven Pasquale and Philippa Soo. Coincidentally, Pasquale originated the role of Robert on Broadway.
Christopher Bloch and Rayanne Gonzales are delightful in their roles as nosy neighbors Charlie and Marge. Their easy banter provides the two Signature veterans moments to demonstrate their flairs for comedy as well as all-too-short opportunities to show off their vocal talents.
Julia Wheeler Lennon and Nolan Montgomery are wholly believable as bickering teenaged siblings. Marina Pires demonstrates her versatility in various turns as Robert’s ex-wife, Francesca’s sister, a state fair singer, a waitress, and Robert’s secretary.
This is the third Signature production directed by Ethan Heard, who serves as the company’s Associate Artistic Director, and who has now hit three home runs. Kelly Crandall D’Amboise provides the apt choreography. Musical director Laura Bergquist draws thrilling vocal performances from the cast. Conductor/keyboardist William Yanesh and his orchestra of ten, dominated by strings, create a lavish and romantic feel.
Matrina Pires (State Fair Singer) and the cast of The Bridges of Madison County. Photo credit: Daniel Rader.
Lee Savage’s scenic design is a fascinating mix of realistic (Francesca’s kitchen) and suggestive (the transformation of the stage into the bridge) in an almost-arena style, with audience members on two opposite sides. Design work by Kathleen Geldard (costumes), Jesse Belsky (lighting), and Eric Norris (sound) is solid in every way.
One note: a couple of times, the photographer is described as a “hippie.” Except that he wears a neatly-trimmed beard, Robert shows no “hippie-like” qualities in terms of dress or demeanor. He comes off as a square-jawed cowboy type.
The real star of the show is Jason Robert Brown’s Tony-winning score, both lyrics and music. (He also won for the show’s orchestrations.) It is difficult now to believe that the show was under-appreciated on Broadway, running only 100 performances. Fortunately, it has received and is receiving numerous regional productions. (In fact, Bucks County Playhouse in Pennsylvania is also currently producing it.) The lyrics are as varied as the characters who sing them.
I run out of adjectives as I try to describe this production of this play. Lush, lyrical, romantic, touching, intimate, emotional, sensual, ravishing, and mesmerizing. Signature’s The Bridges of Madison County continues through September 17. Add your own adjectives after you see it.
Mark Evans (Robert Kincaid) and Erin Davie (Francesca Johnson) in Francesca's kitchen in The Bridges of Madison County. Photo credit: Christopher Mueller.
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