Bridges of Madison County Previews- Page 5

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 1/26/14 at 2:25pm

What is the bridge set like?

[matineeidol2591]

Posted: 1/26/14 at 4:02pm

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rXK_Z-AS-hw

you can see the concept of the bridge briefly at 1:25. The bridge set looks just like this, but with fences on either side of it.

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/26/14 at 7:46pm

Very cool! I especially like when they test the lighting. Lots of work goes into set building!

[E.Davis]

Posted: 1/27/14 at 5:27am

"He Forgave Me" which is the song Francesca's sister sings is cut.

[mamaleh]

Posted: 1/27/14 at 8:36am

I liked the song and Ms. Bashor's performance of it but am glad it was cut. It took me out of the show and into NINE.

[iluvtheatertrash]

Posted: 1/27/14 at 11:10am

The song doesn't work fundamentally because the character encouraging Francesca to seek forgiveness is a pretty vile one that we've been taught not to like. And so we may associate Francesca's affair with her sister's many lovers.

[jas1234]

Posted: 1/27/14 at 11:53pm

Saw the musical tonight and was surprised at how good it is. Kelli O'Hara and Steve Pasquale are superb and they have a thrilling number in the second act that electrifies.
There are some awkward transitions with characters moving the scenery about (that must be a director's conceit) and there's a totally unnecessary song in the first act "Another Life" which takes one out of the story for a few minutes. But this show is mostly there, with a fine supporting cast, and a romantic story that holds one's interest. I think Marsha Norman's well-conceived libretto improves upon the pulp nature of the best-selling novel. And Bart Sher has created a genuine community, in his deployment of the actors.
It will be interesting to see how this fares with the media. I predict it will receive generally favorable notices. This is only the second full week of performances and it's in excellent shape. But please we could do without that song in the first act. Overall, however, this is a melodic and rich score.

[FutureDirector]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 12:32am

Finally got to see the show tonight. Let me start out by saying that because of the creative team and cast behind it my expectations were set extremely high. And the show was hardly what you could call "bad" but it did fall a tad flat for me.

Let me start off by saying that the production is absolutely beautifully. The designs, the score, a large portion of the staging could not be prettier. And Kelli Ohara proves again why she is one of the greats. Bart Shers also brilliantly creatins the feeling of never being alone that comes from living in a small town, he makes great use of the ensemble to do so.

However, the book was not as well structured as I would have hoped, the first act (which is entirely exposition) feels like it could have 15 minutes shaved of here or there, or at least those 15 minutes could be restructured to develop Francesca's marriage (which is hardly touched on) instead of showing us sooo many getting to know you scenes with our lovers. I also felt that the lengthy sequence that zooms through 20 years of Francesca's life was completely unneeded and could have been shortened or removed completely.

As for the staging, my only critiques are that a window set piece DSR in the kitchen is unneeded and makes the are feel congested and the transitions (executed by the cast could be done with more fluency and breath than they are.

However, there are two scenes that are so beautifully constructed in every aspect that I was left breathless. On being the final scene with Kelli at the bridge, but the other (hands down the best scene in the show and one of the best sequences on broadway) was a memory depicting Francesca's life in Italy. This scene alone is beautifully crafted by Bart Sher's less is more approach and quite frankly worth the entire price of a ticket.

Updated On: 1/28/14 at 12:32 AM

[ivanguy]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 9:22am

Saw it last night (Monday night) .... did I see the same show everyone else saw? My partner and I found it to be a gigantic BORE. In fact, at intermission, we heard everyone else muttering the same thing! Melodic? Gorgeous? Hardly! It was a 2.5 hour snooze fest. The opening number seemed to say everything. Flat, tedious and completely forgettable. We found very little chemistry between the two leads - and WHY is Robert Kincaid wearing jeans in all the bedroom scenes? Even Kelli O has a brief nude scene - but Pasquale is wearing jeans IN BED? Uh .... sure! And those constant scene changes - by the end of the show, it became comical - the amount of time they took the kitchen table and chairs on and off the stage - they could cut the show down by half if they got rid of the never ending scene changes. The actors pick the kitchen chairs up, put them on the table, wheel it off ... then five minutes later bring them back out. Nonstop. And the music was pretty forgettable. And the book - the most boring part - I never felt the great desire Fran has to leave her mundane life in Iowa for a more adventurous life with Kincaid. Flat, flat, flat. And the bridge? Three arches and a railing? Yawn!

The highlight of the night was immediately after the curtain call, someone (an usher?) in the mezzanine shouted "That is NOT an exit!" thought the entire theater - bringing an abrupt halt to any remaining dwindling applause. What was that all about?

Yet it still got a standing ovation. Really? They give those out to liberally on Broadway these days, don't they?

[newintown]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 9:34am

I can't remember that last musical I saw that didn't get a standing ovation; even the incredibly bad Scandalous, Dance of the Vampires, Lennon, etc. all had them on their feet.

It's just what the herd does now, and has no relation to the quality of the product.

[ivanguy]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 9:37am

Ah yes - I remember standing for The Little Mermaid with a herd of 12-year old girls. I was praying no one saw me in the theater!

[themysteriousgrowl]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 9:57am

I bet you weren't really, though.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 1:10pm

So I know most of the rush tickets are "partial view." How is the view? Is it that partial?

[matineeidol2591]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 8:21pm

http://www.playbill.com/multimedia/gallery/5523/Steven-Pasquale-and-Elena-Shaddow-Star-in-Jason-Robert-Browns-Bridges-of-Madison-County/?pnum=7

Found a legitimate picture of the bridge as well.

[jv92]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 8:34pm

I didn't give BRIDGES OF MADISON COUNTY a standing ovation-- not out of spite or because I didn't like it, but because I'm tired of standing ovations. They mean nothing anymore. Unless it's a Judy at Carnegie Hall-esque diva worship event, I don't do it anymore. And people stared at me! Were they trying to shame me into standing, or gobsmacked that my positive response to a show did not involve a meaningless standing "o?" I have no idea. Is it really that important that I get off my fat ass and applaud, though? Does it make me a lesser theatergoer? (Rhetorical question guys... The answer is no.)

It's really only Broadway though. It's a disease, really. FUN HOME, the most beloved Off-Broadway musical of the fall didn't get a standing ovation, and the audience I sat in loved it. But should it transfer to Broadway, I guarantee a far less appreciative and dumber audience will jump up the minute the guy playing Roy takes his bow.

[CoreyRyan3]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 9:09pm

What is your point about Fun Home not receiving a Standing O?
It didn't get a Standing O from my audience either and I loved it. It deserves a standing ovation more than a lot of the Broadway stuff I've seen.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 11:31pm

Just got home from it, and I'm still reeling. I really thought it was a gorgeous piece. Not without flaws, but a really gorgeous piece.

Honestly, I didn't think there was a clunker in the bunch - save for maybe that wedding/graduation song. And there were probably one or two too many "getting to know you" songs, but at the same time I think that works because if they had just met and jumped into bed it would have seemed too rushed, and they drew it out, and made us want them to get together, which is exactly how they felt. "Falling Into You" and "Always Better" were the highlights for me.

O'hara, who, I think this is the first time I've seen her live, was breathtaking. GORGEOUS voice, and just so many great choices. I really get why people lover her. She's the real deal.

Pasquale was great, but maybe didn't have as much "acting" to do as her. His voice was so strong and beautiful. Didn't realize he was that great of a singer.

Design wise I was a little let down. I feel almost like it was just so messy. I thought the design was ugly and felt very "summer stock" to me with all the moving flats and door panels. I really think there's a simpler, more creative way to design this show. The bridges was a bit let down. I mean, the whole point is that they're covered, which I guess is rare(?), and yet it's just basically some big red beams. The design just felt like it was on a serious budget and they weren't sure how to work with it. I love a minimal set (Waiting for Godot, etc), but this just didn't work. The scene changes really killed the momentum, and the piece doesn't have much momentum to begin with.

I'm not sure I enjoyed his direction too much. He had some nice moments, but there weren't any scenes where I was like "wow." Maybe her flashback to Italy was different since they cut the sister's song, but as it stands it's just a table and some chairs, so nothing to really "wow" about.

Book wise, I don't get really get why we need to know so much about the minor characters. I don't really think we need to flesh out the "peeping neighbor." I'd rather keep the focus on the main couple, and have them as little comedic relief bits, but not full scenes. I don't really get why we need to see the family so much either. I'd rather have scenes between Hunter Foster and O'hara so we can get a sense of their marriage. They don't say much to each other before he leaves, so we don't really get what's going on. The children were fine, but Klena is ... not such a great actor. There were just really awkward moments.

*ENDING SPOILER*
I guess they changed the ending, according to earlier posts, so I'm not sure what was taken out, but I wish they had kept it just Francessa on the bridge by herself. I think, at least for me, that we wanted her so desperately to get back with him, that it makes the longing she feels real. And then when he doesn't return it's so heartbreaking. I guess it makes for a bleak ending, but I think it's stronger and less melodramatic that way. And it goes with the tone of the song.

[everythingtaboo]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 11:39pm

I saw it last night and unexpectedly fell in love with it. I was concerned that the son was reading way too old, I could never feel convinced he was 16; Pasquale did a weird "baring fangs" things when hitting his "money notes"; I did feel like we had multiple endings, the last three songs felt like finale numbers, but they were each lovely songs so I'm sure they want to keep them all.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/28/14 at 11:49pm

Exactly. I think all the songs were gorgeous, so I'm not sure what you'd cut, but something needs to go. I agree with the State Fair song, but I'm sure they wanted a more exciting opening number.

I liked having the lingering ensemble members, but I wish they had grown in importance as the romance grew. By the end the kids were sitting around on the edges, etc. I think that'd add some nice weight to the piece.

[Taryn]

Posted: 1/29/14 at 12:44am

Saw it tonight, lots of thoughts.

It wants to be a big Broadway musical, but it isn't and it should stop trying. Cut the ensemble and make it a chamber piece, because the vast majority of the time their presence is strange and awkward.

Make Pasquale do some actual work physically focusing and centering on O'Hara. Francesca's attraction is clearly acted, whereas his doesn't read until they're jumping in together.

Give Bud a better song about his marriage, because it's an important point, but the song he has now doesn't quite bare enough.

Take off some clothes! Turn up the heat with these two!

Change that awful Act II opening number oh my god what was the point of that. The ensemble singing on stage around Francesca and Richard in bed??? Supremely awkward.

We see very clearly what Richard brings to Francesca, what he offers her that is different, what he changes about her life. The idea the show is trying to formulate re: the reverse is the idea that she is the first person to inspire him to open up, yet we don't actually get to see that vulnerability other than him -- saying it? Like, he's been in love and been married, so him just falling in love isn't really enough. He needed to have something to make himself vulnerable that he offered her freely to counter his Act I line about how he's bad company and doesn't open up much.

Get an actor who can reasonably read as 16 at all for Michael. I know there are plenty of lanky actors around!

Focus the comedy and quiet it down. The jokes they've got for comedic release are just way too broad and need to be a lot more honest instead of played up so much. Marge singing the song while Richard and Francesca danced entirely undermines the intimacy of their moment.

If you're trying to communicate the isolation and loneliness of your lead character, don't open things up with an early number called "You're Never Alone."

I think that's it. All that said, I actually liked it pretty well; I tend to have the most thoughts for shows that I find middling, because their points of improvement seem to be the most clear. (When a show's just terrible, there's nothing to be done.) Several of the songs are gorgeous, though not as many as I'd expect from JRB. I actually think "Another Life" is the best song in the score, which is sad because so many people seem to dislike it -- reasonably enough -- for not being particularly integral.

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/29/14 at 12:58am

I actually agree with all your points (except that I think Klena is plenty lanky, just didn't bring anything interesting to the role, whereas I found the daughter to be a full-formed person despite saying much).

I think the ensemble is integral to the piece if only to provide the presence that they're always being watched. I think this could have been done more evocatively with the design, but alas, they have to work with what they got.

And I agree, I wish there was a better song for Foster about his wife. I actually really enjoyed that moment, but I felt his character had fits and starts. One moment he's a mean dad. The next moment he's a caring husband. Then he's a typical man: "When's dinner?" So I liked that they showed this tough man singing so beautifully about his wife, but I wish the song had more purpose, and maybe add the kids or something.

I kept expecting the children's story to parallel the main story, but it didn't. I didn't really get why we needed the background on them, or what's going on at the fair. I think it might have been more interesting if they had sort of faded out of the story until the end, much like they faded out of Francessa's mind. She began to think about them less and less...

[Taryn]

Posted: 1/29/14 at 1:09am

But the theme of the couple always being watched doesn't actual amount to -- anything. There's references, but nothing actually HAPPENS. They don't get caught. Even people suspecting is no big deal, as per Marge's conversation with her husband. It's a total thematic dead end. It's Chekhov's gun on the wall that doesn't go off.

[broadwaydevil]

Posted: 1/29/14 at 2:12am

RippedMan, how was the partial view seat?

[macnyc]

Posted: 1/29/14 at 10:29am

I saw Bridges last night from a TDF seat (Row H mezzanine) and could see fine from there.

It was my first exposure to the property.

I agree with all of the points Taryn is making. For my part, I just didn't feel emotionally invested in the proceedings. Also, I welcomed the constant movement of the scenery being pushed on and off stage because it distracted me from the lack of choreography!

Glorious singing, though.

After seeing Bridges I felt pretty much the same as after Giants at the Public last year: wonderful voices, beautiful scenery, sweeping story, pretty music (although bit on the bland side). But both shows failed to engage me.

Updated On: 1/29/14 at 10:29 AM

[RippedMan]

Posted: 1/30/14 at 12:08am

I found myself so engaged. But I'm a hopeless romantic, so I love these kinds of stories. I wish too that it was more of a chamber piece with just the main love story and the husband and ex-wife.

And I rushed at like Noon and got partial view, Row J (?) all the way on the side. It was a perfect seat. Row J is actually a shorter row then most of those, so I could pretty much everything. It's all pretty center stage. And some people didn't show up so we just moved over. Great seat.

I will say, there is a set piece down stage right, so if you're house left, like I was, and up close, then you might not be able to see certain things.

The ladies in front of me got their tickets through the Drama League and were "disgusted" that they were in partial view.