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Just listened to "Bridges" score for the first time...

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#1

Just listened to "Bridges" score for the first time...

Posted: 9/21/16 at 11:07am

OK, so I'm a little late to the party...

I didn't really give Bridges of Madison County much credence because I don't live in NYC... and although I love Kelli O'Hara - it came and went so quickly, although it had its big fans I just sorta forgot about it.

Well, from time to time I'll listen to the Broadway channel on Sirius XM and more than once I've stopped and listened to a song from the Bridges score... and was utterly blown away. So yesterday at work I put the whole thing on. Well, I ended up putting it on an endless loop, and I'm doing the same today. Although there are a couple of songs I'm not particularly fond of, there are many that are magnificent.

Kelli is in fine form, as is expected, but the complete revelation to me is Steven Pasquale. How did he not get a Tony nomination? Were the reviews favorable to the score but not crazy about the book? I really, really want to see this now.

#2

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 11:12am

Isn't it just absolutely stunning? You're not the only one who's resentful of Pasquale not getting a nom (I'm still salty about it myself).

#3

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 12:00pm

I agree with Bridges! Fortunately I saw it on tour and a treat with Jason Robert Brown conducting! It was just amazing!!

#4

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 12:31pm

Pasquale not getting nominated might be the most ridiculous omission in the history of the Tony Awards.

#5

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 12:36pm

The chemistry between Kelli and Steven was incredible. Whenever they were on stage together -- I didn't want the scene to end. ALSO -- check out "Far from Heaven" to hear another good score with the both of them.

#6

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 12:39pm

^ will do... Thanks!

#7

Just listened to

Posted: 9/21/16 at 1:07pm

Bridges is one of my favorite recordings and scores from this century. I also saw it on tour earlier this year and it blew me away. Musically, that is. The book isn't great and it's weird that there's 3 different endings, but most of the songs are so fantastic that the evening was wonderful. I want another romantic JRB musical.

"Contentment, it seems, simply happens. It appears accompanied by no bravos and no tears."

#8

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 10:44am

Of the five nominated that season, much as I admire Bryce Pinkham's talents, I felt his was the less-deserving nomination that should have gone to Pasquale, who gave a superlative performance in BRIDGES and sang the roof off the theater.

#9

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 4:48pm

I agree about BRIDGES' score, Pascuale and FAR FROM HEAVEN.

I, too, saw the tour and the leads there were also wonderful.

I know what gypsy101 means, but I found the multiple endings provocative rather than "bad". It is a simple story with few plot steps, however, so there's only so much they can do about that. Brown does a great job of telling the story of Francesca meeting her husband in Italy at the end of WWII; perhaps a production in the future will try actually staging those numbers, since the lyrics are necessarily dense.

All in all, however, I think it's one of the great scores of the past 20 years. Probably my favorite since RAGTIME.

Check out Pascuale's solo CD for something completely different: he sings standards and he sings them straight, virtually without vibratto. He's also great on the new ROBBER BRIDEGROOM album, where his singing is more in ihe BRIDGES style.

Yeah, I have something of a musical crush.

#10

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 5:18pm

This show is perfection. Ironically, I had no desire to see it, but I was having a slow week, and they had a good seat on offer at a discount, so I went... sort of not wanting to see it, since I didn't care about the subject matter, and thought it would be boring. Then I got totally swept up, invested, and gutted in the next 2.5 hours. And when they announced it was closing, I snagged a decent seat, and got to send it off in an theater full of people who all adored it...

#11

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 5:24pm

Same here, hater. I successfully avoided the novel and film, assuming the piece to be an example of female masturbatory material. Went to see the stage show only because I was given tix and thought they were too expensive to waste. So glad I did.

#12

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 5:35pm

It makes me sound awfully pretentious, but I often look back on Bridges as one of those incredibly special personal theatre experiences that not many people were able to experience (or chose not to). Those leads and that score just have a very special place in my heart.

#13

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 6:41pm

BroadwayConcierge said: "It makes me sound awfully pretentious, but I often look back on Bridges as one of those incredibly special personal theatre experiences that not many people were able to experience (or chose not to). Those leads and that score just have a very special place in my heart."

I feel the same way.

#14

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 7:19pm

"BroadwayConcierge said: "It makes me sound awfully pretentious, but I often look back on Bridges as one of those incredibly special personal theatre experiences that not many people were able to experience (or chose not to). Those leads and that score just have a very special place in my heart."

I feel the same way."

You both should. I will forever be envious of anyone who saw the OBC live. I've seen the Lincoln Center archive copy, the tour in LA (twice) and still listen to the cast recording on repeat - but to have seen those leads in person must have been magic.

#15

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 7:22pm

I felt the same way when I saw the tour. I loved the score and wasn't sure how I'd feel about the actual stage production (especially since I hate the movie), but it was amazing. I'm so glad that I saw it.

Jimmy, what are you doing here in the middle of the night? It's almost 9 PM!

#16

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 7:32pm

Saw this front row and was completely overwhelmed with emotion. It surprised me because I did not think I would get this swept up in it but you could totally relate to the leads and the music was phenomenal. The lady who sat next to me and I were so emotional, we just looked at each other and said "I know." It hit me hard and I am so grateful I got to see the wonderful performance up close.

#17

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 11:27pm

How great to stumble onto this thread with nothing but love for a show we absolutely adored.

We got to see the OBC twice, and the tour that hit LA once more, and every single time the emotion of the piece swept over the footlights and hit us right in the gut. Jason Robert Brown has yet to write a score that has topped this one for perfectly wrought lyrics married to such lush evocative music. I've listened to the score at least once a month ever since, and it never fails to move me again.

Believe me, it's damn embarrassing doing my half-hour morning jog with tears running down my face, but that's what hearing "To Build a Home" or "It All Fades Away" does to me every time I play it.

#18

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 11:38pm

I dragged myself along to this show a few weeks after previews started because I knew I could get a cheap rush ticket, expecting to hate it because of awful marketing, no hype and knowing nothing about the source material. Was really, really blown away and couldn't stop thinking about the show the whole night. Was really happy when it won the Tony for best score.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

#19

Just listened to

Posted: 9/22/16 at 11:40pm

I know that many do not agree, but it was by far my favorite show of that season. It wasn't perfect (specifically the scenic design), but it was absolutely gorgeous in every way.

#20

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 12:11am

Saw the OBC three times in three weeks, and each time I knew I was witnessing something rare and special. I knew it was something that would gain a cult following and would be discussed for years, regardless of the reviews and lack of nominations. I said this about Women on the Verge as well, and I was right.

The leads were stunningly perfect and they won't be matched in those roles. I almost drove to DC to see the tour, but I decided to just stick with my memories of the original leads.

#21

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 12:14am

Not to repeat myself as I've said this a few times, but the one couple I'd love to see take over these roles are Marin Mazzie and Jason Danieley. For novelty Jere Shea should come out of retirement and play the husband.

Give me claws and a hunch, just away from this bunch.

#22

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 6:06am

One of my favorites ever. I had to see it multiple times because the music and the chemistry and the performances mixed to just be absolute magic. I can understand people's problems with the book and the show as a whole, but I loved it and was just rapt the entire time (except for State Road 21 :P )

#23

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 6:27am

The show was ok. Everything with the family should have been cut and it should have been a one act.

The leads should have both won Tonys.

The score is great, but not my favorite JRB.

....but the world goes 'round

#24

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 6:59am

Bridges is definitely my favorite show seen in the last few years. I went via TDF during previews and lucked out getting a center orchestra seat. I remember this so vividly because Betty Buckley was two rows in front of me. The excitement prior to the show was palpable. I didn't care for the staging or State Road 21 either. But Kelli and Steven were simply perfection. Someone else said "gutted" and I would have to agree...I felt the same.

I dowloaded the cast recording as soon as it became available and it played on loop for weeks. I would specifically have to place the Kleenex box in the passenger seat while I played it in the car. Tissues were almost always a requirement during the first two months.

I went back to bid farewell to the show on Saturday of the closing weekend and I am so glad that I did. Performances stunned again.

I loved this show, cast and music so much that I decided to take my fan girl butt to the East Side Barnes and Noble album release gathering attended by the original cast. I don't usually attend these things but attention must be paid so I went. It was a complete zoo. Couldn't get into the seating area. Thankfully B & N pumped out the conversation and musical selections over the sound system so it could be heard throughout the store. Normally I avoid crowds at all costs but stood in sardine file with other Bridgeophiles in front of the bookcases out on the main floor just to be able to hear those voices live again.

#25

Just listened to

Posted: 9/23/16 at 9:04pm

I lost my Ipod so hadn't heard this in a while, but for a long time it was my morning juice. This post sent me back to the MP3 and man, that is some beautiful music. Shows may have great songs, but beautiful songs are rare. Saw it with reluctance because of the original material, ran back to Broadway for a 2nd dip before it closed. Everyone deserved better than they got for this one. IMHO.

Dolittle

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