I Finally Saw "Bridges Of Madison County"- Page 2

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 7:11pm

"A lot of people in our society still consider "cheating" to be a black or white subject, if that makes sense?"

When I saw it the last time, a guy (who was most likely dragged there by his wife) said "cheating whore" at full volume when she kisses him for the first time. Several people I have talked to about it have no interest in it because of the whole cheating thing. It's hard to explain to people, especially because her husband is not some abusive monster. I was rooting for them because I love the actors, and I had no qualms about their affair. Sometimes, things just happen. I guess a lot of people don't feel that way.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 7:29pm

^Exactly my point! I know many people who would feel uncomfortable watching it because of that. I myself, however, obviously have no qualms about it as well. Especially because there are so many types of love in this world I think it's ridiculous to limit yourself to experiencing just one. I think that's the beauty of the musical, really. Is explaining and showing the types of love that you can receive and give out and how you can experience more than just that one type of romantic love in a lifetime.

[rjm516]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 8:25pm

I really have to see this show again before I finish my pre-Tony run, just because it'll probably go before some others. And it's so so beautiful. I really loved it and I wish more people would give it a chance.
Also, I never even thought about how people would be disgusted by the cheating thing. Lol.

[Okiekat]

Posted: 4/19/14 at 11:24pm

It's a shame more people aren't seeing this show. Finally saw it and found it quite moving, I can't believe I cried. The music is just wonderful. O'Hara and Pasquale give powerful performances.
BTW, my usher was practically begging people to tell their friends to come see the show. I hope it lasts.

[jennaisjamazing]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:13am

what are the odds this will be open come June? I am dying to see it.. especially after buying this cast recording, but I can't get to NYC until then... I'm hoping it does well at the nominations..

[haterobics]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:50am

If Liza's info is accurate, it sounds like its fate hinges on Tony nominations, which are announced in 9 days....

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:30am

While nothing is guaranteed and these types of things are always fluid, especially if something unpredictable happens, the information I posted is 100% accurate. And it actually makes a lot of sense. Rippedman's theory would make this a logical scenario.

It boils down to the producer's perspective, though. What does being "successful" in the nominations mean exactly? Is it just nabbing a Best Musical nom..? Is it nabbing a large number of nominations? We just don't know.

[ArtMan]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 9:46am

Well, lets hope they receive the nominations they are looking for. I'd really like to see this during my visit Tony Week. If it closes, I'll be seeing Bullets instead.

[GatorNY]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 10:51am

I think the message resonates if you have experienced that sort of "fate brought us together" kind of love story. My husband and I were very much like Robert and Francesca when we met 17 years ago, so I found the show to be very personal.

I saw it again last night, and the women behind us were chatting at intermission about how the show was essentially just about two people hooking up for four days. Hopefully by the end they realized that to these two people, it was more than that. The show is not saying that this kind of "destined to be together" kind of relationship is better, or preferable, but that these things do happen to us at times in our lives. How we react and respond to the chance to love another person is up to the individual. " And Love, is always better."

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:23pm

Thanks Gator, I really enjoyed your thoughts on the show. I do think a lot of people will not take away that message after it, and just decide it's about two people hooking up for a few days. I do wonder if the whole cheating storyline thing has impacted ticket sales, although the biggest complaint I hear about it was that it's "a snooze".

jennaisjamazing, I think it depends on many different things. If you just look at the grosses, would one say it would not be open in June. But, there seems to be a lot going behind the scenes, so I wouldn't count it out completely.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:31pm

"jennaisjamazing, I think it depends on many different things. If you just look at the grosses, would one say it would not be open in June."

If you actually read the posts, you would see this has been addressed numerous times.

[jayinchelsea]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:43pm

Because I did not like the book, and thought the movie was just okay, I was not prepared for the incredible beauty of BRIDGES, which I first saw at Williamstown last summer, and then again when it opened on Broadway. Frankly, I thought the popularity of the title would attract enormous response, particularly from women of a certain age who buy theatre tickets, and I'm kind of shocked that it hasn't. But it is a beautiful piece, with a glorious score, several outstanding performances, and really should be seen. I'll be going back again very soon. And may it reap all the Tony nominations it deserves, over a group of mostly ho-hum musicals this season.

[ARTc3]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 1:57pm

^ I think the producers were thinking the very same thing. Not quite sure why the women who made this book a best seller haven't flocked to see it musicalized. It really is a shame as, The Bridges of Madison County is stellar, and I think might just walk away with the Best Score Tony.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:40pm

I saw it again recently and boy, am I glad I did. It's just a gorgeous show.

"One Second and a Million Miles" and "It All Fades Away" all but stopped the show. There were moments so beautiful, I was just hypnotized. The orchestra seats seemed fairly crowded too. I still have problems with some of the writing, but it's certainly gotten tighter and stronger since I saw it (and liked it quite a bit) in previews. The cast is stronger than ever now (although Derek Klena is still...well, let's just say, not great.) This is such a tender, lovely, moving production. Flaws and all, it's certainly worth seeing.

Kelli and Steven are giving stellar, stellar performances. I was much more taken with Kelli this time around. In previews, I saw the show from the rear mezzanine and I think the magic of her performance is a bit lost from so far away. Close up, she was just a knockout. "Almost Real" was stunning. She's giving such a beautifully-calculated and quietly profound performance.

(Side note: Kelli and Steven both got entrance applause!)

This should absolutely snag a Best Musical nomination and I hope the nominating committee honors it accordingly. Updated On: 4/20/14 at 02:40 PM

[bwayphreak234]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:47pm

The more I think about this show, the more I think that this deserves best musical... While Bullets Over Broadway is still my favorite show of the season, there is something so magical, moving, and majestic about Bridges.

[WiCkEDrOcKS]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 2:53pm

Can anyone who saw the show in very early previews divulge more information about "He Forgave Me"?

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 3:37pm

"Side note: Kelli and Steven both got entrance applause!"

That's incredible considering it's his first time starring in a Broadway musical. In the early previews, he received none. I think people are just so blown away by his performance at this point, he deserves all the applause in the world.

[Liza's Headband]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 4:11pm

He was in an extremely popular cable television show for nearly eight years. It's not that surprising.

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 5:21pm

What show was that?

[muscle23ftl]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 5:21pm

What show was that?

[DeNada]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 5:24pm

Rescue Me, which ran on FX from 2004 to 2011.

I assumed he got entrance applause because every lead actor seems to get entrance applause on Broadway!

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 5:30pm

No, that usually happens when you've worked for awhile on Broadway or are very famous (NPH Hedwig). I've seen it three times and Kelli received applause twice and Stephen received none. All three times? Hunter Foster got applause.

Oh, and I highly doubt fans of a show (off the air three years now) are going to recognize his name, and decide to see this show because of it. One fan base has nothing to do with the other, and most people in the world won't know who he is by name. He isn't incredibly famous or well known, which was clear when he starred on a show which then got some of the lowest ratings of all time. He has earned his applause through this beautiful show, and that's pretty fantastic.



Updated On: 4/20/14 at 05:30 PM

[karen24]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:11pm

Regarding the "women who made the book and film a hit"...I don't know...The movie came out in 1995 and the book in 1992. That's twenty years ago for the book and almost as long for the movie. There have been a lot of popular books and movies that have come out since then. Could it be that even if people were fans of the book/movie,they've moved on to other things? Are there really a lot of fervent fans of the book/movie out there who are just dying to see it as a musical? Maybe they are all out in other parts of the country and will go to see this in touring productions or regional theater. I hope so!

(I understand that the show should be judged on its own merits and not just as another version of the book or film. But the creators had to be thinking that the book & movie were so popular that it would fill a certain number of seats based on that. I just wonder if they misjudged that.)

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:23pm

Based on the grosses, I think they did.

[promisespromises2]

Posted: 4/20/14 at 6:43pm

The more I think about it the more I think that the "women who made it a best seller" back then aren't necessarily the ones who are going to see it. I knew about Bridges because I love to read and it's known as a classic, so I think people of ANY age who are avid readers are the ones who are more likely to go see it rather than "the women".

I was completely hesitant to see it at first because I was so in love with the book and I didn't want ANYTHING to taint it. But the musical just, I'm so deeply in love with it as well. And I like how I can look at it as two pieces (like Wicked, there's the book and the musical that have some parts from the book but not enough for it to be completely tied together as one).