In 1992, Robert James Waller’s novel The Bridges of Madison County stayed atop the bestseller list for three years. It became one of the bestselling novels of the 20th century. By the end of its run, Clint Eastwood and Meryl Steep would headline a film version that earned some rave reviews. Almost 20 years later, Jason Robert Brown composed the music and Marsha Brown the book of the Bridges musical. It received some noteworthy praise, but only ran on Broadway for three months. 

Let’s examine this oft-debated show that is currently being presented at The Forestburgh Playhouse. The story is set in rural Iowa farm country in 1965. Italian born housewife Francesca stays home alone for four days while farmer hubby Bud takes the two teenage kids to the state fair. A handsome National Geographic photographer shows up at her door asking for directions to one of the county’s covered bridges. Small talk soon turns into a passionate affair.

Forbidden love has always had a monumental presence in novels. Still does. Movies have had it for decades. But musical theatre doesn’t seem to have caught up to her sister genres. Don’t get me wrong. Broadway has brought many controversial subjects to the forefront and rightly so. But illuminating those topics usually helped a community or individuals who were downtrodden or victimized. It usually shone a light on a societal wrong that needed to be righted.

In Bridges we are meant to feel sympathy for the wife who has a fling with a traveling photographer. She feels alone in the world, but in fact, we can’t help but like her husband Bud (played with true sincerity by Mark Stoddard). He’s a good father and adores his wife. This isn’t some loveless marriage that she is trying to escape. And so, through musical theatre, which has historically rooted for the good guy or gal to win the day, it now attempts to serenade us through a torrid, middle-aged affair between a married mother and a rugged stranger she hardly knows. And yes, I do understand that there have been tons of shows with thinner plotlines, but maybe musical theatre isn’t the vehicle for this particular storyline. Who do we root for? Are there any winners in this?

However, and this is a big one! The casting in this production is nothing short of Broadway caliber. Christina DeCicco who plays bored housewife Francesca portrayed Eva Peron in the 2012 Broadway revival of Evita. John Cudia as the photographer Robert played the Phantom on Broadway in 2009. Those are only the highlights of two incredible bios. Although the music from Bridges won’t be remembered like West Side Story’s “Maria” or Oklahoma’s “People Will Say We’re in Love,” these songs are performed by two powerhouse voices. They will mesmerize you. It is such an immeasurable pleasure to have performers of this talent on our Forestburgh stage!

Director Robin Levine does an admirable job focusing these leads towards their individual resolutions regardless of what we should or shouldn’t feel. The staging is well executed, keeping a story that could easily slow to a halt, moving along nicely. Maggie Johnson’s big barn set design appears at first almost imposing, but then creatively moves, slides and transforms between homey and intimate settings. 

The book has a lot more substance to it. The film wins with its movie stars. And the musical sings its way through the affair, often with very similar song melodies. But boy, are those songs brilliantly performed.

The Bridges of Madison County will run through July 12. Tickets and info are available through the box office at (845) 794-1194 or online at fbplayhouse.org.