The Bridges of Madison County (Menier summer musical)

For the first time in my life I have double booked myself and find myself having booked this and Joseph on the same night. I guess a refund is out of the question but anyone know how accommodating they are to swapping tickets?

I really don't want to be stung with a load of silly charges either. I'd rather the seat goes empty if that is the case.

it's an over exaggeration to say that Jenna Russell can't sing.

Please read what I said Jenna can sing. She’s been great in many roles. Just not this one. My main issue was with the male performers with lack of vocal range, timbre or stage presence.

Anxiously looking forward to this on Thursday!

And this is off topic but don't make the mistake I once made of putting a bag in a (hideously expensive) railway station Left Luggage office which closed at 11. Just made it on time but this looks like a late finish.

Thanks all 🙏

Jenna sounds terrific in this part. She is not going to replicate what Kelli did with the score. She makes it her own, is truthful with a lot of shade and completely engaging. She looks great too and is the sole redeeming feature.

However casting someone opposite her who cannot meet the demands of the score, cracks multiple times and has repeated off key moments was not a smart play. At least know your limits and get the composer to give you some option downs like Jonathan Bailey in L5Y.

Xavier is a dull choice too etc but surely there were other alternatives.

The biggest problem is that no one hacked the book in half after broadway as its full of surplus supporting characters. When you throw in the terribly fussy and distracting staging.. well its a disappointment that detracts from the lead.

So true:

"There’s an American slant to the musicals Russell has performed in. What does she think about the British musical theatre scene? “We’re getting there. The talent is there but I think in the US they nurture it more. I just wish there was a more protected environment for new writing that isn’t trying to be a massive commercial venture.”"

I saw this in New York a few years ago. My opinion then was it was a pretty mediocre musical, with a lot of similar songs and without much to draw you in. The only saving grace was the acting and singing masterclass from one of the best leading ladies in the world.

This version doesn't benefit from such stellar talent. Both the leads are serviceable, both have good voices and can handle the score. Edward Baker-Duly, in particular, drew me in and I can see why a middle aged lady like Francesca would fall for him.

I enjoyed this more than in New York, but sometimes seeing a show for a second time helps. In this case, you know not to expect the most advanced plot (I see it as a cross between Brief Encounter and Once, but without the charm of either). There are emotional moments and the cast really get that across, particular when Francesca talks about her home town of Naples. And this was definitely generating debate with people leaving regarding if she made the right choice.

It is too long as 2 hours and 50 minutes (thanks for air conditioning).

It is selling well and the theatre is cramped. I was on the front row last night, arriving closer to start time than I would normally and people had moved along to fill my spot on the bench. They did (reluctantly) shift, but it was very cosy with the two people either side, which didn't bother me, but I was surprised the good looking guy on one side didn't prefer to shift along for more body contact with his girlfriend. In the second half, people took their correct positions and I had a decent amount of room.

It was also an audience where you could see very mixed levels of connections with the material. The aforementioned guy was a fidgeter, but his girlfriend was obviously into the show. On the other side, the woman next to me spent most of the second half asleep (woken only by clapping - which for this version occurs only every few songs) and her partner didn't bother to turn off the light on his smartwatch. Unusually for a show of this type, there was no standing ovation.

Finally, the set and staging. It is complex, hidden away as if it was very simple.

Initially, it is seating on two sides of a square empty wooden style block, used for various projections. There are various concealed doors and windows and props come on through a turntable, or pulled on runners under the floor. This didn't always work, so you saw several pulling doors open, loud bangs from backstage (particularly in the second half), a fridge that wobbled most of the time and a chair falling over when the leg got caught in the gap in the floor left for the runner. It looks good when it works, but it really is a set design fail.

I would say go if you can emotionally connect to this type of material (mid life crisis). I can't see it working for younger audiences. And you may get lucky and see the perfect performance. They still have a week to get this right before press night. But if you go in with the right mindset, both the leads are perfectly serviceable.

Photos from the production released:

www.whatsonstage.com/london-theatre/news/the-bridges-of-madison-county-musical-photos-jenna_49476.html?utm_source=twitter&utm_medium=social&utm_campaign=17july2019