“Am I living the life I’m really supposed to be living?”
That’s the question Noah Racey posed when we met with the cast of “The Bridges of Madison County,” and it’s the question that stands at the center of the Arkansas Repertory Theatre’s latest production.
“Bridges” comes to The Rep as the musical’s regional premiere after opening on Broadway in 2014, and also serves as Producing Artistic Director Bob Hupp’s final directorial project before assuming his new role at Syracuse Stage in New York.
The show begins dramatically with a sweeping score and a single spotlight on our Francesca, played by Joan Hess. As she unravels a story worthy of a play all its own, depicting how she left Naples after the war with an American soldier, we settle into the home she’s built in a small farming community in 1965 Iowa.
Her husband Bud (that’s Noah Racey), daughter Carolyn (Julia Nightingale) and son Michael (Henry Nettleton) quickly paint a picture of household run by an overlooked and overworked Francesca as they set out for a three-day trip to the national 4-H fair in Indianapolis.
In the moments that follow, a roving National Geographic photographer by the name of Robert Kincaid (Michael Halling) comes to her front door asking for directions to the area’s famous covered bridges. It’s that chance encounter that triggers a whirlwind of passions, questions and choices that cause a ripple effect across the community.
Having taken home Tonys for both Best Original Score and Best Orchestrations, this show’s musical reputation precedes it, and The Rep’s production crushes those expectations in a big way.
Hess possesses the kind of effortless, ethereal tenacity in her voice — all while keeping a steady Italian accent — that almost stops the show, and yet carries it forward, as if the whole world revolves around her next note. Halling, whose magnetism with Hess is undeniable, serves each song the rugged backbone and rare zeal fitting of both a lead role and an alluring vagabond.
The cast rounds out the story with even more talent and complexity. Racey provides the perfect blend of grit and good ole boy syndrome while Nightingale and Nettleton encompass the best kind of teen angst as they stretch to find their own places in the world. A strong dose of reality and comedic relief come in the form of nosy-but-well-meaning neighbors Charlie and Marge (Timothy Shew and Ann-Ngaire Martin), whose vocal prowesses are showcased in both hilarious and dynamic numbers.
As Hupp’s final curtain call, this show fits seamlessly into the theater’s long line of gleaming performances. The Rep’s production of “The Bridges of Madison County” wraps a gripping story of purpose and love in a masterfully poignant soundtrack, offering audiences a concentrated dram of truth and vulnerability.
The show runs through May 1. For showtimes and more information, or to purchase tickets online, visit The Rep’s website. You can also call (501) 378-0445 or visit the theatre box office downtown at 601 Main St., Little Rock.