Jason Robert Brown and Marsha Norman's musical adaptation of The Bridges of Madison County has crossed the pond, making its U.K. debut at the Menier Chocolate Factory in London. The new staging, directed by Trevor Nunn, officially opened July 23.
Olivier Award winner Jenna Russell stars as Francesca, originated on Broadway by Tony winner Kelli O'Hara. Appearing opposite her as her star-crossed lover Robert is Ed Baker-Duly. The cast also includes Georgia Brown, Maddison Bulleyment, Shanay Holmes, Gillian Kirkpatrick, Paul F Monaghan, David Perkins, and Dale Rapley.
Read reviews for the London bow below.
The Arts Desk (Marianka Swain)
Evening Standard (Nick Curtis)
The Guardian (Michael Billington)
Time Out London (Andrzej Lukowski)
The musical, based on the 1992 Robert James Waller novel, follows Francesca, an Italian immigrant housewife living on a farm in the American Midwest. When her family heads to the Iowa State Fair, she meets Robert Kincaid, a National Geographic photographer on assignment in the area. Their initial friendship develops into a brief but passionate affair which has consequences on all of their lives.
The staging, scheduled through September 14, features sets and costumes by Jon Bausor, lighting design by Tim Lutkin, sound design by Gregory Clarke, and musical supervision and direction by Tom Murray.
