The Bridges of Madison County (FollowSpot Theatre Company), at The Round

A searing love affair between a former Italian war bride and a well-travelled National Geographic photographer comes alive under the direction of Jessica Claughton.

With music and lyrics by Jason Robert Brown and book by Marsha Norman, the musical is based on the 1992 romantic drama by Robert James Waller.

Photos by Suzanne Martin Photography 

The book had previously been transposed into a successful 1995 movie featuring Meryl Streep and Clint Eastwood by director Eastwood.

The story concentrates on Naples-born Francesca (Emma Sutcliffe).

Her life takes a decidedly unexpected turn when she arrives in the USA from her war-torn homeland.

She settles into a quiet farming life with her American soldier husband Bud Johnson (Tristan Everett) and the pair goes on to have two children – a boy and a girl. 

It is now 1965.

Bud takes their constantly squabbling kids to the State Fair in Indianapolis, where daughter Carolyn (Bella Portillo-Miller) will showcase her steer.

Francesca is looking forward to some quiet time alone for a few days when, to her surprise, a pick-up truck pulls into the driveway.

Out steps a man who turns out to be photographer Robert Kincaid (Tim Haughton), on assignment to capture the famous covered bridges of Madison County.

Having driven all the way from Washington State, he hasn’t been able to find the seventh one.

So, Francesca gives him a helping hand, after which she invites him in for tea.

It turns out that Robert has just returned from documenting the rebuild of Naples after the war, Francesca confessing that she is homesick.

The pair has immediate easy-going chemistry, which quickly, and quite naturally, develops into something far steamier.

It leaves Francesca with an impossible choice to make, when Bud and the children return home.

I was particularly taken by the performances of the two leads, who do an excellent job inhabiting the personas of Francesca and Robert.

Their acting and singing are first-rate. 

With her soaring, melodious vocalisation, which ventures into the operatic, Emma Sutcliffe is quite the revelation. She also has a most attractive and disarming smile.

I greatly appreciated the great sensitivity, spoken and sung, that Tim Haughton imbued into his portrayal of Robert.

Another ever present force is Francesca’s caring (and nosey) next door neighbour Marge (Sonia Street), who brings comic relief to bear.

With mop and jacket in hand, her one musical number is a real hoot. 

She also has a memorable interchange with her quietly spoken husband, Charlie (Steve Goodwin), that is another highlight of the work.

Also impressive in her musicality is Robert’s ex-wife, Marion (Candice O’Brien), who warbles a memorable tune.

Still, there is an unevenness about the vocalisation. Some voices are significantly stronger and more tuneful than others.

The ensemble has a frequent presence in director Jessica Claughton’s interpretation. 

They appear in several scenes with Robert James Waller’s book in hand, as a nod of appreciation to the author.

The band, led by musical director and conductor Glen Barnett, is positioned behind the stage.

Claughton’s choreography is well handled, as characters move about seamlessly.

The staging is suitably creative, with a surfeit of sets and props (most notably elements that form the Johnsons’ kitchen) readily wheeled into place.

A number of scenes unfold in the equivalent of a large picture frame and that works a treat, drawing sharp focus.

An additional element sees photographic and video footage in play at certain junctures, stage right.

Louise Reeder and Claughton’s diverse costuming (utilitarian, attractive and sensual) serves its purpose very well.

Two and a half hours including interval, FollowSpot Theatre Company’s The Bridges of Madison County is a charming, moving and, at times, amusing piece of musical theatre.

It is on in the Studio, at The Round in Nunawading, until 2^nd August, 2026.