Fifteen years have passed since two-time Tony nominee Patrick Wilson (The Full Monty, Oklahoma!) has been in a Broadway musical. 鈥淧athetic, isn鈥檛 it? Pathetic,鈥� Wilson says with a sighing laugh.
Pathetic might not be the first word that comes to mind with regards to the actor who has led two massively successful horror film franchises, earned a Golden Globe nominee for Showtime鈥檚 Fargo, and guested on Barbra Streisand鈥檚 duet album Encores. Still, the theatre has missed him鈥攁nd he the theatre.
And Wilson has chosen well for his homecoming party: Brigadoon directed and choreographed by Tony winner Christopher Wheeldon at New York City Center, co-starring Tony winner Kelli O'Hara and featuring two-time Tony nominee Stephanie J. Block, Aasif Mandvi, and Tony nominee Robert Fairchild. 鈥淲hen I鈥檓 staring at Kelli O鈥橦ara and Stephanie and Aasif鈥攚ho I did Oklahoma! together [with] 15 years ago鈥攖he people that I鈥檝e known and have been watching for such a long time but we haven鈥檛 worked together, it feels right,鈥� says Wilson.
It also feels hurried鈥攁s is the known obstacle with the quick mountings of City Center鈥檚 Encores!. (鈥淎s Peter Lawrence, our stage manager, said, 鈥業t鈥檚 like summerstock with professionals,鈥欌� jokes Wilson.) Fortunately, Wilson finds groundedness in his co-star. 鈥淭here鈥檚 such a grace and a stillness with her and an honesty that鈥攁side from the gorgeous voice鈥攖here鈥檚 a very calm partnership,鈥� says Wilson of O鈥橦ara. 鈥淚t was, truthfully, a very easy chemistry.鈥�
Chemistry is at the heart of the Lerner and Loewe love story. When two American tourists, Tommy and Jeff (played by Wilson and Mandvi) stumble upon an ethereal Scottish village that appears for a single day every 100 years, Tommy falls in love with Brigadoon鈥檚 Fiona (played by O鈥橦ara). Conventionally a love story of ing茅nues, this incarnation offers a weightier take. 鈥淚t鈥檚 also coming at a role north of 40 that is typically played by younger people,鈥� says Wilson. 鈥淏ut I love that because we鈥檙e sort of using what it is now to be around 40 and single and can鈥檛 figure out why and so it鈥檚 not just the young couple in love.鈥�
From O鈥橦ara鈥檚 perspective: 鈥淔iona is a stronger character than I remembered.鈥� The actor actually performed in a summerstock production of Brigadoon years ago. 鈥淪he鈥檚 chosen not to just marry anybody, but if she doesn鈥檛 find him鈥攖he right one鈥攚ho she feels is right for her then she鈥檚 happy and pretty OK.
鈥淏ut then when she does find him she鈥檚 unapologetic about it and I think it鈥檚 time for that, too. Being lucky enough to find that sort of thing is not something to be swept under the rug right now,鈥� she continues. 鈥淭here are things that are worth fighting for and there are things that are worth giving your heart and trust to.鈥�
From The Light in the Piazza to South Pacific to The Bridges of Madison County, O鈥橦ara has authentically inhabited some of musical theatre鈥檚 most romantic and sweeping love stories. How does she relinquish herself to it time and again onstage? 鈥淚 don鈥檛 stand here and try to know what a person feels when love has not worked out, but I do have a good marriage and I believe in love. I think it鈥檚 easier for me to give into it and not be cynical about it,鈥� she says. 鈥淭here are reasons and times to trust. I鈥檓 not going to try to shy away from that.鈥�
The beauty of Wheeldon鈥檚 vision (鈥淭he movement, the way he sees things, the picture鈥檚 just gorgeous,鈥� says O鈥橦ara) and the mellifluous voices (鈥淲hen you鈥檙e singing opposite Kelli and you hear that voice, you want to match that voice,鈥� says Wilson) will sweep audiences into the romance of Brigadoon.
After all, as O鈥橦ara says, 鈥淗ow would you feel if I said there was a place right now that was beautiful and perfect and you could disappear in it?鈥�
