Hello Beautiful Pe0ple,
This past Thursday, I watched musical theater history happen.
This past Thursday, I went to the Neil Simon Theatre, checked my worries at the door, and quite literally got swept up in another world.
This past Thursday, I saw the first preview of Big Fish on Broadway.
And oh, it was outstanding.
For those of you who are unfamiliar with the story of Big Fish, allow me to fill you in. In 1998, Daniel Wallace wrote a novel entitled Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions – a story about family, love, and life. At the heart of the story is Edward Bloom (Norbert Leo Butz), a traveling salesman who lives life to its fullest… and then some. His wild tales and unbelievable stories are exhilarating and intoxicating to everyone around him – most of all, his wife Sandra (Kate Baldwin). On the other hand, his son, Will (Bobby Steggert), remains skeptical of these stories, frustrated that his own father keeps him at arm’s length spinning tale after tale. When Will’s wife, Josephine (Krystal Joy Brown), becomes pregnant with their first child, and Will becomes more determined than ever to find out the truth behind his father’s stories.
In 2003, the novel was adapted into a screenplay by John August, and the film premiered at the Hammerstein Ballroom in New York City on December 4, 2003. And that brings us to September 5, 2013. ALMOST ten years and one day after the film first premiered in New York City, the cast of Big Fish, (the musical), took the stage of the Neil Simon Theatre, and played to a packed house.
Now, trust me when I say there’s nothing quite like attending the first preview of a Broadway show. The only thing that is better than that is attending opening night. So, even before the first note was played and the curtain rose, you could feel the excitement in the air. It was as if an electric current was running through the house. It was palpable. And as the prologue began By The Banks of a River – everyone was IMMEDIATELY hooked. Transfixed. Mesmerized. The aesthetics of this set are absolutely stunning. I’ve yet to see projects be used as skillfully and masterfully as they are used in Big Fish. Every single projection, lighting element, and set piece is extraordinary. But the wonderful part about the design of this show, is that it does not distract from the story – it only aids in strengthening the world that the actors so clearly establish from the second the curtain rises.
The entire cast is absolutely amazing, giving one hundred and ten percent from the rise of the curtain until the finale. They did not falter for a moment, and congratulations must be paid to them all. So, if you haven’t familiarized yourself with the work of Norbert Leo Butz, Kate Baldwin, Bobby Steggert, Krystal Joy Brown, Anthony Pierini, Zachary Unger, Ryan Andes, Ben Crawford, Brad Oscar, JC Montgomery, Ciara Renee, Kirsten Scott, Sarrah Strimel, Preston Truman Boyd, Bree Branker, Alex Brightman, Joshua Buscher, Robin Campbell, Bryn Dowling, Jason Lee Garrett, Leah Hoffmann, Synthia Link, Angie Schworer, Lara Seibert, Tally Sessions, Cary Tedder, and Ashley Yeater – now is the time to start.
But, as always, there are performers that stick with you and inspire you, ones that make you want to reach greater heights. In Big Fish, that person would have to be Norbert Leo Butz. Watching this man’s performance in Big Fish is the equivalent of attending a masterclass on acting. He is flawless. Norbert Leo Butz plays Edward Bloom as a teenager, as a young man, as a young father, and an older gentleman in the last years, in the last moments of his life. We truly see the entire scope of the life of Edward Bloom – we seem him face his fears, we see him fall in love, we see him become a parent, we see him battle his illness, we see him charm towns everywhere he goes….we see him live. And it is beautiful.
As larger than life as this show is, there are beautiful, tender, touching moments that remind us of the fragility of life. Moments where we are reminded that Edward is not immortal. A particular moment that took my breath away was when Sandra Bloom (Kate Baldwin) sings I Don’t Need a Roof. It is an exquisite song, and Ms. Baldwin is utter perfection in her performance.
I feel as though it’s safe to say that John August, Andrew Lippa, and Susan Stroman are an absolute dream team. Lippa’s score is breathtaking, August’s book is witty and tangible, and the staging and choreography of Stroman is the thread that weaves the entire piece together. Their genius and talents have given us a night of theater that reminds us of what really matters…family, friends, health, love – and that life is so much better once you dream bigger.
Big Fish is currently in previews at the Neil Simon Theatre in New York City. Ticket information is available here, and I urge you all to go see this show.
Live, Love, Learn,
What did you think of Ciara Renee as the Witch?