“I’ve seen this all before
When I was just a child
I met a witch who took a bow and showed me how it ended”
These words, from the song, “How It Ends,” near the conclusion of Big Fish, the Andrew Lippa/John August musical now on stage at Cain Park, summarizes a major plot message.
The tale, based on Daniel Wallace’s novel Big Fish: A Novel of Mythic Proportions, is part of the trend of Broadway musicals taking on serious subjects. Dear Evan Hansen, which deals with teen angst, autism and suicide, and Next to Normal, which takes on how mental illness effects not only the victim, but the entire family, are examples of this new vision for American musicals.
In 2013, Big Fish closed after 34 previews and only 98 regular performances due to tepid reviews and weak audience excitement. Comments about the show included, “Big Fish arrives on Broadway as an earnest, family-friendly, heartwarming and mostly successful new American musical.” “It is sweet and inoffensive which plops its unabashed wholesomeness right in your lap.”
Big Fish revolves around the relationship between Edward Bloom, a traveling salesman, and his son Will. At the start of the tale, Edward and his son discuss Will’s impending wedding. Edward tells him a story about when he was walking down the river and met a man trying to catch fish to no avail. So Edward teaches him the proper way to catch fish. Edward tells Will another story of a witch that Edward met as a teenager.
Edward is a storyteller. His son never knows if the tales his father weaves, encountering a witch, a giant and a mermaid are real or part of the man’s imagination. The tales go on and on until, near the conclusion, we finally learn Edward’s truth and the moral of Big Fish n the song “Be the Hero.”
The Cain Park production, which is well-staged and interpreted by director Johanna May Cullinan, does everything it can with what some might deem as a sappy tale.
Connor Stout makes for a believable Edward Bloom. He creates a dreamer and nice guy who, until the end, we aren’t sure whether his tales are real or figments of his imagination. He has a fine singing voice. His duet, “Time Stops,” sung with Sandra (Kate Fahey), his wife, is lovely. “The River Between Us,” sung with Will (Ryan Sweeney), vividly shows the chasm between father and son. Fahey sings and interprets the poignant “I Don’t Need a Roof,” well.
The Baldwin Wallace music theatre program has produced a number of handsome young men with fine singing voices and good acting chops who have gone on to make their marks in professional theater such as Chris McCarrell, Colton Ryan and Corey Mach. Ryan Sweeney (Will) is of the same mold.
Monica Olejko’s choreography is effective, as is Ken Lear’s musical direction, Richard Morris’s set design and Adam Ditzel’s lighting.
Capsule judgment: The songs are well interpreted, the story made clear, the performances quite good. There is nice storytelling, music and a moral. If there is a flaw, it is the writing, not the production. There are little real highlights, little encompassing action.
Big Fish runs through June 30 at Cain Park’s Alma Theater. For tickets call 216-371-3000 or go to www.cainpark.com
[Written by Roy Berko, member: Cleveland Critics Circle @ American Theatre Critics Association]