Musical adapted from film brings heart, soul
As someone who doesn’t have the time to go to many movies, I’d never so much as heard of “Big Fish” until the Croswell Opera House slotted the musical, based on the Tim Burton film which in turn is based on the novel by Daniel Wallace, into its 2015 season.
And so I was really looking forward to seeing something that would be completely new to me, for even the stage musical itself — which is a little different than the movie, but not significantly so — has only been around for a couple of years.
The show didn’t let me down one bit.
For those who are unfamiliar with the story, it revolves around a traveling salesman named Edward Bloom and the complicated dynamic between him and his grown son Will.
Throughout Will’s life, Edward regaled him with tall tales about everything from meeting a mermaid, a witch and a giant to being the hero of a whole range of adventures. And now that Will is grown and Edward is dying, Will struggles to reconcile the stories with the truth.
The Croswell’s production stars Eric Parker as Edward, a tour de force role for Parker if there ever was one. Not only is he onstage for virtually the entire show, in a vocally demanding and even pretty physical role at times, but he also has to go in practically the blink of an eye from being robust and energetic to being ill and frail as the story flashes back and forth in time.
At the same time, he has to bring this larger-than-life guy fully to life, to make Edward someone for whom the audience likes and cheers.
And Parker is hands-down perfect in the role.
So is Kyrie Bristle, who plays Edward’s wife Sandra. It’s crucial to have someone in that role who’s every bit as solid of a performer as Parker is, and both vocally and in acting ability Bristle is more than up to the task.
Couple that with the undeniable chemistry she and Parker have, and the result is an onstage duo that’s totally believable together. And that relationship makes a fun scene like “Time Stops” and, at the other end of the spectrum, an wrenchingly emotional scene like “I Don’t Need a Roof,” equally compelling to watch.
Adrian College student Dale White is extremely solid as the adult Will. This is a big role for a college student, with a lot of emotional nuances, and White is doing a great job. So is Kyle Haeussler, who plays Will’s younger self.
There are plenty of other very fine performances up there on the Croswell’s stage too, including those of Tara Ann Althaus as Josephine, Benjamin Rosebrock as Karl, Cady Lewis as Jenny, Karl Kasischke as Don Price, and Stephanie Stephan as the Witch.
Bringing Edward’s fantasy world to the stage is a complicated process no matter what, and in its own way “Big Fish” stretches the Croswell’s abilities as much as “Mary Poppins” did earlier this summer.
No, people don’t fly and toys don’t come to life like they do in that show. But Edward does get shot out of a cannon, fish jump out of the orchestra pit, elephants dance (and so does a giant), and all manner of set pieces and drops and lighting effects have to work just right to move the story along smoothly.
And on opening night at least, with a few minor exceptions, things went according to plan, which is a real testament to all the technical people involved in this production.
Applause, too, to music director Jonathan Sills and an orchestra that makes the most of a very interesting score; to costumer Ashlynne Abraham and a team that was called upon to create everyone from circus outfits (including elephant rear-ends) to witch and giant costumes to clothing for an entire town full of people; and obviously to director Betsy Lackey, for having a vision for this show that works tremendously well and bringing it all together.
“Big Fish” is one of those all-too-rare musicals that actually has a really good, meaty script to it, with huge doses of both humor and sadness and a story line that will resonate with, probably, everybody.
And while the songs aren’t really something you’d go out of the theater humming (with the exception perhaps of “Be the Hero,” which is pretty catchy and both opens and closes the show), the music and lyrics are really nicely crafted.
This is a family-friendly show with a lot of heart and soul to it, and the Croswell does a great job of bringing it to life and making it thoroughly entertaining. And if it makes you go home and hug your family just a little tighter, then that’s not all bad either.
WHAT: “Big Fish”
WHERE: Croswell Opera House, Adrian
WHEN: 2:30 p.m. today; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday, July 24-25; 2:30 p.m. Sunday, July 26
TICKETS: $15-$35 adults; $15 youth 15 years and younger
HOW TO ORDER: By calling 264-7469 or online at croswell.org